African Violet (Saintpaulia)

Native primarily to Tanzania, where they are on the verge of extinction, these windowsill gems have been thriving in home culture since Victorian times. African violets like to be kept evenly moist (not wet), and are best "bottom watered" as the leaves are sensative, and can be spotted by drying water droplets. Grow African Violets in bright, indirect (or filtered) light, and feed regualrly with African Violet food. 

CLICK HERE for tips on growing African Violets

Allamanda cathartica

Brilliantly cheerful yellow blooms measuring up to 3" across adorn this free-flowering topical vine. Also called "Golden Trumpet Flower" or "Golden Butterfly",  it can reach up to 6' if over-wintered indoors in a sunny window (although it is not likely to flower during the low-light months of winter). Full sun to light shade.

Angels' Trumpet (Brugmansia)

At twighlight, the sweetly perfumed fragrance of Angels' Trumpets fill the air. Spectacularly large, trumpet shaped blooms adorn this tropical wonder-shrub. During the growing season, we offer multiple sizes of these plants in a range of colors. Grow in full sun to light shade. Height: 4 - 12 feet. Many of our customers over-winter these, with growing impact from year to year. All parts of this plant are toxic. Often trimmed to grow as a small tree.

Angel's Trumpet (Datura)

Distantly related to other Angel's Trumpets (such as Brugmansia), these are smaller, bush type plants which produce showy, fragrant trumpeted blooms in profusion.  Ranging from yellow & white, to double purple (with shiny black stems), all part of this plant are toxic. It is best to remove seed-heads as they emerge, since Datura can re-seed prolifically. While the plants are not winter hardy, seeds often are and can become a nuisance if not kept in check. Grow in full sun to part shade. Height: 18-30"

Anthurium

These are easy to grow, low light loving plants, also suitable for shady containers or "temperennials" in garden borders. We carry a broad range of changing varieties throughout the year. While all Anthurium produce "spathe & spadix" type blooms, not all flowers are showy. (Those with less than picturesque blooms tend to have incredibly fantastic foliage - such as A. crystallinum and A. vittarifolium.) Epiphyic & semi-epiphytic by nature, these plants love to be pot-bound, and tend to be suprisingly drought tolerant.

Bird of Paradise (Strelitzia reginae & S. nicolae)

Prized for its showy, "feathered" flowers, this tropical has attractive, broadly lanced shaped foliage. Plant require bright light, with a minimum of four hours of direct sun in order to thrive. Getting a plant to bloom can require patience, but keeping it root-bound with good light and even moisture go a long way in helping. Given the flower, it is no suprise that Bird of Paradise is a heavy feed, so use an all purpose plant food every two weeks from March through September.

Blue Glory Bush (Thunbergia battiscombei)

The stunning azure blue trumpet fowers of this plant are one of the bluest flowers known. Free-flowering from mis-late spring through fall, these blooms attract hummingbird, butterflies, and people. A rarity amoungst flora, this plant is actually "semi-carnivorous", deriving some of its nutrients from small gnats which get stuck in the sticky hairs deep in the throats of the flowers, where they are digested. Grow in full sun to part shade & do not over-water.

Cajun Hibiscus (Hibiscus rosa-sinense "Cajun Series")

These hybridized tropical varieties boast unusually dramatic flowers, even by hibiscus standards. With large blooms ranging from frilled and picoteed, to wildly colored and ruffled, Cajuns have large, deep green, shiny  foliage, and attractive shrubby habits (unlike earlier hybrid predecessors.) Grow in very bright light with a minimum of six hours of direct sun, and feed regularly through the growing season with Hibiscus Food (such as Palm-Tone) or a Blossom Booster.

Calla Lillies (Zantedneschia)

Availalbe in a wide range of colors, these classics for bouquets & arrangements make good house & garden plants in full sun to part shade.  Gown from corms, Callas bloom mid-spring into summer, but the require a resting period of 2 - 3 months as the foliage dies back. During dormancy, soil should be allowed to dry completely. Begin watering lightly after three months of rest. New foliage will begin to emerge, followed by a new cycle of blooms for a mid-winter lift, indoors.

Chenille (Acalypha hispida)

These plants always inspire gasps of awe when available (usually only in spring). Deep green foliage gives way to masses of vibrantly red, fuzzy catkins which hang from the plant like waterfalls. Chenille plants prefer full sun to light shade. Plants bloom non-stop, taking only a brief rest if brought indoors for winter.  Great in baskets or combinations, Chenille make a great conversation piece.

