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Caesalpinia pulcherrima is an evergreen shrub in frost-free climates, but it loses its leaves here in my zone 9 Florida garden when the temperatures drop below 50ºF. It is considered a returning perennial in zone 8b, re-sprouting from the roots after winter frosts or freezes. Those who live in colder zones can grow it as an annual or as a houseplant to be moved to a greenhouse or indoors during the winter months if one has the space.

Pride of Barbados does best in a full sun location and it is drought tolerant. In tropical climates this plant will attain heights and widths of 15 to 20 feet, but when branches get long they tend to break easily. In cultivation, 6-8 feet seems to be the norm for Pride of Barbados. It can be pruned to keep it at a manageable size. I saw one planted in front of someone's home here in my area that was kept pruned to about 4 feet, and even though small in stature, it was an attention getter when in full bloom.

This plant has escaped cultivation and has become established in the southern part of the state of Florida.

Cyperus esculentus is a common, noxious lawn weed here in Florida, as it is in most of the United States, and it has naturalized in many parts of the world. Yellow Nutsedge can attain heights to 3 feet. It reproduces from small tubers growing from the creeping underground rhizomes and can form dense colonies. Leaves are bright green in color with a waxy appearance. The flowers are feathery, umbrella-like clusters of yellow to beige-brown spikelets that appear at the tip of a long triangular stem arising from the basal clump. Yellow Nutsedge thrives in high moisture areas with poor drainage (as in my lawn), but it occurs in dryer areas as well. The plant is resistant to systemic herbicides, and once established it is quite difficult to control. The underground tubers have high energy reserves along with multiple, viable buds and when one sprout is killed, the tuber sends up another .

Desmodium triflorum is a prostrate, creeping perennial that forms dense mats in full sun as well as shade. Creeping Tick Trefoil has trifoliate hairy stems, green leaves with a grey to white stripe down the center, and deep pink to purple flowers that appear in the leaf axils. Desmodium triflorum is a native of Hawaii, Florida, and a few other small areas of the southern United States.

Paspalum dilatatum is native to Argentina and Brazil but has been introduced to many other areas of the world. Dallisgrass has naturalized here in Florida as well as other areas of the United States; it is considered a noxious weed and considered invasive in some areas. Dallisgrass is a coarse, rough bladed grass that forms dense, thick clumps and spreads by underground rhizomes. This grass prefers marshes or damp, disturbed areas and is frequently found growing in golf courses, lawns and pastures.

Stachytarpheta cayennensis can be a noxious weed and is listed as a Category II non-native invasive plant by the Florida Exotic Pest Plant Council. This variety of Blue Porterweed is an upright perennial growing to 3 feet in height with branching stems, a woody base and long tap root. The dark purplish-blue flowers last just one day and are attractive to Butterflies.

For Florida gardeners it is better to acquire and plant the native species Jamaican Porterweed (Stachytarpheta jamaicensis) which is a low growing, spreading groundcover that does not get as long and lanky or become a noxious weed like the non-native S. cayennensis.

xAchicodonia, a plant in the Gesneriad (African Violet) family is a hybrid cross between Achimenes and Eucodonia. This plant grows from scaly rhizomes that resemble tiny little brown pine cones. Like many other Gesneriads, xAchicodonia plants require a well draining potting medium, bright indirect light and temperatures between 50ºF and 85ºF with 50% or higher humidity. During the active growing season, the soil should be kept moist but not soaking wet. When the plant begins to go dormant, the leaves will begin to turn brown and dry up, at which time the stems can be cut back and watering can be decreased to approximately once monthly, just enough to keep the soil lightly moist. After the resting period and once new leaves appear, watering can be resumed as normal. Rhizomes can also be sifted and removed from the soil and stored until the next season. xAchicodonia can be propagated by stem or tip cuttings as well as division of the rhizomes.

Bidens pilosa is a perennial that grows everywhere here in Florida. It's a profuse re-seeder and I find it popping up in my flower beds every year. To most gardeners this plant is considered a weed to be immediately removed while others consider it a beautiful wildflower that attracts many butterflies and bees to the garden. The seeds resemble black needles with barbed hooks at the ends. Seeds are dispersed by the wind as well as by attaching themselves to clothing or fur as people and animals brush against them. Bidens pilosa produces thousands of seeds that remain viable for up to 5 years so if you don't want a mass of these plants in your garden it's best to dig them out before they set seed.

Nuttall's Thistle is a native here in Florida and attains heights of 5 feet or more, blooming from April through August. I found this plant growing in my yard and although I detest thorny, spiny, prickly plants, I will leave it alone as the blooms are attractive to bees and butterflies as well as other insects. Cirsium nuttallii is a larval host plant for the Little Metalmark Butterfly as well as the painted lady butterfly.

I love this tree for its vivid red "brushes" and weeping habit and also for the fact that the beautiful blooms attract bees, butterflies, and the Ruby-throated Hummingbird! This tree reminds me of another favorite of mine, the Weeping Willow (Salix sp.), but the bright red blooms of the bottlebrush keep it at number one on my list of all time favorites!

Callistemon viminalis is native to New South Wales, Australia, and can attain heights to 30 feet at maturity, but most stay at around 15 to 20 feet in height. Young specimens are susceptible to frost damage so protection is needed during the winter months if frost is predicted, but once they attain maturity, frost or the occasional freeze doesn't seem to do much damage. Weeping Bottlebrush can be grown as a shrub or hedge or as a single specimen plant and does very well in the sandy Florida soil. It fares best in full sun, but it can take part shade as well. Blooms just may not be as prolific if grown in a more shady location.

