A: Elephant Ear, Alocasia spp., is extremely hardy and I would be surprised to hear it did not return from the cold. We will be better able to determine the full extent of the cold damage once summer is fully upon us. You may cut away and dead ... READ MORE
Category: Home Landscapes
A: Daphne odora is also called Winter daphne or Fragrant daphne, which is a small evergreen plant that grows at a slow or moderate rate. It only reaches heights of about 4 feet and about the same width. Pale pink flowers appear in the late winter ... READ MORE
Category: Home Landscapes
A: The photo you sent me was of one of the croton, Codiaeum variegata, varieties probably ‘Gold Star’. Crotons are truly topical plants which thrive best in south Florida in cold hardiness zones 10-11. Nassau County is in cold hardiness ... READ MORE
Category: Home Landscapes
Q: Can you identify this plant for me? I purchased it at the local garden centers and it did not have any label on it. It has never bloomed. It does die back when the temperatures get cold but it comes back. A: I was not immediately familiar ... READ MORE
Category: Home Landscapes
Q: Some of my camellias are not looking their best. The leaves of a few of them are brownish-gray. They seem to have specks of something all over them but I can not tell exactly what they are. Can you help me? A: I am glad you brought in ... READ MORE
Category: Home Landscapes, Pests & Disease
A: There are environmental reasons for browning of camellia flower petals such as cold temperatures, too much sun or severe wind exposure. However, there is a serious disease of camellias which can cause the flower petals to turn brown. It is ... READ MORE
Category: Home Landscapes, Pests & Disease
A: The leaves on the camellia have wilted but I suspect the culprit is a root rot. Your camellia probably does not have the same disease causing agent, Phytophthora ramorum, as sudden oak death (SOD). You have no lesions, spots or necrosis on ... READ MORE
Category: Home Landscapes, Pests & DiseaseA: There are several possibilities. It could be the Cranberry rootworm beetles, Rhabdopterus picipes, or the Black vine weevil. Both of these insect adults feed mostly at night. Both have larval stages feed on roots during part of their life ... READ MORE
Category: Home Landscapes, Pests & Disease
A: The spots are caused by algae, Cephaleuros virescens, which is also called green scurf. Green scurf can be found on other leathery-leafed plants such as magnolia, Indian hawthorn, or holly. Wet weather conditions provide the perfect environment ... READ MORE
Category: Home Landscapes
A: I suspect you are referring to the Buttonbush, Cephalanthus occidentalis. Buttonbush grows as a shrub or small tree - typically growing 10 or 20 feet tall. This plant is deciduous, losing its leaves for 1 or 2 months in winter. Buttonbush ... READ MORE
Category: Home Landscapes