Expanded Garden = more Palms & Flowers

[PalmatierMeg]

We expanded the garden on the west side of the house by killing off turf and laying mulch between larger palms. My husband told me to pick out plants to plant, so, naturally, I chose palm seedlings from my container garden. He was hoping for flowers (ha ha) but I plan to include some small flowering bushes later. Besides, last weekend we drove out to Top Tropicals looking for Mussaendas, my new flowering shrub fixation. They are sometimes called "tropical poinsettias" although they are no relation to Euphorbias and are very hard to find. I bought 3g pots of Mussaendas Dona Aurora (white) and Marmalade (mottled yellow & orange). Previously I found a small red Mussaenda on eBay and since have ordered a dwarf white Mussaenda. We planted them this past week. Today we planted the following palms:

Heterospathe elata

Chambeyronia macrocarpa

Chambeyronia Hookeri

Dypsis leptocheilos

Ptychosperma sp

[PalmatierMeg]

Mussaenda photos. We also planted a Lion's Ears plant, Leonotis leonurus, that we had potted last fall. It has finished flowering and seeding.

Leonotis leonurus

Mussaenda Dona Aurora

Mussaenda red

Mussaenda Marmalade

[Monòver]

Meg, are your new planted palms in full sun?   

They look small, are you not worried with sun burn?

Mussaenda are new plants for me, they are very nice!

[PalmatierMeg]

Palms are in part shade much of the day but do get some sun in the afternoon. I will monitor them for sunburn and erect shade cloth over them if necessary.

[Really full garden]

Meg I am also obsessed with Mussaendas ! Here they can grow into small trees. I find they benefit greatly from a severe pruning every year.

I wish I could find a Marmelade ( also called Calcutta Sunset).The palms look great too.

[Palmaceae]

Looking good Meg, those Heterospathe will look great in a couple years!

[Moose]

Checked the Betrock's Plantfinder for Mussaenda, seems all the growers are all on the east coast Boynton Beach down to Homestead.

Hunting down plants must get frustrating in your area Meg. We take for granted  the plant material that is readily available here in South Florida.