Sophora tomentosa is a native Florida shrub or small tree growing to 10 to 12 feet in height. It has smooth, dense, bright green leaves and arching branches. This shrub sometimes forms thickets and prefers full sun to light shade with evenly moist soil. As the shrub ages, the stems nearest the ground will be leafless with tiny raised whitish corky bark. Necklace Pod produces long racemes of pea shaped bright yellow flowers that attract bees, butterflies and hummingbirds. Necklace Pod gets its common name from the 4 to 6 inch long yellowish brown segmented seedpods that resemble beads on a necklace.

Paurotis Palm is a slow growing fan-type palm that can attain heights to 25 feet and spread of 15 feet. This palm is clump forming and bears multiple suckers at the base, which if preferred can be pruned to prevent additional trunks. The 2 foot to 3 foot fronds are green above with a silvery reverse and are borne on orange-green spiny petioles. Flowers are small, yellow to creamy white, and appear on erect spikes; they are quite showy from a distance! Fruit of the Paurotis Palm appears in the fall as a fleshy black drupe on bright orange stems. This Palm prefers a lot of water, so it does very well in wet soils and along the edges of ponds and lakes. With its sharp, hooked leaf stalks, it makes an almost impenetrable security hedge.

Wild Plumbago is the only native Plumbago here in the state of Florida. This perennial grows to about twelve inches in height with narrow, brittle, partially woody stems that scramble and spread to widths of three to four feet. Wild Plumbago is sensitive to freezing temperatures and is usually found in areas of the state that don't have sustained temperatures below the upper 20's F during the winter. The plant remains evergreen and blooms year round in areas that don't experience winter freezes. The tiny bright white star-shaped flowers are borne on 4 to 5 inch spikes and attract butterflies. Leaves of Wild Plumbago are food for the caterpillar of the Cassius Blue Butterfly.

Lead Tree is a non-native invasive species here in Florida, forming dense thickets that displace native vegetation. This tree is a prolific seed producer and is considered a noxious weed. It is illegal to propagate or introduce this tree in the state of Florida.

Dalbergia ecastaphyllum is a plant with sprawling branches that scramble and climb, helping this shrub or small tree to attain heights of 10 to 12 feet. It is a native coastal plant here in Florida whose roots and many horizontal branches help with stabilization of sand dunes. The small white to whitish-pink pea-like flowers appear in groups in the leaf axils. Bloom time is usually the months of May and June and the flowers are followed by coppery-brown colored pods, each containing one seed.

The common name of "Coin Vine" comes from the seed pods which resemble coins.
The common name of "Fish Poison Vine" comes from the fact that the bark and leaves contain a substance that prevents oxygen uptake in fish.

Narrowleaf Silkgrass is a Florida native that blooms during the summer and fall. It's easily identified by the dense silky hairs that cover the stems and leaves which gives the plant a grayish green appearance. The species latin name graminifolia refers to the long, grass like leaves. This plant will form dense colonies in the wild by underground rhizomes and by self seeding.

Narrowleaf Silkgrass is a food source for the Gopher Tortoise.

Cissus javana is commonly known as the Rex Begonia Vine because the leaf pattern resembles those of the popular Rex Begonias. The 3 to 5 inch long leaves are an elongated heart shape, green with a silvery pattern and deep burgundy to purple center vein; the reverse side of the leaves is a deep burgundy color. Cissus discolor is a fast growing vine requiring bright light but no direct sun, which will burn the foliage. It prefers moist soil, temperatures in the 75ºF - 80ºF range, and high humidity. Rex Begonia Vine does well in hanging baskets or climbing a trellis or other support.

The Gold Finger plant is a fast growing shrub or woody vine with leathery leaves. The plant can attain heights and spread of 4 - 6 feet; producing 2 inch long bright orange to yellow-orange flowers from spring until fall. Gold Finger plant can survive temperatures in the 20's, and if heavily mulched will re-sprout after a severe freeze.

Gastrophaius Dan Rosenberg is a hybrid terrestrial orchid that prefers a well draining compost/potting medium. It grows to four feet tall and three feet wide and does best in conditions of bright shade with good air circulation.

Seed Parent: Phaius tankervilleae
Pollen Parent: Gastrorchis tuberculosa

The "Trailing Jade" is an interesting succulent plant with a prostrate and spreading growth habit. Senecio jacobsenii looks great trailing over the edge of a hanging basket, but it also looks very pretty in succulent dish gardens and mixed containers. Trailing Jade prefers a sun to partial shade location, is extremely drought tolerant, and requires less moisture during winter. In the warmer months the foliage retains a grayish-green hue, but during cooler weather the leaf edges are blushed with an attractive purple shade. This plant is often confused with and mistaken for the "Jade Tree" (Crassula ovata) and indeed does have a very similar appearance.

I live in a very humid climate and grow this plant in both a hanging basket as well as a dish garden, but I have to watch my watering carefully so that it doesn't rot from too much moisture. During rainy weather I move the succulents up against the side of the house under the protection of the eaves, or if we have heavy, blowing rain I move them to the screened porch for additional protection.

Growing in wetland area at Merritt Island National Wildlife Refuge.