TROPICAL LOOKING PLANTS - Other Than Palms

9,820 topics in this forum

1. 

   Mirlitons (Chayote)

   November 13, 2009 by _Keith

   • 0 replies
   • 577 views

   I remember Mirlitons, pronounced mel-i-tanh here, growing over my Grandparents chicken coop. Today, the ones in grocery store come from Chile. They are supposedely different from the ones grown here historically, and said to not do well at all. I am told not to waste my time trying to grow them as they don't tolerate our heat and humidity. It is also said that much stock of the old ones were destroyed in the hurricanes of 2005 (Katrina and Rita), but that some of the old types can be found in some of the rural farmers markets surrounding New Orleans and on the North Shore. Does anyone out there know anything about this fruit? I want to grow it.

   

   Last reply by _Keith, November 13, 2009
3. 

   Easily the tallest Tree Ferns I've ever seen

   November 12, 2009 by Justin

   • 0 replies
   • 748 views

   Alas, it was too dark to get pictures of some of the tallest, densest groves.

   

   Last reply by Justin, November 12, 2009
4. 

   See if you can spot the Brachychiton

   November 12, 2009 by Justin

   • 0 replies
   • 717 views

   These were awesome to see in habitat. In cultivation, there's almost always a lot of color around, either from other trees, shrubs, or even concrete and houses. In habitat, nothing but green, so they stand out even more.

   

   Last reply by Justin, November 12, 2009
5. 

   Orchid I want a dozen of this one!!!

   November 8, 2009 by yachtingone

   • 16 replies
   • 1.9k views

   http://cgi.ebay.com/ws/eBayISAPI.dll?ViewI...e=STRK:MEWAX:IT

   

   Last reply by epicure3, November 11, 2009
6. 

   Yucca rostrata Damage

   November 3, 2009 by freakypalmguy

   • 9 replies
   • 4.9k views

   Hi all, One of the construction workers at my place backed over this Yucca rostrata and bent it over. It still appears to be somewhat attached in the ground on one side, but seems as though some of the roots or possibly the trunk are broken off under ground. What do you think I should do? Just stake it upright and hope it takes hold? One person told me I should complete the break and root it out in a pot, this scares me a whole bunch. They said that a Yucca like this one would have no problem rooting out and that the remaining stem (if the stem is truely broken) would produce a new head as well. I am making them buy me a new one, even if this has a chance off survival,…

   

   Last reply by David N.TX., November 9, 2009
7. 

   An Aloe question

   October 18, 2009 by PalmGuyWC

   • 10 replies
   • 1.7k views

   I was given a small aloe about 2 years ago. It is very slow growing and I was told it is not particularly cold hardy. It has a distinct blue coloring and the edges of the leaves (fronds) are lined with red/orange serrated teeth. After two years mine is finally blooming and producing pups. The plant is only about 7" high and the bloom spike is about 1 foot high with small orange flowers. I was told the plant is very rare and it is so beautiful. With the contrasting color, it looks like a jewel. Anyone have any ideas what it might be? Yes, I know a picture would help. Sorry. Dick

   

   Last reply by PalmGuyWC, November 9, 2009
8. 

   Name that Cycad

   September 18, 2009 by oliver

   • 19 replies
   • 2.7k views

   Finished flushing and hardening off about 1 month ago - and it is not for sale!

   

   Last reply by SFloridacollector, November 8, 2009
9. 

   Cycad ID

   May 11, 2009 by han

   • 15 replies
   • 1.6k views

   Hi, can any one help me to identify this cycad?

   

   Last reply by han, November 6, 2009
10. 

    Id for this plant

    November 5, 2009 by palmen

    • 4 replies
    • 801 views
    

    Last reply by Gbarce, November 5, 2009
11. 

    Zamia pumila (Dominican form)

    November 3, 2009 by Eric in Orlando

    • 1 follower
    • 4 replies
    • 1.7k views

    I was at a big box hardware store on the opposite side of town today and came across these Zamia pumila, Dominican form, growing out front. I remember them being planted sometime back in the mid 90's. There was a batch of them being sold at the time as Zamia domingensis and they planted some out front. Glad to see they are still thriving with little care, they are about 3-4ft tall.

    

    Last reply by jayfro6, November 5, 2009
12. 

    The yard's on fire!

    June 19, 2009 by Palmə häl′ik

    • 8 replies
    • 1.4k views

    I hussled this 'fruit stand' type dealer on the way home today... You know the ones... Sellin' watermelons, and whatnot out of the back of a pickup or two... Plywood sign. Right on the side of the road until the fuzz runs 'em off... Anyways, what a deal. He wanted $7ea, which I was willing to pay... But I threw out the 'ol "HOW 'BOUT I TAKE 10 FOR $5ea?' pitch, and he went for it... Started chit-chatin' with him, and it turns out he's from down in Lox and has 15acres of palms and ish on it... MY NEW BUDDY. He's got family here, and decided to open up a little stand in front of his families commercial property here in Tampa... All he had was box store stu…

    

    Last reply by Frank in Vero, November 3, 2009
13. 

    The Caribbean collection at the Palmetum de Santa Cruz de Tenerife

    October 16, 2009 by Carlo Morici

    • 1 follower
    • 13 replies
    • 2.4k views

    The Caribbean section at the Palmetum in Tenerife is the largest of all sections, about more than 2 hectares (about 5 acres). There is an interesting collection of Caribbean native species which are not palms. I wish to show here some of the non palm species that are growing there. Little by little I can add more. This is a view from an overlook: Piscidia piscipula (Fabaceae) Plumeria sp. P08063 (Apocynaceae) Plumeria filifolia (Apocynaceae)

    

    Last reply by KONADANTOM, November 2, 2009
14. 

