African Iris
African Iris (Dietes vegeta) lines the west entrance to the Wedding Garden at The Florida Botanical Gardens. They tolerate moderate drought and poor drainage and will grow in full sun to part shade. African Iris can be used as perennial borders, for mass plantings, for water gardens and as accent plants. The white flowers are present throughout the year.
Aloe
Aloe plants are from the Old World tropics and warm temperate regions. These succulent lily relatives are great for rock gardens, in urns, as bedding plants and as seaside plantings. Aloes are planted along the walk leading from the West Gardens to the East Gardens and in the Rock Garden at the East entrance of the West Gardens of the Florida Botanical Gardens. Aloes will take full sun to shade and bloom in the spring. Aloe is used in many cosmetics.
Beautyberry
Beautyberry (Callicarpa americana) is a native of Florida's hammocks and rich woodlands. It is growing near the bridge that crosses McKay Creek and in other native areas throughout the gardens. The magenta colored fruit is vary striking and a favorite food for some birds.
Bird-of-Paradise
Strelitzia reginae, the Bird-of-Paradise and Strelitzia nicolai, the White Bird-of-Paradise, are both planted throughout the Florida Botanical Gardens. The large, bold, dark green foliage forms a backdrop for the very unusual flowers that are a boat-shaped bract. These bracts hold the orange or white sepals and blue tongue that resemble birds. The fruit is a three-angled capsule that splits to reveal the edible seeds. This native of South Africa needs a rich organic soil and afternoon shade.
Brazilian Red Cloak
Brazilian Red Cloak (Megaskepasma erythrochlamys) is a very tropical plant located in front of the Pinellas County Extension Office. It will grow in full sun to part shade and attain a height from 3 to 6 feet. The Brazilian Red Cloak is covered with clusters of deep pink tubular flowers most of the year. It needs moist, rich soil.
Crossandra
Crossandra (Crossandra infundibuliformis) is a perennial that lives for several years. They are one of the few flowering plants that will take full shade. We have a planting along the path leading into the main entrance of the Pinellas County Extension. The deep green foliage sets off the salmon, yellow or orange flowers. Crossandra can attain a height of 3 feet but are usually pruned to encourage compactness.
Golden Dew Drop
Golden Dew Drop (Duranta repens), is native to the Florida Keys, Caribbean Islands and Central America. The one planted in the Jazz Garden has variegated yellow and green leaves. Small blue flowers hang in loose clusters and are followed by yellow, globose fruit that give it the common name of Golden-Dewdrop.
Hibiscus
Hibiscus (Hibiscus rosa-sinensis) are planted in a group and as a specimen tree at the West Garden and as hedges and specimen plants in the East Gardens at the Florida Botanical Gardens. The flowers come in many different colors and hybridization has produced thousands of cultivars. Hibiscus needs well-drained, rich soil and at least six hours of full sun daily.
Jatropha
Jatropha (Jatropha spp.) plants can be very unusual. There are several different species both at the West and East Gardens. These evergreen shrubs will attract hummingbirds and butterflies. Their height ranges from a few feet to 15 feet tall. Flowers are usually red but there is a pink variety. Jatrophas are often sold by edible names such as Nutmeg and African Peanut. Their seeds contain a toxin and should not be eaten.
Plumbago
Plumbago (Plumbago capensis) is along the bank in the tropical walk and at the entrance to The Florida Botanical Gardens. The Azure-blue flowers are produced throughout the year. This native of South Africa has become almost naturalized in the peninsula area of Florida. There are both blue and white forms of P. capensis and a red plumbago (P. indica) is excellent for mass plantings.
Powder Puff
Powderpuff (Calliandra species) Either large or dwarf shrub with evergreen leaves and red, pink or white stamens. The red Powderpuff is planted in the Tropical Garden and along the Tropical Walk. A native of Brazil, it fits in very well with the tropical theme. A powderpuff with pink and white stamens is trained as a heart in the Topiary Garden.
Salvia
Salvia adds color to many areas of the Florida Botanical Gardens. They flower most of the year and can take full sun to part shade. Used for borders, bedding, cut flowers and edging these colorful plants will do well in that moist area of your landscape. They come in shades of pink, purple, white and red. Remove old flower heads to keep them blooming.
Sweet Alyssum
Sweet Alyssum (Lobularia maritima) is a winter annual that is cold hardy and lives up to its name. The aroma of honey penetrates the air as you pass by a bed of these flowers in The Florida Botanical Gardens. Their season is September through March. Sweet Alyssum prefers full sun but will bloom in part shade. Flower colors are white, pink, lavender and purple. Excellent for edging beds, borders, walks and drives.
Trailing Lantana
Trailing Lantana (Lantana montevidensis) is used as a ground cover around the Palm Pavilion and other areas of the gardens. Native to South America it has naturalized in the warmer parts of Florida . The purple flowers are produced in dense heads at axils on long peduncles. The L. camara, with red, pink, orange and yellow flower heads grows wild all over central Florida and is now considered an Exotic Invasive plant.
Allamanda
Allamandas with their bright yellow, tubular flowers are part of the Tropical Garden in the East Gardens of The Florida Botanical Gardens. They require full sun for best flower production. The evergreen leaves have a coarse texture and milky sap that can be an irritant to some people. Allamandas also contain similar toxins as their cousin the Oleander. The bush Allamanda is generally used as a freestanding specimen but can be grouped to make a bold statement. Allamandas are native to Brazil but well adapted to Central and South Florida.
