Orange Geiger is a splendid coastal tree for Florida beachfront homes misted with sea spray. Sarasota and Venice residents have a crush on this orange beauty for a variety of reasons, as do the designers at Venice-based ArtisTree Landscape. Here's why. For starters, let’s talk about those deep-orange crinkly blossoms that look like crepe paper. This is a “look at me” tree that shines from afar, blooming year round but especially so in Florida’s spring and summer seasons. A word of advice: If Continue Reading
Spartan Juniper: Fast-growing Hedge for Sarasota
Do you need privacy from a roadway or neighbor? Want a tall, luxurious hedge to boost the value of your property? Plant a row of Spartan junipers, and before you know it, your backyard will become a peaceful and private sanctuary. Native to China (not Ancient Greece as its name suggests), the Spartan juniper is an evergreen that grows extremely fast, making it a nice, natural hedge alternative to boring wood fences. Once established, Spartan juniper is unflinching, tolerating heat, cold, salt Continue Reading
Pitch Apple:Should Be Pitched as a Tree or a Shrub?
Let’s say you have a sad little bare area in your Bradenton landscape and think a playful ornamental would liven things up a tad. A tree sure would be nice, but on the other hand, what about a shrub or two? Allow us to pitch the Pitch Apple – a paddle-leafed plant that can be either. Also known as an Autograph Plant, this showstopper is native to Florida and can be used as a wide-spreading, densely foliated shrub or trained to grow into a tree. Why the nickname? Because the leathery leaves 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
