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Tropicals: Standing Plants

 

A B C D F H J K L M P R S T V Y

 

Names Light Water Flowers & Foliage Feature & Culture
AIR PLANT Tillandsia species Bright filtered sunlight Mist frequently to increase humidity. Colored, long lived flowers. Rosette of narrow leaves. Plant absorbs moisture from air! Epiphytic bromeliad in wild grows on trees.
Aloe-medicine
Aloe vera		 Bright direct sunlight Allow soil to dry out thoroughly before watering. Narrow fleshy, succulent leaves. Medicinally used to treat burns. Useful plant to have in your home.
Aralia-False
Dizygotheca elegantissima		 Bright indirect sunlight Allow soil surface to dry out slightly before watering. Compound leaves with dark slender leaflets. Delicate elegant slender foliage. Unique leaf shape & color.
Aralia-Ming
Polyscias fruticosa elegans		 Bright indirect sunlight Allow soil surface to dry out slightly before watering. Delicate elegant foliage Named after Ming dynasty in China.Extra humidity is beneficial.
Aralia-PARSLEY
Polyscias fruticosa ‘Parsley’		 Bright indirect sunlight Allow soil surface to dry out slightly before watering. Delicate, dark green leaves. Shrub with aromatic, lacy leaves. Extra humidity is beneficial.
B
Begonia-Rex
Begonia rex		 Bright indirect sunlight Allow soil surface to dry out slightly before watering. Decorative leaves. Keep leaves dry. Colorful foliage plant. Many interesting varieties.
Bird of Paradise
Strelitzia reginae		 Bright indirect sunlight Allow soil surface to dry out before watering. Reduce watering in winter. Orange & blue bird-like flower occurs in spring! Lg. leaves on long stalk. Flowers after plants are 7 years old. Prefers to be root-bound. Keep cooler in winter.
Bonsai
 Buxus, Ficus, etc.		 According to species Frequent watering daily. Foliage pruned to form. Stunted growth because of restricted rooting. Outdoor varieties require cold treatment.Tropicals are easier to care for. Examples are fig, & natal plum and boxwood.
Bougainvillea
Bougainvillea buttiana		 Direct sunlight Allow soil surface to dry out before watering. Reduce in the winter. Colored bracts on paperyflowers. Climbing leaves. Excellent climber for direct sunlight locations. Woody, climbing shrub.
Boxwood
 Buxus microphylla		 Medium sunlight Keep soil uniformly moist. Tiny oval leaves. Easy to prune, box-shaped, bonsai plant. Woody shrub can be put outside.
Bromeliads
 Aechmea, Neoregalia		 Bright filtered sunlight Keep small amount of water in center of plant. Stemless rosette of leaves. Colorful flowers and bracts.Various and variegated leaves.
 Prefer warm temperatures & high humidity. To propagate remove plant offsets.
C
Cacti
 Cereus, Euphorbia		 Bright direct sunlight Allow soil to dry out thoroughly before watering. Reduce watering in winter. Various colored flowers. Spines are actually modified leaves.Peruvian tree cactus and milk tree.
Well-drained, sandy soil.
Caladium
Caladium x hortulanum		 Bright indirect sunlight Keep soil uniformly moist in summer. Stop watering in fall. Heart-shaped, paper-thin leaves ornamented with various colors. Grown from tubers. Foliage dies down in fall and goes dormant. Commonly called elephant ears
CALATHEA
 Calathea makoyana		 Medium sunlight Keep soil uniformly moist. Benefits from extra humidity. Ornate leaves. Intricately patterned, colorful foliage. Similar looking & culture as Prayer Plant.
CamelLia
Camellia japonica		 Bright filtered sunlight Keep soil uniformly moist during flowering period humidity is beneficial. Red, pink or white dbl semi-double or single. Glossy leaves. Evergreen woody shrub.Prefers cool location & acidic soil. Camellia sinensis is the true tea plant.
Cast Iron Plant
