Florida Plants of the Year

February 12 , 2005

Part II

2. Arachniodes simplicior ‘variegata’ - aka East Indian Holly Fern

The East Indian Holly fern is an outstanding EVERGREEN plant that can be used as both a perennial plant or a colorful, indoor potted plant. It is a lovely, slow growing fern that is very popular with fern fanciers. The glossy green fronds have a very prominent yellow variegation, making it a choice accent plant in the landscape.

3. Tecoma stans - Yellow Elder

Yellow Elder is an evergreen bushy shrub growing up to 22 feet tall with light grey bark and bright green pinnate serrated leaves, yellow elder has yellow, trumpet shaped fragrant flowers. The panicles on which the flowers are born can produce more than 50 blossoms! This plant has 5 - 8 long seedpods, hanging in clusters. The seeds, dispersed when the pods split open, are flat, oblong with transparent wings on the ends.

It is best set among more consistent shrubs where it can contribute color to a border or screen. The yellow blooms are spectacular behind blue agave.

Yellow elder has been used for a variety of purposes in herbal medicine. Its primary applications have been in treating diabetes and digestive problems.

WARNING Yellow elder can be invasive. It seems only moderately so in Florida.
The yellow elder is also The National Flower of The Bahamas.

4. Tibouchina urvilleana - Princess Flower

This sprawling, evergreen shrub or small ornamental tree ranges from 10 to 15 feet (20 feet with proper training) in height. It can be trimmed to any size and still put on a vivid, year - long flower display. The dark green, velvety, four to six - inch- long leaves have several prominent longitudinal veins instead of the usual one, and are often edged in red. Large, royal purple blooms, flaring open to five inches, are held on terminal panicles above the foliage, creating a spectacular sight when in full bloom. Some flowers are open throughout the year but are especially plentiful from May to January. Princess-Flower is ideal for the mixed shrubbery border or used in small groupings to compound the impact of bloom-time.

Frost will kill to ground nearly every winter, but quickly returns the following spring. Fertilize after each bloom cycle for optimum flowering.

Princess-Flower requires full sun for best flowering and will thrive on any well drained soil when regularly watered. Its growth habit is somewhat weedy, requiring training and pruning to develop and maintain it as a tree. It can be trained as a standard or espaliered against a west facing wall receiving at least five hours of full sun. it can also be trained on a trellis or arbor as a vine. Pinching new growth helps increase branching and will enhance the flower display.
Some of its pest are scales and nematodes. Diseases, mushroom root rot in soil which is kept too wet.

Next week we will continue with Weeping Yaupon Holly and Golden Dewdrop.

Anna R. Coley, is a Master gardener affiliated with the University of Florida’s Institute of Food and Agricultural Sciences.