(Butterfly Tree, Nasturtium Bauhinia, Red Bauhinia)

When in bloom, the nasturium-bauhinia looks like a reddish-orange bougainvillea from a distance due to its habit and profuse flowers. A semi-deciduous tree native to southeastern Africa, it grows upright, but has drooping, spreading branches that flop to the ground or on to nearby plants.

The leaves are rounded and divided into two lobes like other Bauhinia. They are a light to medium green and shed during the cool or lightly frosty winter season. The five-petaled flowers bloom most...

(Butterfly Tree, Orchid Tree)

Extraordinary orchid-like blossoms make this tropical tree one of the most beautiful available. Orchid tree is native to Southeast Asia and is well adapted to hot tropical climates as well as more mild ones. It grows to a medium height and has an open canopy.

This semi-evergreen tree loses its leaves in early spring just before it blooms, which really helps the showy flowers stand out. The exotic blossoms are spidery and rich magenta to pink in color. They literally cloak the entire tree creating...

(St. Thomas Tree)

The St. Thomas tree produces delicate pale yellow flowers with dark throats from spring to fall. This large tropical shrub or small tree is native to much of the Old World Tropics, from eastern Africa to southeastern China.

The smooth, rounded, papery leaves of this subtly pretty tree are green with blue-green tones. During the warm months, when moisture is available, the branches become filled with bell-shaped flowers that resemble hibiscus blossoms. In high heat flowering may cease. The...

(Beaucarnea)

Beaucarnea is a genus comprised of four evergreen, tree-like plants native to the dry, arid regions of the southwestern United States, Mexico, and Guatemala. Most have tall trunks, often with a swollen base. In some species the trunks are unbranched; others branch only after flowering or with age. The trunks or branches are crowned with dense clusters of leaves, which are long, linear, leathery and sometimes slightly rough to the touch. Flowers are produced terminally in branched, pyramidal-shaped...

(Bottle Palm, Ponytail Palm)

Heat and drought are no problem for this tough plant. Ponytail palm is a tall, palm-like plant that is not a true palm but is closely related to agave. It has an upright, fleshy, trunk-like stem that becomes swollen at the base, where is stores water. This is topped with clusters of long, curved, sword-shaped leaves that hang down giving the appearance of a pony’s tail. When mature, it produces panicles of fragrant cream colored flowers that are pollinated by bats.

Ponytail palm thrives in hot...

(Ponytail Palm, Variegated Ponytail Palm)

Heat and drought are no problem for this tough plant. Ponytail palm is a tall, palm-like plant that is not a true palm but is closely related to agave. It has an upright, fleshy, trunk-like stem that becomes swollen at the base, where is stores water. This is topped with clusters of long, curved, sword-shaped leaves that hang down giving the appearance of a pony’s tail. When mature, it produces panicles of fragrant cream colored flowers that are pollinated by bats.

Ponytail palm thrives in hot...

(Easter Lily Vine, Herald's Trumpet, Nepal Trumpet Flower)

With dangling clusters of large white trumpet-shaped flowers in very late winter and into the spring, herald's trumpet is a spectacular vine perfect for smaller tropical gardens. A heavy, vigorous evergreen vine it is native to southern Asia from the Himalayan foothills southeastward into Vietnam. Here, its lily-like blooms appear in proximity to the Easter holiday, yielding another common name.

Rust-colored hairs are on the undersides of youngest leaves before they mature to larger oval or oblong...

(Begonia)

Adored for beautiful blooms and wildly colorful foliage, Begonia is one of the largest genera of flowering plants. There are over 1,500 species and more than 10,000 cultivars and hybrids. They are found all over the world but most originate from sub-tropical and tropical regions.

The plants come in many different forms. They are fleshy, herbaceous and may be annual or perennial. In habit, they can be shrubby, climbing, or epiphytic (tree-dwelling). The leaves are simple or compound...

(Ambassador Pink Begonia, Fibrous Begonia, Wax Begonia)

Popular bedding plants, ambassador pink wax begonias are tender perennials of hybrid origin. These plants are evergreen in tropical to sub-tropical zones but grown as annuals in temperate zones. Ambassador pink wax begonias bloom continuously in summer displaying bright pink blooms on light green foliage. They prefer well drained soil in full sun to partial shade. As reliable bloomers they are often used as annuals in containers, hanging baskets and mass plantings.

(Ambassador Red Begonia, Fibrous Begonia, Wax Begonia)

Popular bedding plants, ambassador red wax begonias are tender perennials of hybrid origin. These plants are evergreen in tropical to sub-tropical zones but grown as annuals in temperate zones. Ambassador red wax begonias bloom continuously in summer displaying bright red blooms on light green foliage. They prefer well drained soil in full sun to partial shade. As reliable bloomers they are often used as annuals in containers, hanging baskets and mass plantings.