By Ralph E. Mitchell Native plants that are ornamental, highly drought-tolerant and even salt-tolerant in the palm category are something all coastal landscapers are looking for. Enter the Florida thatch palm – a beautiful, slow-growing classy palm that… Read More
By Ralph E. Mitchell Many gardeners treasure bromeliads because of their adaptation to very shady areas. This characteristic help brighten up dark, shady sites. However, what if you have all sun and still want a bromeliad? Are you… Read More
By Ralph E. Mitchell While a name like bitter melon may make you think twice about eating this fruit, this Asian crop is very popular across the world and even here in the United States. Not to be… Read More
By Ralph E. Mitchell It is always in the nature of the gardener to find new flowering shrubs to add to their landscape collection. One such plant that I am looking at is the King’s Mantle, also known… Read More
By Ralph E. Mitchell If tiny tomatoes smaller than the classic cherry tomato are of interest, then Everglades tomatoes may be what you are looking for! Apparently this wild tomato has worked its way into our summer vegetables… Read More
By Ralph E. Mitchell Ornamental grasses can add a texture and color to landscapes that broadleaf plants cannot touch. The wind-driven motion of swaying grass topped with ornamental flowerheads provides dimension and even seasonal color. One tried and… Read More
By Ralph E. Mitchell Coffee is a favorite beverage for much of the world. In addition to this attribute, coffee plants can also be considered ornamental and novel in regards to your backyard landscape. Small coffee seedlings are… Read More
By Ralph E. Mitchell If you like perennials with daisy-like flowers, you will love the yellow bush daisy or Euryops pectinatus. This African native is a Florida-Friendly Landscaping™ recommended plant due to its hardiness and low-maintenance. You will… Read More
By Ralph E. Mitchell My heliconia never fail to impress me – a blaze of red, orange and yellow in a sea of tropical green! I see my lobster-claw heliconia bracts beginning to emerge and I know my… Read More
By Ralph E. Mitchell If you want to plant an annual flower that just about anybody can succeed with, try marigolds. Marigold, a title originally derived from “Mary’s Gold”, was a name actually attached to the equally popular… Read More