    Neoregelia Gespacho x Merry-Go-Round

    October 11, 2009 by edric

    • 5 replies
    • 1.2k views

    Noticed this the other day, so I must be doing something right, Ed

    

    Last reply by edric, November 1, 2009
15. 

    what croton is this ? 'Yellow Spot' ?

    October 27, 2009 by Eric in Orlando

    • 1 reply
    • 1k views

    I found this unmarked croton at a local garden center. From looking online at common varieties in the wholesale market in SoFL, it looks like it might be 'Yellow Spot'

    

    Last reply by Moose, October 31, 2009
16. 

    Scenes of my orchids clinging to palm trunks

    June 14, 2009 by Walter John

    • 11 replies
    • 2k views

    This looks interesting so I thought I'd snap some pics of how the orchids attach themselves to the palm trunks.

    

    Last reply by amazondk, October 30, 2009
17. 

    Dendrocalamus minor Amoenus bamboo

    October 27, 2009 by Creekside

    • 12 replies
    • 2.3k views

    The first photo shows the minor Amoenus I planted next to the barn a little over two years ago. The other shows the same clump a couple months later.

    

    Last reply by doubravsky, October 29, 2009
18. 

    need an ID on a spiny purple bromeliad

    October 26, 2009 by JD in the OC

    • 16 replies
    • 2.9k views

    We have a few clumps of these growing in our area here in SW Florida. They produce orange fruit about 1 inch in diameter and grow to about 4 feet wide by 3 feet tall. They are reddish/purple in full sun. It is definitely in the Bromelia genus, but what species? Any brom experts out there??

    

    Last reply by JD in the OC, October 27, 2009
19. 

    Can you help with an ID?

    October 27, 2009 by bubba

    • 7 replies
    • 861 views

    This is a good looking specimen but I am not sure what it is: Any ideas?

    

    Last reply by bubba, October 27, 2009
20. 

    My Pineapples

    September 26, 2009 by edric

    • 23 replies
    • 2.2k views

    Wont be long now! Ed

    

    Last reply by amazondk, October 26, 2009
21. 

    Coccoloba pubescens(sp)

    October 23, 2009 by bubba

    • 7 replies
    • 2.5k views

    Seagrapes are all over down here but I saw a neat specimen of this (Giant Seagrape) in a local garden: I believe it is primarily grown in the lower Carribean and hard to grow here.

    

    Last reply by bubba, October 25, 2009
22. 

    Ficus altisima 'variagata' leaf drop

    October 23, 2009 by Walt

    • 1 follower
    • 6 replies
    • 1.1k views

    My Ficus altissima 'variegata' was 95% defoliated from the 23.5F degree (-4.7C)., Further, almost all of the subsidiary roots, and outer branches (some up to 3" or more in diameter) were killed. Only the very top of the tree 35'-40' high was spared, plus the interior of the tree. Inside the tree the inner leaves were mostly unhurt. However, my beloved tree was severely altered from it's former full bodied shape. Most of the dead limbs have fallen off but there's still some that haven't. But that isn't my question, just some background. Shortly after the freeze my tree started to recover and flush out again with new leaves. Then, about 3-4 weeks ago my ficus started dro…

    

    Last reply by Walt, October 25, 2009
23. 

    Color Splash. 1 2

    October 21, 2009 by LJG

    • 68 replies
    • 8.6k views

    Since Summer is over and fall is showing up more everyday I figured I would post some color shots from the garden. These are pictures I took over the last two weeks. It seems plants always give one big showing before going into winter. I have just a big issue with Hibiscus collecting as I do palms. Here are some that bloomed and a bunch of other colorful things growing in SoCal. Tylene Some Like it Hot Tangerine Dream High Voltage

    

    Last reply by freakypalmguy, October 24, 2009
24. 

    Puya berteroniana and chilensis

    September 29, 2009 by freakypalmguy

    • 14 replies
    • 4.2k views

    After seeing the Puya alpestris in bloom with it's unbelievable flowers at the Quail a few months back, I've been looking to get one. I was able to find Puya berteroniana (turquoise) and Puya chilensis (yellow) on the Internet a few months back. Does anyone have any experience with these? Let's here about it and see some pics please. Here are two pics of my new plants. Puya berteroniana Puya chilensis

    

    Last reply by freakypalmguy, October 24, 2009
25. 

    Saperdillers

    October 16, 2009 by bubba

    • 6 replies
    • 1.1k views

    Take a look at these I spied: A closer look reveals that they are ripe for roasting: Squirrels love gnawing on these but I believe they are only good for roasting.

    

    Last reply by Scott Cohen, October 22, 2009
26. 

    two new Bromeliads for the garden

    October 17, 2009 by Al in Kona

    • 4 replies
    • 1.8k views

    I was just given the two new bromeliads (pictured below) from a friend who knew I was looking for this blue flowering Aechmea. I know there is a blue flowered one called Aechmea 'Blue Tango' and one called ' Aechmea Del Mar'. Are they one and the same or are they valid different species? They sure look the same to me when I Googled to see what they looked like. The one I got had the tag of Aechmea 'Del Mar'. See the 3-pics below with the blue flowers. The other bromeliad with a purple cast was un-named. It has 4- closely grouped pups of similar height growing in that small pot. Does anyone here have any idea what that one might be?

    

    Last reply by Al in Kona, October 22, 2009