“Perfect” is hard to define for most of us; however, the Jamaican caper has earned the reputation of a being the perfect hedge for Southwest Florida landscapes. From its glossy evergreen- and bronze-colored leaves to showy, two-inch orchid-like flowers, Jamaican caper delights its owners year round. Jamaican caper is only found in Florida or other tropical areas outside the US. The thick pyramidal shape of this salt- and drought-tolerant plant makes it a perfect tall hedge choice (up to 30 Continue Reading
Dwarf Jatropha: Star of South Florida Landscapes
If you’re looking for a glamorous little tree that can belt out scarlet flowers 365 days a year, consider a Jatropha integerrima ‘Compacta,’ or dwarf jatropha. This show-stealer is actually a shrub, but when trained to grow in multiple trunks, it earns star status as one of the best-dressed ornamentals you’ll ever see. A drought-tolerant evergreen, dwarf jatrophas reach only six to eight feet high, auditioning well as a single accent choice or as part of a 12-tree chorus. Tiny red flowers pop Continue Reading
Florida’s Prettiest Flowering Shrubs: Thrilling Thryallis
What you first notice about thryallis are thousands of lemony flowers busting out as if they’re all making a mad dash to the sun. And they are. Pert and pretty, these tough little sun chasers bloom with abandon and look spectacular planted in masses, in patio pots or along entry steps. Without a doubt, this evergreen shrub (Galphimia gracilis) has a sunny personality right up to the tips of its five-foot-long branches (although it can be kept to three feet). All thryallis asks for is at Continue Reading