Dombeya shrubs have snowball effect in SW Florida.

Dombeya shrubs, also known as tropical snowballs, are prolific bloomers. Once they get growing, their pom-pom shaped flowers punch out in profusion, prompting them to be referred to as Florida’s hydrangeas. What do ArtisTree Plantopinions experts think of these stunning ornamentals? No one denies their tropical beauty. In fact, two on our panel have included them in their own landscapes. But they weren’t shy about adding words of caution, either.

Beautiful “pom-pom” flowers of a Dombeya shrub grace a Sarasota tropical garden.

Joe Mantkowski, ArtisTree VP Landscape Design:

I just recently incorporated Dombeya as an ornamental amongst mass plantings for a Sarasota homeowner. It’s a beautiful evergreen with big clusters of dense pink flowers, and I especially like pairing it with greens, purples and whites. They’re cold sensitive, so you need to keep that in mind and cover them if a hard freeze is expected. They’re blooming right now in December and look fantastic. Another big plus is that they adapt to a wide variety of soils and can tolerate moderate drought. Depending on how you maintain them, they can be used as a shrub or tree. Nice plant.

Clinton Lak, ArtisTree Landscape Designer:

Dombeya is fantastic. However, it’s likely to be devoured anywhere deer are present. It’s a lower-maintenance option to bougainvillea, oleander and hibiscus, and offers showy pink cluster blooms similar to that of hydrangea. These plants bloom during the cooler months, which is also a big plus since the vast majority of bloomers prefer warmer months. They perform great in full sun to part shade where a large shrub/small patio tree is desired. I’ve used Dombeya before in several areas where we have worked in and find they perform best near the coast but far enough inland where they’re not subjected to direct salt spray during a storm. They pair well with fine-textured evergreen shrubs used in the foreground.

Dombeya
Dombeya thrives in full sun to part shade and attracts honey bees.

Chris Culp, ArtisTree Landscape Designer:

I’ve seen Dombeya in our local nurseries a few times, but honestly, I’ve never used it in my landscape plans. From my understanding it’s quite cold sensitive, plus their brittle wood makes them delicate. I would recommend bougainvillea or hibiscus if you’re looking for a looser style of colorful shrub.

Brian Clouser, ArtisTree Landscape Designer:

I haven’t had many people ask for these. I personally like them but they can be cold sensitive. They have a very unique leaf and flower — the blooms look like miniature pink corsages. Dombeya works well in a more flowing style of landscape since it’s not much of a formal shrub. Hand pruning is definitely best.

Dombeya
Dombeya blooms in late fall/winter when other plants go dormant.

Elisabeth Owen, ArtisTree Landscape Designer:

Dombeyas are great snowbird plants if the homeowner has the space for them. While it’s nice that they bloom in the late fall/winter when other plants are going dormant, they do get large and need cutting back one to two times a year to keep a nice rounded shape. Plants should not be cut back any time after September for their blooming to occur on schedule after they flush back out. Many properties don’t have the space for these (zero lot lines, for example). They’re also cold tender and will be damaged overnight if temperatures dip into the thirties (they’ll rebound, though). If we’re forecasted to have a hard freeze, I would cover them. Water needs are average, and I really enjoy watching the honey bees pollinate the large flower clusters.

Conan Michel, ArtisTree Landscape Operations Manager:

Dombeya is one of my favorite ornamental plants and thrives in South Florida’s sub-tropical weather. They have large, deep-green leaves and the flowers form in large, deep-pink clusters. They’re great as a freestanding specimen or used in a tropical setting mixed with different plantings to give a solid punch of color. Be aware that Dombeya requires more than average watering in hot conditions and may drop leaves in a cold snap. It also grows to be very large if allowed to. I prefer to keep mine pruned in a spherical shape that’s four foot in height and then use a slow-release fertilizer to keep it in good health. Great plant!

ArtisTree VP/Landscape Joe Mantkowski & landscape designers Clinton Lak, Chris Culp, Brian Clouser, Elisabeth Owen, plus Landscape Operations Manager Conan Michel.

ArtisTree “Plantopinions” is a roundtable debate between ArtisTree experts on the virtues of various plant specimens. Sometimes there’s consensus and sometimes not. In the end, you are the judge.

Contact ArtisTree Landscape 941.488.8897

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