Aspidistra elatior		 Medium to low light Allow soil surface to dry out thoroughly before watering. Reduce watering in winter. Tough-as-nails plant for low light and temp.
 Lance-shaped leaves. Keep leaves free of dust.
China Doll
Radermachera sinica		 Bright indirect sunlight Keep soil uniformly moist. Compound leaves with glossy leaflets. This plant is as pretty as a China doll. Delicate exquisite foliage.
Chinese Evergreen
 Aglaonema commutatum		 Medium to low light Allow soil surface to dry out before watering. Lance- shaped leaves with many variegations Several varieties including Silver Queen. Easy to grow; for home or office.
Citrus
 Citrus species		 Bright indirect sunlight Allow soil surface to dry out before watering. Fragrant white flowers. Glossy green leaves. No fertilizer in winter; allow to dry out in winter. Prefers cooler night & winter temperatures.
Croton
 Codiaeum variegatum		 Bright direct sunlight Keep soil uniformly moist. Extra humidity is beneficial. Various leaf colors and shapes Variegated leaves provide indoor contrast. Keep leaves clean of dust.
D
DUMB CANE
 Dieffenbachia species		 Medium sunlight Allow soil to dry out before watering. Variegated oblong leaves. Decorative foliage plant. Low maintenance plant. Tolerates low light
Dracaena
 Dracaena species		 Medium sunlight Allow soil to dry out before watering. Green or striped, lance-shaped leaves. Janet Craig/warnecki/corn cane/ marginata. Accent plants used for interior landscapes.
F
Ferns
 Asplenium, Pellaea 		Filtered sunlight Keep soil uniformly moist. Various shaped fronds! Shade tolerant, moisture loving plants.
Fig-Weeping
 Ficus benjamina		 Medium sunlight Keep soil uniformly moist. Wavy oval leaves. Graceful weeping tree. Favorite foliage plant for interior landscapers.
Flamingo flower
 Anthurium species		 Bright filtered sunlight Keep soil uniformly moist. Extra humidity is beneficial. Red or pink spathes. Ovate leathery leaves. Long-lasting cut flower of Hawaii.
H
Homalomena
 Homalomena species		 Low to med. sunlight Allow soil surface to dry out thoroughly before watering. Heart-shaped leaves. Em gem cultivar is available. Similar to Philodendron.
J
Jade Plant
 Crassula argentea		 Bright direct sunlight Allow soil to dry before watering. Delicate white flowers. Succulent leaves. Popular succulent with jade green leaves. Jades like to be pot-bound.
Jasmine
 Jasminum species		 Bright indirect sunlight Keep soil uniformly moist. Extra humidity is beneficial. White fragrant flowers. Small leaflets. Several climbing varieties available. Use on trellis or as a hanging plant.
K
Kaffir Lily
 Clivia miniata		 Bright filtered sunlight Keep soil uniformly moist during spring & summer. Orange funnel-like flowers. Long narrow, glossy leaves. Prefers to be root bound. Needs 2 months cool dry, winter rest period.
L
LAUREL, INDIAN
Ficus retusa nitida		 Medium sunlight Keep soil uniformly moist. Sturdier leaves than W. Fig. Smooth oval leaves. Upright tree can be trained as a standard. Also called Green Gem.
M
MONEY TREE
 Pachira		 Bright indirect sunlight Allow soil to dry out moderatly before watering. Elongated leaves. 5 per stem. 5 leaves symbolize 5 elements of Feng shui.
P
Palms
 Chamaedorea, Phoenix, Chamaerops, Rhapis, etc.		 Bright indirect sunlight Keep soil uniformly moist. Extra humidity is beneficial. Require good drainage. Feathery fronds. Graceful exotic, tropical foliage plants. Areca, bamboo, date, fan, kentia, & lady. Many varieties with several leaf shapes.
Palm-PONYTAIL
 Beaucarnea recurvata		 Bright direct sunlight Allow soil to dry out thoroughly before watering. Arching narrow leaves. Swollen stem base stores water. Not a true palm; actually a succulent.
Passion Flower
Passiflora species		 Bright direct sunlight Keep soil uniformly moist. Extra humidity is beneficial. Intricate flowers. Lobed leaves. Unusual flowers. Beautiful exotic varieties.
