“I always favor purple-flowering plants and trees, because purple is the color of royalty. Purple pigment was very expensive and hard to obtain, which made it a rare and unique color to be worn only by kings and queens. Purple flowers in the landscape also provide a rich color that contrasts well with all the shades of green in a Southwest Florida landscape. The dark purple of King’s Mantle and lavender of society garlic makes them two of my favorite plants as they blend so well with the white Continue Reading
Angel’s Trumpet — A June Bloomer in Venice, Florida
Happy Solstice! June 21 is the first full day of summer, and the blooming plants in Venice, Florida, have received the memo. Like the solstitial sun, the yellow blooms of angel’s trumpet are blazing and vibrant in June. If sunny yellow isn’t your color, angel's trumpet also comes in white, red, peach, pink, purple and orange varieties with varying flower sizes. Nothing about angel’s trumpet is timid. Its dangling trumpet-like blooms are fragrant and stunningly large -- 20 inches long Continue Reading
Add a Punch of Purple to Your Florida Landscape
If you’ve always wanted to add purple plantings to your Florida landscape, this is the fashionable year to do it! The Pantone Color Institute has announced “Ultra Violet” as its official 2018 color, and ArtisTree is tickled pink to offer you a purple punch list of pleasing options. For starters, there’s Mexican Petunia (Ruellia brittonia), a perky perennial that makes it a perfect choice. Some types are invasive, so you’ll want to plant this hardy fast-grower in large pots or in spaces edged Continue Reading
Lovely Crossandra: The Tropical Bloomer That Won’t Quit
Just when you think it can’t possibly put out anymore blooms, Crossandra comes through with another round sure to dazzle. Also known as the firecracker plant, Crossandra adds pop to Southwest Florida landscapes with neon-bright orange flowers that contrast beautifully with its bronze-green foliage. You would think this breathtaking perennial would require lots of care, but on the contrary, all it asks for is sun/bright shade and moist, well-drained soil amended with peat or other organic Continue Reading
