EVB March/2013 1

TerrificTropicals

Ed Barrios Brazoria County Master Gardener

Pictures by Ed Barrios & Kathy Walton

Rick-Rack plant (Cryptocereus anthonyanus)

EVB March/2013 2

■ What are Tropicals? ■ How did Tropicals get so popular? ■ Can I grow Tropicals here? ■ What factors do I need to know? ■ What about design? ■ The plants:

■ Palms ■ Shrubs ■ Flowers

■ What’s next?

Agenda

EVB March/2013 3

What are Tropicals?

■ Tropicals are plants that are growing in the Tropics and Sub-Tropics ■ The Tropics are the land masses between the Tropic of Cancer and

Tropic of Capricorn ■ Tropic is a Greek work meaning solstice, tropic circles are where the

sun is directly overhead at noon during the solstices, about 23.5º latitude

■ Sub-Tropics are bands 300 – 700 miles next to the Tropic areas that are kept temperate due to prevailing winds, ocean currents, mountain ranges, etc.

EVB March/2013 4

What are Tropicals?

■ 300,000 species of plants are found in Tropical and Sub-tropical regions representing 75% of ALL plants

■ 220,000 species, 55%, of plants are from the Western Hemisphere

EVB March/2013 5

How did Tropicals get so popular?

■ European explorers, starting with Columbus started collecting exotic plants for the journey home

■ Tomatoes, potatoes, tobacco, corn and cocoa are a few significant imports from the tropical Americas to Europe

■ After Spain’s early lead, other European countries started colonizing the tropical world and more exotic plants were collected

■ In the 1700’s cities in Europe began building conservatories to display exotic plants

■ By the 1800’s showing exotic plants from the tropics became all the rage in Europe, especially in England

EVB March/2013 6

Zone 9 20F to 30F

Zone 10 30F to 40F

Can I grow Tropicals here?

■ YES, Brazoria County is in Climate Zone 9 and in a Sub-tropical region

■ The Sub-tropical region extends to just North of Houston

■ In fact, our winters seem to be getting more mild and there is less damage to some of the more tender Tropicals (global warming)

How to “Winterize” Tropicals

■ No pruning – stimulates tender new growth, dead sections protect live tissue

■ No fertilization – stimulates tender new growth ■ Mulch to protect trunk and roots ■ Water before freeze or cold spell ■ Cover any prize plants

■ Use frost cloth

EVB March/2013 7

EVB March/2013 8

What factors do I need to consider?

■ Temperature ■ Warm ■ Temperate ■ Cool

■ Soil ■ Gumbo ■ Loam ■ Humus ■ Sandy

■ Water ■ Drench ■ Evenly Moist

EVB March/2013 9

What factors do I need to consider?

■ Environment ■ Dry conditions ■ Humid conditions

■ Light ■ Sunny ■ Partial Shade ■ Shade

■ pH ■ Acid ■ Basic

■ Salt tolerance ■ Over spray ■ Well water

EVB March/2013 10

What about design?■ Accent Plants ■ Scale & height ■ Foliage

■ Bold leaves ■ Feathery leaves ■ Variegated Leaves

■ Flowers ■ Complimentary colors ■ Habitat gardening

EVB March/2013 11

Full Sun• Shell Ginger • Cannas • Oleander • Hibiscus • Palms* • Cycads • Cuphea

Shade• Philodendron • Caladiums • Impatiens • Gingers (short) • Ti Plant • Cast Iron Plant • Sansavera

• Lantana • Bougainvillea • Bananas • Plumeria • Hamelia • Ixora • Strelitizia

EVB March/2013 12

■ Scale ■ Growth Pattern ■ Color ■ Frond Shape ■ Cold Tolerance

Palms ….

Pygmy Date Palm

Chinese Fan Palm

Mexican Fan Palm

EVB March/2013 13

Palms ….

Canary Island Palm

Chinese Fan Palm

California Fan Palm

Cardboard Palm

EVB March/2013 14

Palms ….Ponytail Palm

Mediterranean FanPalm

Travelers Palm

Windmill Palm

Sago Palm

EVB March/2013 15

Palms….Growth Pattern in 2 years

“before…” “after…”

EVB March/2013 16

Other Trees….

Banana Tree

Red Banana Tree

EVB March/2013 17

Shrubs ….

Cast Iron Plant

Peacock Ginger

Ti Plant Canna

Caladium

Hibiscus

Spiral Ginger

Fern

PhiladendronCaladium

Ti PlantTi Plant

Lantana

Plumbago

EVB March/2013 18

Variegated Shell Ginger

Asparagus Fern

Shrubs ….

Variegated Ginger

Elephant Ear

Hisbiscus

Ti Plant

Varigated ManihotPlumbago

Firecracker Plant

Pride of Barbados

Canna

Fern

Fox Tail Fern

EVB March/2013 19

Shrubs …. Mother-in-Law Plant

Split Leaf Philadendron

Red Yucca

Bottle Brush Plant

African Iris

Variegated Crepe Ginger

EVB March/2013 20

Shrubs ….

Bamboo

Bird of Paradise

Crinum ShellGinger

Bougainvillea

Candlestick Plant

Powder Puff

EVB March/2013 21

Flowers ….

Bromeliads

Canna

Star Hibiscus

Orchids

Brazilian Red Cloak

EVB March/2013 22

Flowers ….

Mexican Petunia

Penta

Bulbin

Hibiscus

Vinca

Lantana

Oleander

Plumbago

Vinca

EVB March/2013 23

Flowers ….

Hidden GingerSpiral Ginger

Butterfly Ginger

Ginger

Pink Ginger

EVB March/2013 24

Firecracker Plant

Plumeria

Plumbago

Mexican Petunia

Pride of Barbados

Jatropha

Flowers ….

EVB March/2013 25

What’s next?

■ Get out and PLANT ■ Most plants are tolerant of less than ideal conditions ■ Buy reference book, use internet: Dave’s Garden, TAMU ■ Enjoy