Happy Friday GPODers!
Today we’re going tropical and looking at some of the plants that were featured on my recent trip to Delray Beach, Florida.
I’m a big believer that plants are interesting and fascinating no matter where they are—whether you’re 10 minutes away or on the other side of the world. However, I’ll also be the first to admit that seeing plants and wildlife in a climate that’s vastly different from the one you’re most familiar with can be the most incredible and rewarding experience. I’ve had the opportunity to travel down to south Florida a few times over the past few years, and each time I’ve been equally excited and enthralled by the succulents, palms, and various tropical plants growing in all their glory. I don’t think I’ll ever forget the first time I saw a gorgeous multicolored sedum (Codiaeus diversityZone 11–12) (a plant I have failed to grow indoors countless times) as a large mature shrub growing in someone’s front yard as normally as I would see a cedar growing here in Connecticut.
All of this to say, my most recent trip was no exception. While the group I was traveling with was checking into our Airbnb, unpacking, and pouring drinks, I immediately went outside to take photos of all the gorgeous plants in the small but gorgeous garden surrounding the pool. You’ll find those photos below, as well as some other plants I spotted during our tours of the town.
The sight immediately caught my eye from the French doors in the dining room. Palm trees are always fun to look at, but it was the bright pink flowers and succulent-looking hedge that drew me closer for a closer look.
Not a succulent on closer inspection, but a handy plant identification app tells me this is a striped Japanese pittosporum (Pittosporum tobira ‘Variegatum’, Zones 8–11). Beautiful year-round with striking variegated foliage, but especially attractive in spring when covered with orange-scented flowers.
Easily confused with impatiens, which come in similar shades of pink, red, and white, Madagascar periwinkle (Catharanthus roseusZones 8–11) are still considered annuals for colder zones but can be grown as perennials in Florida.
An unusual houseplant in cooler climates, the vibrant color and unusual texture of the ‘Myers’ foxtail fern (Asparagus densiflorus ‘Myers’, Zones 9–11) is a beautiful sight to see in the garden bed. Although this photo is only of leaves, there is still a lot of variation and interest.
Scattered among some foxtail ferns are a few aloe vera plants (VeraZones 9–11), a beautiful and useful plant to place by the pool!
Some of my favorite plants around the pool actually stick out over the fence from the neighbor’s yard. The bright yellow trunk of this Asian lemon bamboo (Eutuldoides bamboo ‘Viridi-Vittata’, Zones 9–11) made for a truly impressive show.
If I haven’t made it clear, I’m a sucker for an interesting looking plant. The growth habit of this umbrella plant (Heptapleurum actinophyllumZones 10–12) look like they came straight out of a Dr. Seuss book, and everyone commented that some of the yellow leaves looked like bunches of bananas at first glance.
When we finally got out of the drag and headed downtown for dinner, there were still plenty of opportunities to see the trees. It’s hard to capture the true size of the large trees in photos, but this tourist’s palm trees (Ravenala madagascariensisZones 10–11) are really big. Although called palms, these tree-like plants are actually related to birds of paradise and can produce similarly pointed white flowers.
Another houseplant that comes in sizes that us northern gardeners can only dream of! Snake Plant (Dracaena spp. and cvs., synonyms. Sansevieria spp. and cvs., Zones 9–11) are known for being easy to grow in almost any indoor environment, but just because they’re adaptable doesn’t mean they thrive as well here.
When we go to the beach, we can find a whole new world of plants. Native to coastal beaches and very tolerant of salt, the aptly named sea grape (Coccoloba uviferaZones 10–11) can be found growing in clumps along beaches in South Florida and the Caribbean.
Saving one of my favorite finds for last, this fragile prickly pear (Opuntia fig-indicaZone 10–11) must have liked this one for a while judging by its rather serious trunk. I never thought my love for cacti and plants would combine, but now I’m thinking how to grow this indoors??
Thanks for joining me in this tropical plant reflection! If you’ve read this far, let me know in the comments what your favorite place is to see new or interesting plants. It could be a vacation spot, a local garden, or your favorite nursery that always has something new for sale. If you get a chance to visit and take photos of your favorite finds, please email them to [email protected] or send me a direct message on Instagram: @agirlherdogandtheroad
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