Beach Sunflower
Beach Sunflower (Helianthus debilis) are used as ground cover and in beds throughout the gardens. This Florida native if found growing throughout the state and is best suited to coastal beaches. The yellow ray flowers surround a purplish-brown disk floret and are produced year-round.
Begonias
Begonias L-(Begonia spp.) & Wax Begonias R-(Begonia x semperflorens-cultorum) can be planted in full sun or partial shade. They will grow all year if properly cared for and there is no freeze. Wax Begonias make excellent bedding plants and are used throughout The Florida Botanical Gardens. They come in flower colors of red, white, pink, salmon, and rose.
Bougainvillea
Bougainvillea (Bougainvillea spp.) adorns the fences at the entrance of the West Gardens and is located on both sides of the entrance to the Tropical Pavilion in the East Gardens of the Florida Botanical Gardens. Highly colored bracts of white, pink, orange, purple, red or even multicolor enclose the small, tubular white flowers. Bougainvillea bloom in the late winter but the bracts may remain on the plant for months. They need full sun, good drainage and acid soil.
Bromeliads
Bromeliads are scattered throughout The Florida Botanical Gardens with the largest group massed in the South Gardens. There are many genera and species of Bromeliads and most produce spectacular flowers. Most Bromeliads are epiphytic perennials native to Tropical America and can be damaged by cold temperatures. A few, such as the pineapple, are herbaceous perennials.
Crown of Thorns
Crown-of-Thorns, (Euphorbia spp.) like many other plants has been hybridized so there are both species and cultivars. There are several different ones in the Tropical Walk at The Florida Botanical Gardens. Crown-of-Thorns is used in planters, as ground cover and border plants. Their flowers are inconspicuous but the bright red or pink bracts are striking. They do best in full sun and on well-drained soil.
Heliconia
Heliconias are native to Tropical America and related to Bananas and the travelers-tree. Their large green leaves form a backdrop for various kinds of highly colored, very beautiful bracts. There are single specimen plants and mass plantings of Heliconias in the tropical garden and along the front entrance of the West Gardens. These plants are quite salt tolerant and grow in full sun to part shade. A fertile, moist soil is required for flower production.
Ixora
Ixora (Ixora spp.) can be used for a hedge, bedding plant or specimen plant. The flowers are out most of the year and attract hummingbirds. There are Ixora varieties that are miniature and ones that get fifteen feet tall. Most are kept pruned and often cold winters kill them back to the ground. Look for them when walking through the Tropical Garden. The Florida Botanical Gardens abound with Ixora. There are yellow, red, pink and mixed colored varieties.
Magnolia
Magnolia (Magnolia grandiflora)
With a name like grandiflora you know the flowers are outstanding. The Magnolia is a native of Florida and can reach heights of 75 feet. The shiny green leaves are present all year but that doesn't mean they will not shed. Large leaves will also be on the ground year around. The Magnolias in the Wedding Garden are a cultivar of Magnolia grandiflora known as 'Little Gem'. They flower while quite small and their slow growth makes them an ideal specimen plant.
Poinsettia
Poinsettias are used during the Christmas holidays to add winter color to the Tropical Courtyard. The poinsettia flower is inconspicuous but surrounded by bright red, pink or white bracts. Many hybrids have been introduced throughout the years. There is one called the Rose that has a small group of tightly formed bracts that resembles a rose. Poinsettias are often planted in the landscape in a well-drained soil and partial shade. This native of Central America has found a home in Florida where hardwood cuttings can be planted directly in the ground.
Roses
Roses have a special place in the Florida Botanical Gardens. The bride and groom can stand under the arches of Don Juan red roses while exchanging their vows. There are bushes, trees, climbers and miniature roses in this garden. Roses require high maintenance but the reward of many colorful, aromatic blooms is well worth it. Roses are native to almost every country. Hybrids and cultivars are continually being developed. Roses need a well-prepared bed with the addition of organic matter to a depth of 18 inches. Water weekly and fertilize frequently.
Shrimp-Plant
Shrimp plants are massed together to form a mass planting in areas of the Tropical Garden. This native of Mexico produces spikes of showy heart-shaped, hairy bracts, which surround the true flowers. These bracts are reddish-brown or yellow. This plant tolerates most soil types and once established is low maintenance. Shrimp plants like a fertile soil and full sun to part shade. They are a popular container plant.
Thryallis
Thryallis (Galphimia glauca) are scattered throughout the gardens. They are grouped in the Tropical Garden and used with blue Plumbago give a pleasing effect. They produce spikes of yellow flowers throughout the year. Native to Tropical America they have adapted very well to Florida.
Turks Cap
Turks-Cap is a relative of the hibiscus and is used in the West Gardens of the Florida Botanical Gardens as a screen. The flowers never fully open but are numerous and still add color to the landscape. Used as a clipped hedge or foundation planting the Turks-Cap is easy to maintain. It needs full sun but will tolerate any type of soil. This native of Tropical America is well suited to our Florida climate. The red, pink or white flowers are produced most of the year.