Three beautiful options for your tropical garden in Mexico are bamboo, banana and bird of paradise. Family: Musaceae Use: Banana is a tree-like plant (actually a herb), closely related to plantains. It produces edible fruit that grows in clusters. There are many fruits to each tier, which is called a hand. Bananas are the staple starch in […]
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Three beautiful options for your tropical garden in Mexico are the bismark palm, bottle palm and blue agave. Family: Areceae Use: The bismark palm is prized as a landscape specimen, singly or in rows. Its height can vary from 40 to 70 feet, and branched reach up to 15 feet across, with a crown of spiky fronds. […]
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Three beautiful options for your tropical garden in Mexico are bougainvillea, breadfruit and bromeliads. Family: Nyctaginaceae Alternate Name: Paper Flower Use: Bougainvillea is an ornamental climber for covering fences and walls. It is also seen as a sprawling shrub. The paper flower can be grown in pots, or trimmed as border hedge. It has thorns, bright green heart-shaped […]
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Three beautiful options for your tropical garden in Mexico are the buttonwood, calabash and butterfly palm. Family: Combretaceae Alternate Name: Button Mangrove Use: Both the green and silver (C. erectus sericeus) varieties are available as ornamental trees, and have been cultivated as bonsai. The heavy wood is durable, taking a fine polish, and is used for boats and […]
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Three beautiful options for your tropical garden in Mexico are the celosia, century plant and coconut palm. Family: Amaranthaceae Alternate Names: Cockscomb, Chinese Wool Flower Use: Celosia is a showy, fast-growing annual with red, gold, yellow, or pink flowers, lasting up to two months. They make excellent cut flowers. Raise celosia in a greenhouse or a conservatory in […]
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Three beautiful options for your tropical garden in Mexico are the coffee tree, swamp lily and heliconia. Family: Rubiaceae Use: The beans produce a beverage and stimulant used widely for at least 1000 years. There are about 60 species in the wild, about 10 species under cultivation. The most valuable are arabica and robusta. Flowers: Coffee flowers are small, white, star-shaped […]
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Three beautiful options for your tropical garden in Mexico are the ponytail palm, croton and dwarf poinciana. Family: Agavaceae Alternate name: Elephant’s Foot Use: The ponytail palm is a tropical landscape specimen. It can be grown indoors as a potted plant, and is also grown as a bonsai. Cultivation: The ponytail palm is a hardy, forgiving plant for a […]
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Three beautiful options for your tropical garden in Mexico are the desert rose, dracaena and pothos. Family: Apocynaceae Alternate names: Impala Lily, Desert Azalea, Sabie Star Use: Related to the frangipani but more drought tolerant, this small shrub is evergreen. It grows to 6 feet high in the wild, but is usually smaller in cultivation, and is often […]
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Common names, scientific names, use and care, cultivation and propagation tips, flowering habits, history and little-known facts for the curious tourist or resident Family: Solanaceae Alternate Names: Angels Trumpets, Moon Flower Use: In tropical and sub-tropical climates, this fast-growing shrub is an attractive isolated lawn or garden specimen, and is sometimes used in borders. In cooler areas, it […]
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Three beautiful options for your tropical garden in Mexico are the caladium, candleabra cactus and canna lily. Family: Araceae Alternate Name: Geraniums of the South Use: The caladium is a bedding or container plant grown for its colorful foliage. There is some debate about its some seven to seventeen varieties, their names and origins, but all are beautiful. […]
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