While January has seen some cold temperatures here in Central Florida, there are some blooms that have toughed it out. Check out the flowers featured at the UF/IFAS Extension Polk County Florida-Friendly Landscaping Demonstration Garden that are blooming in January.
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Some of our pentas (Pentas lanceolata) are outstanding and some have definitely felt the cold (damage). The one in our pollinator garden has beautiful red blooms. Pentas prefer full sun to partial shade and can get 2 to 4 feet tall and 2 to 3 feet wide.
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Another section of the garden features Rabbit’s Ear (Ruttya fruticosa). Full of reddish-orange flowers, this plant prefers full sun to part shade.
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Next to the pergola you will find Chinese Hat (Holmskioldia sanguinea). This vine features orangish-red flowers year-round and prefers full sun to part shade.
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Finally, in the edible garden we have an annual called calendula ‘Oopsy Daisy’ (Calendula officinalis). This winter flowering annual likes full sun to partial shade in well-drained soil. It is found in the edible garden because as a bonus, you can eat the flowers.