loquat tree

Also known as the Japanese plum, the loquat is a small evergreen tree with a dense, rounded, dark green canopy.  It is a well-behaved little shade tree that grows moderately fast and reaches only 25 – 30 feet in shade with a 30 – 35 foot spread, but is often no taller than 15 feet…

false nettle

False Nettle is a clumping perennial that grows 2-3 ft. in height, but can grow to 4 – 5 feet in the south. It is native to Canada and grows throughout Eastern, central and Southwestern states in the United States and up into Eastern Canada. It has tiny greenish flowers that are in small, head-like…

buddleia (butterfly bush)

Buddleia – or “Butterfly Bush” – attracts hummingbirds and many different kinds of butterflies. Fragrant pink-purple flowers in conical clusters appear on and off all year (more during warmer weather) at the tips of arching branches. With regular trimming, it will reward you with its showy year-round flowers and butterfly-attracting qualities. By Michael West –…

mustard

Mustard greens are easy to grow and remarkably healthy for you, even containing anti-cancer compounds. Though it’s not as cold-hardy as kale or collards, mustard will stand quite a bit of frost before dying, down into the mid-twenties. In fact, they’ll bolt if planted in warm weather. In central FL, you can plant them around November and harvest…

collard greens

Mustard (top) and collard greens. Greens In Florida, hardy collards thrive under a wide range of conditions and can easily be grown throughout most of the year. They’re one of the few greens that can make it through the hot weather and can be planted in the spring for a summer harvest — but they…

beet

Post is germinating Classification Alternate names Latin name Family Related species Cultivars ‘Detroit Dark Red’ is best dark-red variety. ‘Burpee’s Golden’ is a beautiful deep gold. ‘Chioggia’ is striped red and white when cut across the root. Great for salads but turns solid red when cooked. Other good varieties for FL include ‘Cylindrica,’ ‘Early Wonder’,…

foxtail palm

Available in single or multi-trunk specimens. Its smooth gray trunk is topped with a bright green crownshaft and big tufted fronds that resemble the bushy tail of a fox. Native to Australia. By Clau8a – Own work, CC BY-SA 3.0, Link   Classification Alternate names Latin name Wodyetia bifurcata Family Arecaceae (palm) Related species Cultivars…

moringa

Post is germinating Branch of a fully grown moringa tree with flowers and leaves in West Bengal By J.M.Garg – Own work, CC BY-SA 3.0, Link Pruning Moringa 2/9/19 Two years ago, in 2017, a friend gave me a stick. I stuck the stick in the ground and watered it. Now I have a monster…

crepe myrtles

Crepe myrtles are among trees with the highest wind resistance (“Wind and Trees: Lessons Learned from Hurricanes”). Here is a good article from Southern Living on how to prune a crape myrtle. Best time to prune is when it’s bare, in late winter. “Once crepe myrtles have bloomed and shed their first flowers, they will…

spiral ginger

Despite the name, spiral ginger is not a ginger, but it’s related. By Franz Xaver – Own work, CC BY-SA 3.0, Link Alternate names insulin plant Latin name Costus pulverulentus Family Costaceae Related species Gingers Cultivars Characteristics evergreen ornamental cold tolerant freeze tolerant part shade to shade tropical low maintenance edible flowers medicinal Description Leaves…