In my home landscape and at my extension office, we have several unusual flowering plants. These are so amazingly strange looking, you want to stop and look again.
Spiral ginger: This fast-growing perennial can reach a height of 6 to 10 feet and a spread of 4 to 8 feet. It prefers a slightly acid to slightly alkaline soil pH of 6.0 to 7.2. Any soil texture works well. Soil moisture should be well drained. It has low-drought and low to no salt tolerance. It prefers partial shade/partial sun, but performs well in full shade/full sun. The undersides of the leaves are soft. The flowers remind me of a red wax sculpture with protruding yellow bird bills. Flowering occurs summer through fall. The plant grows well in north, central and south Florida.
Wax plant, wax flower, Hoya carnosa: The height and spread of this slow-growing vine depend on the container used. It prefers acidic potting mixtures that can include compost, peat or sphagnum moss. Soil moisture must be extremely well drained. It has high drought tolerance and poor salt tolerance. It prefers partial shade/partial sun. It produces large, round hanging clusters of cream or pink flowers in the spring and summer and performs well in containers or hanging baskets. Propagation is by cuttings.
For more information, see “Hoya carnosa Wax Plant, Wax Flower” at edis.ifas.ufl.edu/fp257.
Bromeliad and tillandsia: There are 16 native bromeliad species and about 85 native species of air plants in Florida. Bromeliads are slow growing and generally reach a height and spread of 1 to 2 feet. This plant prefers a slightly acid to slightly alkaline soil pH of 6.0 to 7.2 and sandy soil. Soil moisture should be well drained. Bromeliads have high drought and low to no salt tolerance. Partial shade/partial sun is preferred, but it performs well in full shade/full sun. Tillandsia is a member of the pineapple family that lives on but not off other plants—making them epiphytes, not parasites. They do not have roots on the ground, although some capture water through their roots or leaves. Some prefer sun; others prefer shade. Propagation is from “pups” produced by the mother plant. These plants grow well in north, central and south Florida.
For more information, see “Florida’s Native Bromeliads” at edis.ifas.ufl.edu/uw205.
Gloriosa lily: This fast-growing perennial can reach a height and spread of 2 to 8 feet. It prefers a slightly acid to slightly alkaline soil pH of 6.0 to 7.2. Soil texture should be sandy clay. Soil moisture should be well drained. Gloriosa lily has medium drought tolerance. It prefers partial shade/partial sun, but performs well in full shade. This grows well in north, central and south Florida.
Chinese hat plant: This has a moderate growth rate and can reach a height and spread of 5 to 8 feet. It prefers an acid to slightly alkaline soil pH of 4.5 to 7.2. Any soil texture works well. Soil moisture should be medium drained. The plant has moderate drought tolerance, requiring irrigation during dry seasons. It prefers partial shade/partial sun. Chinese hat plant produces bright orange/red flowers that look like a hat. Flowering occurs year-round in south Florida. It works well as a standard, hedge, border or specimen plant. It grows well in central and south Florida.
For more information, see “Flowering Vines for Florida” at edis.ifas.ufl.edu/mg097.
For more information about the Florida-Friendly Landscaping Program, visit ffl.ifas.ufl.edu.