Peace Lily
 Spathiphyllum ‘Mauna Loa’		 Med to low sunlight Keep soil uniformly moist. White spathe on long stem. Lance-shaped leaves. Easiest flowering plant for low light area. Interior landscape plant. Called white flag.
Peperomia
 Peperomia species		 Bright indirect sunlight Allow soil surface to dry out th Round fleshy leaves Several species are semi-succulent such as watermelon, emerald ripple, pepper face.
Philodendron
 Philodendron species		 Low to med sunlight Allow soil surface to dry out thoroughly before watering. Heart-shaped, large leaves. Many varieties including Selloum and Xanadu. Easy to grow plants that tolerate low light.
Philodendron-SPLIT LEAF
 Monstera deliciosa		 Low to med sunlight Allow soil surface to dry out before watering. Large perforated, split leaves. Plant sends out aerial roots.
Pine-Buddhist
 Podocarpus macrophyllus		 Bright filtered sunlight Keep soil uniformly moist. Large linear leaves. Coniferous evergreen tree. Requires staking and cool winter temp.
Pine-Fern
 Podocarpus gracilior		 Bright filtered sunlight Keep soil uniformly moist. Linear leaves. Drooping foliage.
 Graceful coniferous evergreen tree.
Pine-Norfolk Island
Araucaria excelsa		 Bright indirect sunlight Keep soil uniformly moist. Soft needles. Coniferous evergreen with tiered branches. Can be decorated as indoor Christmas tree.
Pine-Star
 Araucaria heterophylla		 Bright indirect sunlight Keep soil uniformly moist. Soft needles. Symmetrical tree with stiffer branches than Norfolk island pine.
Polka Dot Plant
Hypoestes phyllostachya 		Bright filtered sunlight Keep soil uniformly moist. Lavender flowers. Pink spots on leaves. Adds a splash of color to the home oroffice. Prune to retain bushiness.
R
Rubber Plant
 Ficus elastica		 Medium sunlight Allow soil to dry before watering. Good drainage. Thick oval leaves. Keep leaves clean. Old-fashioned, sturdy house plant.
S
Schefflera
 Schefflera actinophylla Schefflera arboricola		 Bright indirect sunlight Allow soil surface to dry out before watering. Compound leaves. Popular foliage plant for interior landscapes. Two species are umbrella tree and Hawaiian. shrub for home or office.
Sensitive Plant
 Mimosa pudica		 Bright direct sunlight Keep soil uniformly moist. Compound lacy leaflets. Unique feature of folding leaves if touched. Popular plant with kids to show plants move.
Snake Plant
 Sansevieria trifasciata Sansevieria zeylanica		 Bright indirect sunlight.Tolerates mid-low light. Allow soil surface to dry out thoroughly before watering. Provide good drainage. Erect, lance-shaped, variegated rosette of leaves. One of the hardiest of all indoor plants. Semi-succulent plants such as bird’s nest. Easy to care for, popular plants.
Succulents
 Agave, Aloe Haworthia, etc		 Bright direct sunlight Allow soil to dry before watering.Provide good drainage. Needs well-drained sandy soil. Various colored flowers. Fleshy succulent leaves. Various species of varying forms and hangers. Needs cool dry, dormancy period in winter. Easy to grow.
T
Ti Plant
 Cordyline terminalis		 Medium sunlight Allow soil surface to dry out before watering. Variegated, lance-shaped leaves. Hawaiian or Polynesian plant. Similar culture to Dracaena.
V
Venus Fly Trap
Dionaea muscipula		 Bright indirect sunlight Keep soil uniformly moist. Extra humidity is required. Rosette of leaves. Novelty carnivorous plant feeds on insects. ‘Mouths’ do not reopen once closed.
Y
Yucca
 Yucca elephantipes		 Bright direct sunlight Allow soil surface to dry out thoroughly before watering. Lance-shaped leaves. Durable plant tolerates adverse conditions. Evergreen accent or specimen shrub.

 

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