Florida Nursery, Growers and Landscape Association has
announced their 2012 Garden Select Plants. These seven
plants were chosen by a panel of Florida horticulturists
as good choices for Florida residents living in all areas
of the state.
Beach Sunflower (Click to Enlarge)
Photo: FNGLA The
first one is called Beach Sunflower. Height will be 12 -
24 inches tall. It's a native groundcover. It will also do
well as a border, edging or a wall cascade and it can fill
an area quickly. It has small, yellow, sunflower-like
flowers which will bloom throughout the year. Leaves are
sandpapery and heart shaped. Keep it in full sun, is
drought tolerant and salt tolerant. So it would do well in
a beach area.
Mule Palm (Click to Enlarge)
Photo: FNGLA How
about a palm? This palm is called Mule Palm. It will grow
20 - 40 ft. tall. Use as a specimen, in groups or possibly
in streetscapes. It does need to be planted where it would
have good drainage. The Mule Palm is cold hardy and will
do well in all parts of Florida even in coastal areas.
It's a very pretty palm.
The Pond Cypress is a
cypress that will grow 30 - 50 ft. in height and spread
but
Pond Cypress (Click to Enlarge)
Photo: FNGLA it can
possibly reach 70 - 80 ft. tall. This tree has many
different uses... as a stand alone, drought tolerant
specimen tree, street tree or on the edge of a lake. It's
similar to the commonly seen cypress but has smaller cones
and doesn't produce as many `knees' as the bald cypress.
(Knees are those woody protrusions you see by the `edge'
of the water or in shallow areas `in' the water near where
they are planted) The seeds that they produce in the fall
will attract birds and squirrels.
Mandevilla (Click to Enlarge)
Photo: FNGLA Next is
a gorgeous climbing Mandevilla. