(Baobab, Dead Rat Tree)

With a flared, muscular trunk and architectural, stubby branches, the baobab is a tree to admire in spacious landscapes. A slow-growing, deciduous tropical tree native to southern Sub-Saharan Africa, this succulent tree is characterized by a swollen trunk that often becomes hollow in order to store rainfall for sustenance. Interestingly, the wood of baobab is relatively soft and spongy and does not produce age rings, even though considered one of the longest-lived tree species on earth.

The medium...

(Candycorn Flower)

The leaves occur in pairs along the often red-tan branches. Colored medium to dark green above, and with a lighter gray-green underside, each leaf is an elongated oval with a tapering tip. At the base of the leaves small rounded clusters of white flowers appear. The tiny fruits turn a bright reddish purple at first, eventually becoming black with ripe and dry. Both wind and birds will spread the seeds.

(Desert Rose)

Desert rose is a heat-loving beauty with swollen “feet” or trunk flare. It is native to sub-Saharan Africa and Arabia and is a large perennial shrub to small tree with a wide swollen base which is sometimes buried underground. The ovate leaves are clustered on the ends of many twisted branches, most with no petiole. It is usually leafless during the cooler winter dry season. Grown for spectacular bell-shaped flowers with colors ranging from deep rose/red to pale pink which appear in summer in mass...

(Black Ruby Desert Rose, Desert Rose)

Desert rose is a hothouse baby with swollen “feet.” It is native to sub-Saharan Africa and Arabia and is a large perennial shrub to small tree with a much swollen base which is sometime buried underground. Grown for spectacular bell-shaped flowers, ‘Black Ruby' blossoms have white centers, red petals with a very dark red or 'black' edge which appear in summer in mass and few scattered throughout the year. The ovate leaves are clustered on the ends of many twisted branches, most with no petiole. It...

(Adonidia Palm, Christmas Palm)

Christmas palm is a tall, graceful, evergreen with an arching, feathery crown of fronds. Strap-like leaflets of this native of the Philippines are green to dark green above and light green and scaly below. Flowers generally occur in summer and are yellow to yellow-green and held in pendent, brached clusters at the base of the crownshaft. The fruits become bright red or orange-red by late autumn, lingering into the winter. This coincided with Christmas in its native land.

Christmas palm prefers...

(Aechmea, Big Harv Aechmea, Big Harv Bromeliad)

A large bromeliad for the tropical landscape, 'Big Harv' has light green and coppery foliage and produces a tall, branched, yellow and red flower spike in summertime. It is an evergreen, frost-tender perennial bromeliad that forms an upright rosette of leaves with a bold, coarse visual texture. It is usually grown in the soil but can be wedged among rocks. This hybrid was developed by Bullis Bromeliads of Princeton, Florida.

The long, rigid strappy leaves are a light green with coppery bronze...

(Aechmea , Del Mar Aechmea, Del Mar Bromeliad)

Bromeliad ‘Del Mar’ is a tender tropical perennial grown primarily for its spectacular long-lasting blooms and compact habit. Resulting from a cross between Aechmea fendleri and A. dichlamydea var. trinitensis, it has a rosette of leathery, broadly lance-shaped, medium green leaves with small sharp spines on their edges. The arching leaves form a 30-cm (12-inch) tall, 60-cm (2-foot) wide clump, with a central tube-shaped "cup." A spike of showy flowers with purple...

(Aechmea , Foster's Freckles Aechmea, Foster's Freckles Bromeliad)

Resulting from a cross of the bromeliads Aechmea fendleri and A. orlandiana, 'Foster's Freckles' is a tender tropical perennial grown primarily for its lush speckled foliage. It forms a tall rosette of leathery, upright, broadly lance-shaped leaves with burgundy-brown spots. The light green leaves are edged with small sharp spines. The rosette may send forth a tall thick flower stem topped by a large spike-like cluster of small white blooms with showy scarlet bracts. The...

(Aechmea, Oregon Aechmea, Oregon Bromeliad)

An excellent plant for the tropical landscape, the hybrid bromeliad ‘Oregon’ is a tender evergreen perennial grown primarily for its large colorful leaves and brightly hued bloom. The leathery, broadly lance-shaped, spine-edged leaves are of tropical hues: rose, yellow and mango-orange. The upright, gently arching leaves are arranged in a rosette with a cupped center. A tall, branched, red-stemmed spike with scarlet, bead-like flowers grows from the rosette's center. Showy yellow fruits follow the...

(Aechmea, Patricia Aechmea, Patricia Bromeliad)

A large bromeliad for the tropical landscape, 'Patricia' has handsome evergreen foliage and brilliantly hued flowers. Developed by Bullis Bromeliads of Homestead, Florida, this frost-tender perennial forms an bold upright rosette of arching, broadly strap-shaped leaves. The leathery, light olive-green leaves have hints of silver and blushes of dark red-copper, particularly in cool conditions. Their edges are lined in tiny red lacerating spines. The leaf bases form a water-collecting "cup" at the...