Chinese Lantern (Abutilon megapotamicum)

This unique plant related to other "Flowering Maples" develops dramatically pendant branches. From these branches, stunning red and yellow "hose in hose" flowers dangle in clusters like Chinese lanterns on party night. Provided full sun, average moisture, and constant feeding, these plants can continue to put on a good show right through the winter indoors. We have also found this to be a unique element to add to mixed containers for an extra splash of flare. We only offer these in spring.

Cyclamen

We offer these stunning plants year round. Always showy, these free-flowering, long blooming plants range in color form whites and pinks to reds and magenta, above crisp and tastefully variegated foliage. Cyclamen like low to bright indirect light, with even moisture. (For best results, allow the soil to dry lightly between waterings.) Ideal indoors, or shady outdoor containers, they are one of our most popular plants for gifts and table centerpieces.

 Desert Rose (Adenium obesum)

Stiking in its architectural form, the branches of Adenium protrude upward from a thick bulbous base (pseudo-bulb). Sparse but attractive foliage tip each branch, where blooms can be produced throughout the year. Flowers are unique five petaled pink trumpets, each picoteed with a shocking pink edge. As the name might infer, Desert Rose likes full sun, and are pretty drought tolerant. (The psuedo-bulb acts as a resevoir for both water & nutrients.) Allow the soil to dry between waterings, as Adenium very much dislike being overwatered. 

False African Violet (Streptocarpella)

Once a poular victorian houseplant, this easy to grow, shade loving bloomer provides a non-stop array of dancing blue flowers held above the foliage on delicate, wirey stems. This is a nice alternative in baskets or pots protected from the hot afternoon sun outside, or bright indirect light indoors, year-round. For best results, water the soil, not the plant, as the fuzzy leaves are prone to spotting from water droplets. 

Firecracker Plant (Russelia equisetiformis)

This plant has become wildly popular for us, and is rarely found in other northern garden centers. Though not ideal for indoor culture, it offers a truly unique texture for sunny borders & pots during the growing season. Dense, mounding, soft cascades of bright green "filament" foliage produce bright orangy-red tubular blooms prized by hummingbirds. Try this as an exciting "spiller" in combination pots.

Flowering Maple (Abutilon)

We offer many varieties & forms of this fascinating plant. Hibiscus-like blooms in varying shdes of red, orange, yellow, and pink, make for stunning displays in borders & containers. Named for its maple-shaped leaves,  foliage ranges from deep green to wildly variegated, speckled, and splashed varieties. Abutilons are  also some of our most popular plants for topiary - a great alternative "thriller" for combination pots. Grow in full sun to light or filtered shdae. Plants can be over-wintered indoors.

Fringed Hibiscus (Hibiscus schizopetalus)

Truly rare & unusual, we offer only a handfull of this hard-to-find plant each year. Though not as floriferous as other tropical hibiscus, the stunning blooms are definetly worth the wait! Fully pendant, finely fringed bracts measuring up to 6" in length are enigmatic curiousities. These sun-loving, heavy feeders should be treated like any other tropical hibiscus.

Gardenia (G. jasminoides 'Vetchii' / 'Aime')

Sometimes called "Cape Jasmine", Gardenias are perhaps one of the most prized plants for fragrance. Large, double white blooms and glossy deep green foliage round out this attractive plant. Prefering full sun to light shade, we find Gardenias benefit greatly from some protection from the hot afternoon sun. Like Hibiscus, they are heavy feeding, acid-loving plants. Feed regularly through the growing season. We also offer the variety 'Aime' in tree-form. 'Aime' has overly-large blooms up to 4" across, fading to creamy-yellow, with a sweet & spicy fragrance.

Glory Bush, Princess Flower (Tibouchina urvileana)

Stunning 2" violet-indigo blooms are this plants claim to fame. Blooms are backed by bold but soft, velvety foliage, growing with a shrubby habit. While most sorces tell you to grow this plant in full sun, we find protecting them from the hot afternoon sun yields better results. Take care to keep the foliage dry when watering, to prevent leaf spots. Keep this plant watered evenly, but not wet, and feed regularly with a blossom booster for the best show.

Jasmine 'Bell of India'

This everblooming Sambac variety produces slender-petaled, pure white double blooms that are intoxicatingly fragrant. Jasmines prefer full sun and love warmth, becoming reluctant to bloom in temperatures below 60 degrees. For best results, we recommend using a "bloom boosting" plant food regularly during the growing season. A moderate to heavy pruning is a good idea before bringing indoors to over-winter in a sunny window.

