(Threeleaf Akebia)

Akebia is a genus of approximately five species of woody climbers native to China, Japan and Korea. They are evergreen, deciduous or semi-evergreen twining vines grown for their pleasant, spicy or sweetly scented flowers.

The medium green, compound leaves are shaped like a hand and may have three, five or seven leaflets. The leaves alternate on the thin stems. Generally the foliage has a bronze hue when young. The marginally attractive fragrant flowers are borne on unbranched stems...

(Alcantarea)

No tropical garden is complete without a giant alcantarea! Larger than a bushel basket, the rosette of strappy light green leaves eventually forms a towering red flower stalk with curving yellow bracts and ivory flowers. This evergreen perennial bromeliad is a lithophyte (growing among and upon rocks) native to the montane cliffs in extreme southeastern Brazil.

Each leaf is light green, occasionally with speckles or a casting of gray, and strap-like. It tapers to a soft point while the base...

(Alcantarea, Fragrant Alcantarea)

No tropical garden is complete without a fragrant alcantarea! Larger than a bushel basket, the rosette of strappy light green and silver-banded leaves eventually forms a towering red flower stalk with canary yellow flowers. This evergreen perennial bromeliad is a lithophyte (growing among and upon rocks) native to the montane cliffs in extreme southeastern Brazil.

Each pointed, strappy leaf is light green to silver with phantom bandings. It tapers to a soft point while the base of the leaf congregates...

(Hollyhock, Summer Carnival Red Shades Hollyhock)

This compact hollyhock bears beautiful spikes of double flowers in rich red tones. In spring, ‘Summer Carnival Red Shades’ produces a coarse rosette of leaves. In summer strong, leafy flower stalks are produced. These are lined with striking pom pon-like flowers in rich shades of red. Unlike other hollyhocks, members of the Summer Carnival Series flower in the first year from seed.

Hollyhocks thrive in full sun and moderately fertile soil with good drainage. They make an excellent addition to...

(Hollyhock, Summer Carnival Rose Shades Hollyhock)

This compact hollyhock bears beautiful spikes of double flowers in rich rose and pink tones. In spring, ‘Summer Carnival Rose Shades’ produces a coarse rosette of leaves. In summer strong, leafy flower stalks are produced. These are lined with striking pom pon-like flowers of rose and rose-pink. Unlike other hollyhocks, members of the Summer Carnival Series flower in the first year from seed.

Hollyhocks thrive in full sun and moderately fertile soil with good drainage. They make an excellent...

(Hollyhock, Summer Carnival Hollyhock)

Hollyhocks in the Summer Carnival Series are more compact than other selections. In summer they bear strong leafy flower stalks lined with showy double flowers rising from a coarse rosette of leaves. Their blooms may be red, pink, yellow, white or purple, depending on the cultivar, and unlike other hollyhocks, these flower in the first year from seed.

Hollyhocks thrive in full sun and moderately fertile soil with good drainage. They make an excellent addition to cottage gardens, mixed borders...

(Hollyhock, Queeny Purple Hollyhock)

Queeny purple hollyhock is a compact, upright, herbaceous perennial that originates from western Asia. In summer, rosettes of characteristically rough, hairy leaves give rise to short, upright leafy stalks lined with show-stopping, semi-double flowers of rich rose-purple that are highly attractive to butterflies and bees. Hollyhock thrive in moderately fertile, well drained soil and flower best in full sun. It is a great old-fashioned flower that makes an excellent addition to mixed borders and large...

(Seashore Palm)

One of the most salt and drought tolerant palms, Allagoptera arenaria, or seashore palm, is a beautiful tropical palm from the coastal regions of Brazil. Based on fossil records, it is also regarded as the most ancient of palms, a predecessor to all others. It maintains a relatively small size, so it is suitable for dune stabilization, landscapes and containers.

Long pinnate (feather-like) leaves emerge directly from an underground stem and at many angles giving it a fluffy, mounded...

(Allamanda, Cherries Jubilee Allamanda)

Cherries Jubilee Allamanda is an tropical evergreen climbing shrub growing from 5 to 10 feet in height. This hybrid is an excellent clambering shrub for full sun and coastal exposures. The bell-shaped flowers are a muted salmon and burgundy with a dark red throat and blooms nearly year-round in tropical climates. Hummingbirds may check out the flowers.

Give the Cherries Jubilee allamanda a full to partial sun exposure in a well draining soil. Overly alkaline or dry sandy soil will result in...

(Purple Allamanda)

A large, evergreen climber native to the tropical areas of Central and South America; purple allamanda is a striking addition to any frost-free landscape.

Pretty violet-shaded flowers are trumpet-shaped, very showy and appear all year in consistently warm climates. This vine has thin, arching, twining woody branches. The bark is brown, furrowed on mature stems and yellow-green on younger branches. These emit a milky irritating sap when broken. The leaves are elliptical in shape, slightly fuzzy,...