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Tropical Temptations

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Siam Ruby
Photo Credit: Agristarts, Inc.
Well-suited for planters or containers, Musa ‘Siam Ruby’ banana adds dramatic interest to any garden.
Get ready for some real tropical eye candy at your local garden center this spring! Florida foliage and tropical-plant growers will be making a big splash when their plants hit the roads in the weeks ahead. In fact, 2008 could very well be “The Year of the Leaf,” featuring glorious, large-leaved, colorful tropicals that almost take your breath away. (Close your eyes and think rain forest!)

For all you Zone 10 residents, you can think of these beauties as year-round outdoor landscape plants. And for those of us living everywhere else (Zone 9 and colder), we can enjoy a temporary taste of the tropics during the summer months, and then move our tropical lovelies indoors for the rest of the year. Can’t wait to see what’s headed our way? Let me whet your taste buds with a few examples of what you and your garden have to look forward to.

Ever grow a banana plant? Well, if you haven’t before, you’ll want to now when you see Musa ‘Siam Ruby’! Consider the dramatic appeal of this banana plant when it’s nestled in your landscape, showing off its large, red leaves splashed with chartreuse. Or try sinking pots of this beauty in your landscape beds for the summer. I can also easily imagine beautiful potted specimens of this plant decorating swimming pools and hot tubs. Colder climates (Zone 9 and colder) can enjoy this beauty indoors during fall through spring. Just make sure you have high ceilings – this Musa can grow to 8 feet tall – and lots and lots of sunlight! ‘Siam Ruby’ is a tropical “must” for 2008!

Warnings
  • Remember, there’s a reason why tropical plants are called “tropical.” If you live in cool climate, you’ll need to bring your tropic beauties indoors in fall (or let them succumb to frost)!
Tips
  • Try different combinations of tropicals for added interest in textures and colors – just remember to combine those that have similar light and water requirements!
 
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