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.
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.
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..
Cat Whiskers
Cat Whiskers (Orthosiphon stamineus) is an unusual member of the mint family and has flowers that are very showy. The stamens are long and wispy, reminding one of cat whiskers. A perennial, Cat Whiskers grows to about 2 feet tall but may spread as far as 4 feet. Cat Whiskers will grow in full sun but prefers part shade in our area. It is an excellent plant to attract bees, butterflies and occasional hummingbirds. You can find Cat Whiskers growing along the path leading to the Fruit Garden.
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.
Cuban Buttercup
Cuban Buttercup, Turnera ulmifolia. Scattered throughout the gardens, the Cuban Buttercup adds a splash of color during the summer months. This native to Mexico, the Bahamas, West Indies and northern South America is very easy to grow in Florida. It is a small shrub that may grow to four feet tall. The fragrant yellow flowers have 5 petals that are one to two inches across. The variety shown here is Elegans which has purple blotches at the base of the petals. Will self-seed.
Gardenia
Gardenia (Gardenia jasminoides) has a prominent place in the Tropical Walk at the Florida Botanical Gardens. Several cultivars are planted at the entrance. Gardenia flowers are very fragrant and can be either single or double, small or large and white or off white. Most blooms are produced in early summer but there are new cultivars that bloom throughout the year. Gardenia jasminoides are grafted on the rootstock of nematode-resistant Gardenia thunbergia.
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.
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.
Lion's Ear
Lion's Ear, Leonotis leonurus. A member of the sage family, the Lion's Ear sends up tall shoots of six feet or more. In late summer and fall whorls of orange-yellow tubular flowers appear. Lion's Tail will grow in most any type of soil and is partially deciduous in winter months. It can be seen growing at the entrance to the Extension Service near the flagpole.
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.
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.
Allamandas
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.
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.
Blue Daze
Blue Daze (Evolvulus glomeratus) grows best in full sun to part shade on well-drained sandy soil. The blue flowers are seen year around. It's used as a border or ground cover and adds color to any landscape. This herbaceous perennial may develop a fungus disease during the rainy season. Blue Daze is planted in the West Garden and also around the Topiary cake in the Wedding Garden.
Cassias
Cassias (Cassia species). trees and shrubs produce some of the most vivid yellow flowers of any of the flowering plants in the Florida Botanical Gardens. Cassia spectabilis, C. fistula and Cassia alata are used as specimen plants to highlight areas of the East and West Gardens. C. fistula produces clusters of hanging flowers that are a foot or more long during the summer months. C. alata is commonly called Candle Bush to denote the tall spikes of bright yellow blooms that butterflies love. C. spectabilis flowers off and on throughout the year with the most show of color in the summer months.
Crape Jasmine
Crape Jasmine (Tabermontana coronaria) is featured in the wedding garden as well as other locations throughout the Florida Botanical Gardens. The waxy, white, fragrant flowers are present most of the year. This native of India is well suited to the Florida landscape. After establishment, Crape Jasmine grows with little attention.
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.
Fire Bush
Fire Bush (Hamelia patens) is native to southern Florida and is widely planted in Central Florida as well. The red tubular flowers are very showy. The Fire Bush adds color to the Tropical Walk in the East Gardens as well as the native planting near the retention pond. Reaching a height of 12 feet it attracts butterflies and hummingbirds.
Heliconias
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.
Horsemint
Horsemint (Monarda punctata) is a very interesting plant. The flowers are in clusters around the stem and surrounded by leaflike bracts that are green below and pink above. Blooming occurs in the spring, summer and fall. This native plant can be found growing wild in disturbed sites of Central and north Florida. It can be seen in the Xeric Area and along the pond at the Florida Botanical Gardens.
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.
Pagoda Plant
Several Clerodendrum species are growing throughout the gardens. The one pictured here (Clerodendrum speciosissimum) is located in the Oasis Area. It has clusters of red flowers throughout the year. Other Clerodendrum have various colored flowers. The vine called Bleeding-Heart, has white calyxes enclosing a bright red corolla and long stamens.
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.
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.