TROPICAL LOOKING PLANTS - Other Than Palms

9,803 topics in this forum

1. 

   Lubber grasshoppers in Florida - I found a solution!

   March 14, 2023 by Merlyn

   • 1 follower
   • 22 replies
   • 6.8k views

   I thought this would be the most appropriate spot for this thread, since lubbers rarely seem to eat palms in my yard. They love Crinum Lilies, Canna Lilies, and occasionally eat bananas, agaves, and a few other random plants. But the big plant on the dinner menu is always the Crinum Lily. I've tried for years to get rid of them, but every spring hundreds more hatch in my yard and start new colonies. My attempts in the past have been mechanical (i.e stomping them, grabbing them with gloves and smashing them on the concrete and then stomping on them, whacking them with sticks, throwing small rocks at them, cutting down trees to fall on them, etc), and chemical (Malathio…

   

   Last reply by Merlyn, March 30

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3. 

   Two great Australian native trees to plant

   March 30 by happypalms

   • 2 replies
   • 101 views

   Two must have Australian trees for your garden are the dorrigo Waratah alloxylon pinnatum and the Atherton oak Athertonia diversifolia both spectacular in flower so these ones will make a great addition to the garden my only wish is that I should have planted them 20 years ago like the old saying goes when is the best time to plant a tree well 20 years ago I guess so my gardening advice to any new gardener is start planting for the future now

   

   Last reply by happypalms, March 30

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4. 

   What to do with a Pentagonia? Other than stare awestruck?

   March 18, 2014 by Justin

   • 1 follower
   • 19 replies
   • 2.3k views

   While perusing the Hilo Home Depot garden section after some exciting time deciding between glues and combination locks, I stumbled upon an impressive plant labeled simply "Pentagonium." There is zilch on the internet about Pentagonium. I then made an educated guess that what was meant by Pentagonia, and I'm 99% sure I am correct about that, but there's remarkably little info about Pentagonia either. This link from several years ago has the most info I've found, which is to say, literally something. http://www.palmtalk.org/forum/index.php?/topic/39231-ree-gardens-uncovering-the-legend/ Here's the photo from that post, for those people not wanting to scour the l…

   

   Last reply by Dypsisdean, March 30

   • Giant leaves
   • deep veining
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     Tagged with:

     • Giant leaves
     • deep veining
     • red underside
     • no reliable web info

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5. 

   Planting my begonia plum paisley

   March 30 by happypalms

   • 0 replies
   • 46 views

   I Propagated this begonia from a leaf cutting a winner in any little place where it can be viewed by a pathway

   

   Last reply by happypalms, March 30
6. 

   Weeping Yaupon Holly

   March 28 by Manalto

   • 3 replies
   • 161 views

   In flagrant violation of the topic heading, I've decided to post blooms of my weeping yaupon holly, Ilex vomitoria var. pendula. Nothing tropical whatsoever (Zone 7-9), but impressive in the abundance of bloom. It's covered. Later in the season, the plant will be covered, once again, in bright red berries that appear clear as glass, then one day during the winter (if you're lucky) you'll see cedar waxwings swarm the plant and strip it clean, feasting on those glass berries. [Standard poodle chomping on deflated basketball for scale.]

   

   Last reply by happypalms, March 30

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7. 

   Cactus ID

   March 29 by DTS

   • 1 follower
   • 1 reply
   • 62 views

   Can someone ID this cactus? Thanks!

   

   Last reply by John2468, March 29
8. 

   plants from bolivia

   March 28 by epiphyte

   • 2 replies
   • 155 views

   a couple years ago @Tracy asked me about plants from boliva, and it's a good question that's been on my mind. here's a list of interesting plants from bolivia, more or less... Achacha (garcinia sp) Anthurium besseae Billbergia kuhlmannii Cleistocactus winteri subsp. colademono Fosterella spectabilis Fuchsia boliviana Kielmeyera rubriflora Peperomia kimnachii Peperomia vestita Pleurothalis tricarinata Tillandsia boliviensis Tillandsia edithae Tillandsia mollis Tipuana tipu caudex Amphipetalum paraguayense Anredera cordifolia Aristolochia fimbriata Beg…

   

   Last reply by epiphyte, March 29

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9. 

   Time for a Bonsai Thread!

   July 5, 2020 by palmsOrl

   • 33 replies
   • 2.2k views

   Okay, I know there must be some Palmtalkers who keep bonsai or are interested in bonsai. This thread is to be the catch-all for any bonsai, pre-bonsai, "mallsai", seedlings or small trees destined to be trained as bonsai, palm bonsai, pre-bonsai or attempts and any and all bonsai-related questions. I have been keeping bonsai for most of the past 23 years and have had anything ranging from a couple pre-bonsai and a few tree seedlings to a collection of no less than 10 finished trees and 50 others in various stages of training and everything in between at any given time. The art of bonsai is fascinating as well as awe-inspiring and it can be practiced on any …

   

   Last reply by Mesmonter, March 28

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10. 

    Planting a few flannel flowers actinotus helianthi

    March 28 by happypalms

    • 0 replies
    • 41 views

    With the good rainfall and the reasonably cool weather it was time to replant the patch of flannel flowers with the missing plants that never made it through summer the flowers will sold to the cut flower industry not a million dollars worth but a crop is a crop and there easy to grow being a native plant to my area but you do need a license from national parks and wildlife being a protected plant to sell the flowers and plants along with a tag which i do have a license to sell them there such a lovely flower that feel like flannel material and they grow a bit quicker than palms

    

    Last reply by happypalms, March 28
11. 

    Plant I D needed please

    March 27 by happypalms

    • 5 replies
    • 131 views

    Purchased this little plant at the Salvation Army shop and i have no idea as to what it is so anyone with any idea as to what it is would be greatly appreciated thank you

    

    Last reply by bromlad, March 27

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12. 

    Alocasias

    March 27 by John2468

    • 1 follower
    • 0 replies
    • 89 views

    Hello everyone, does anyone have experience on Alocasia ‘Borneo Giant’ or ‘Borneo King’ varieties? What are the differences between those varieties and their care?

    

    Last reply by John2468, March 27
13. 

    Tibouchina urvilleana

    June 11, 2016 by Las Palmas Norte

    • 8 replies
    • 1.9k views

    I have a nice potted Tibouchina urvilleana that's growing well, producing foliage and branches at a good rate. My question(s) is, what will get this to bloom? Will it bloom routinely once the top growth slows? I'm currently using Osmocote® Classic 18 - 6 - 12 which is a slow / controlled release fertilizer. Thanks in advance for any info you might have. Cheers, Barrie.

    

    Last reply by Hillizard, March 26

    • tibouchina

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14. 

    Theobroma angustifolium

    May 26, 2015 by Cindy Adair

    • 1 follower
    • 8 replies
    • 1.5k views

    I had thought this tree was cupuassu or Theobroma grandiflorum which I have elsewhere. However now that I see the flowers it is clearly T. angustifolium also called monkey cacao. Learned something already today and hope the seeds are ripe! Compare next to a cacao pod:

    

    Last reply by Cindy Adair, March 26

    • Cacao relative

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15. 

    Potting up some polyathia longifolia seedlings

    March 26 by happypalms

    • 0 replies
    • 52 views

    I purchased 100 polyathia bare rooted seedlings they received no special treatment just potted up into 100mm tubes the Indian mast tree a real landscaping plant it can be used as a hedge or on its own or group planting creating a mini rather tall forest in a group planting or avenue planting along a driveway making for a spectacular site one very interesting tree from India I saw many of them planted in India on my recent trip to India growing around the court yards and in front gardens if it can survive in India iam sure it will survive in a nice subtropical environment

    

    Last reply by happypalms, March 26
16. 

    Germinating Papaya from store bought Mexican Papaya

    March 23 by Tracy

    • 2 replies
    • 179 views

    I have grown "Hawaiian Papaya" purchased from big box stores in 3 gallon pots in the past but after a couple of crops the new fruit just doesn't seem to ripen well for me during our winters in Southern California. I thought I might try one of the more traditional Mexican Papaya varieties and rather than start with a seedling from a store, start with seeds from fruit that we bought to eat. I'm curious if anyone can shed any light on whether it is best to let them sit for a period of time or just dive right in on germinating them. My first step was to rinse the soak and then rinse the seeds. I then used some hydrogen peroxide solution to soak off any additional fles…

    

    Last reply by Hillizard, March 25

    • papaya
    • germination

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17. 

    Aloe: Erik The Red

    June 16, 2023 by Hillizard

    • 27 replies
    • 1.1k views

    After searching for some time, I finally picked up one of these 'Erik the Red' aloes at a small nursery in San Francisco that had a least a dozen of them. Was told the wholesaler/supplier in Florida may be going out of business? This variety was originally developed in South Africa (https://www.sunbirdaloes.co.za/sunbird-aloe/aloe-erik-the-red/ ) and when I contacted them directly they were very worried about U.S. nurseries ignoring their plant patents and so were hesitant to ship them overseas. 😜The 3-gal. size was a bit pricey, but it's already producing 4 offshoots at the base, so that's a bonus. This retail SF nursery will ship, but that isn't cheap. I think this vari…

    

    Last reply by Peter, March 25

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18. 

    Madagascar Palm pruning

    October 26, 2023 by BobStrauss

    • 8 replies
    • 661 views

    Any suggestions on how to prune these safely? So that the main plant survives, but also the cutting is able to root? I’ve got one in my backyard in San Antonio, and it’s getting too tall now for me to protect over winter. If I could chop this back to fence level it would be sooo much easier.

    

    Last reply by Silas_Sancona, March 25

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19. 

    Id please

    March 22 by Palmensammler

    • 5 replies
    • 160 views

    Hi all, I'm growing this Yucca for a few years now but I lost it's I'd. Can someone please help me. Thanks Eckhard

    

    Last reply by Palmensammler, March 24

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20. 

    Coral trees in northern California 1 2

    December 23, 2012 by bahia

    • 50 replies
    • 4.2k views

    We're just a bit too cool and wet in winter to be really successful with the South African Erythrina species such as caffra or lysistemon here in the SF Bay Area, but the Mexican Erythrina coralloides does quite well here. It usually blooms about May/June here in the East Bay Area near the water, probably earlier in hotter Bay Area locations where it warms up earlier in spring. Here's a set of photos showing the tree deciduous and budded up in April, and blooming in early June, in an Alameda garden just a 100 yards from the water. http://www.flickr.com/photos/20217462@N02/sets/72157632304417329/

    

    Last reply by Hillizard, March 24

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21. 

    Strelitzia Juncea

    June 6, 2015 by raimeiken

    • 27 replies
    • 3.7k views

    anyone here grows this plant that can share me some seeds or possibly some plants? Can't find a local source for this plants. All I find here are the common BOP and the giant white variety.

    

    Last reply by Hillizard, March 24

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22. 

    pastel colored hybrid Trumpet Tree/Handroanthus (Tabebuia)

    January 24, 2019 by Eric in Orlando

    • 2 followers
    • 21 replies
    • 2.5k views

    This hybrid Trumpet Tree is growing next to the Rose Garden at Leu Gardens. It is a cross of the pink Handroanthus impetiginous and the gold H. chrysotrichus. Both were formerly Tabebuia species. It was planted in Nov. 2003, about 2-3ft tall. It has displayed hybrid vigor as it grew very fast and robust. It has a more narrow habit like H. chrysotrichus but has grown taller than they usually do. The foliage looks more like H. impetiginosus and it has the bristly hairs of H. chrysotrichus but not as dense. The flowers emerge a pale pastel yellow with some pink. They turn more yellow after a couple days then to pale pink before dropping. It will flower twice. Once in January…

    

    Last reply by Hillizard, March 24

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23. 

    Monsteria deliciousa in the garden

    March 24 by happypalms

    • 0 replies
    • 117 views

    A real tough plant the monsteria growing quite large in time but another great plant for the tropical look in the landscape with an edible fruit but certainly an acquired taste with tiny bits of astringent black paper like specks eat them and the fruit is very uncomfortable to eat iam sure there would be some recipes out there for the fruit

    

    Last reply by happypalms, March 24

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24. 

    Show your favorite Bromeliads

    March 19 by Paradise Found

    • 2 followers
    • 24 replies
    • 631 views

    This is one of mine I cannot live with out, Neorgellia Carcharpdon Stotaks Tiger x giant. Grow up to 24” to 30” across. Very drought tolerant and can even grow as an epiphyte.

    

    Last reply by Tracy, March 23

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25. 

    24 year old pineapple plant

    March 23 by happypalms

    • 0 replies
    • 132 views

    An absolute beauty of a bromeliad specimen this one is with a bit of age things grow different in the subtropical climate this is planted in between sandstone rocks it was one of the first bromeliads I planted when establishing the garden in a very dry part of the garden

    

    Last reply by happypalms, March 23

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26. 

    Planting a couple of cycas deboensis and a Zamia variegata

    March 23 by happypalms

    • 0 replies
    • 89 views

    Had a couple of deboensis to spare along with one Zamia varriegata might as well plant them to get the garden looking good in the future

    

    Last reply by happypalms, March 23

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