Jasmine 'Grand Duke'

One of the most highly prized of the Jasmines, this plant has exceedingly large blooms (up to 1-1/2") so fully packed with petals, it never really opens fully. Rather it forms tighly clustered balls of immensely fragrant petals. So prized are these flowers, it is easy to forgive both the oddly distorted leaves & the gaunt, woody habit of the plant. Jasmines love sun and love warmth, & are reluctant to bloom in temps below 60. We recommend using a "bloom boosting" plant food regularly during the growing season. Heavy pruning is a good idea before bringing indoors to over-winter in a sunny window.

 Jasmine 'Sambac' (Arabian Jasmine)

The parent of most 'true" jasmines, Sambac pruduces semi-double fragrant blooms on white, which often fade to a pinkish-purple. This, the most popular Jasmine we offer has a shrubby habit which becomes more rambling / vine-like in lower light areas. Jasmines prefer full sun and love warmth. For best results, we recommend using a "bloom boosting" plant food regularly during the growing season. Moderate pruning is a good idea before bringing indoors to over-winter in a sunny window.

Lipstick Plant (Aeschynanthus radicans)

A great selection for baskets, and are best know for the unusual blooms for which they are named. Two or three times a year, tips of the branches produce upward facing burgundy sheaths in clusters, from which the spectacular red blooms emerge. Lipstick plants are decievingly easy to grow. Indoors, give them bright to moderate light & average water.

Lipstick Plant 'Rasta' (Aeschinanthus radicans 'Rasta')

Now here is a plant with attitude! Rasta has the traditional red "lipstick" blooms, but they seem merely a perk when considering the curiously tantalizing texture created by the foliage. Performing well indoors or out, it adapts to light ranging from moderately low to moderately high indoors, but prefers part shade outside.

 Miner's Claim Angel's Trumpet (Brugmansia x 'Miner's Claim')

This spectacular variety has leaves boldly variegated yellow & large peach blooms which are intensely fragrant at night. Heavy feeders, Brugmansia should be fed regularly & should not be allowed to dry out. They prefer full sun. In winter, these plants tend to go dormant. All parts of this plant are toxic. 

Oleander (Nerium oleander)

An ideal container plant for the patio, Oleander is a woody shrub often trained into a small tree. Lightly fragrant blooms ranging from white to near red can be produced year-round.  Feed regularly with a blossom booster (except during winter indoors), do not over-water. All parts of this plant are toxic if ingested. 

Peace Lily (Spathiphyllum wallisii)

These are the champs of flowering, easy to grow plants. Often blooming non-stop throughout the year, these lush plants require infrequent feeding, are suprisingly drought tolerant, and will thrive in low light indoors.

Pigeon Berry (Duranta erecta, Duranta repens)

Vigorous growers, duranta produce panicles of showy clustered blooms throughout the high light period of the year if dead-headed (mid-spring into fall). Spent blooms which are not removed give way to showy orange berries prized by birds. Also attractive to butterlies, this plant has tiny but extremely sharp barbs on the stems, so take caution when handling. Give this plant full sun & water egularly, taking care not to over-water.  

Snowbank Angel's Trumpet (Brugmansia x 'Snowbank')

The super-sized leaves of this variety are boldly edged in creamy white. A prolific bloomer with age, the large white pendant "trumpets" are intensely fragrant (at night). Heavy feeders, Brugmansia should be fed regularly & should not be allowed to dry out. They prefer full sun. In winter, these plants tend to go dormant. All parts of this plant are toxic.  

Tropical Hibiscus (Hibiscus rosa-sinense)

The hallmark of flowering tropicals, Hibscus are prized for the lustrous, dark green foliage & large showy blooms. While individual flowers only last a day, they will continue to bloom in profusion if well-fed & given high light / full sun. We've found using Blossom Booster weekly works well, and a monthly application of Organica's Flower Booster keeps these plants in non-stop color! 

Variegated Lipstick Plant (Aeschynanthus variegata)

A great selection for baskets, and are best know for the unusual blooms for which they are named. This variety produced orange/ochre bi-color blooms. Lipstick plants are decievingly easy to grow. Indoors, give them bright to moderate light & average water. 

Zebra Plant (Aphelandra danica, Aphelandra uniflora)

Whether in bloom or not, Zebr plant is a real stunner in low to moderate light indoors (or shade outdoors). Bold, shiny, dark green leaves are near black, & are adorned with the patterning of broad white veins. Blooms are showy yellow, shrimp-plant-like, & will repeat bloom if dead-headed. Keep evenly moist; do not allow to dry out.

Click here for more flowering tropicals in the Tropical Vines section.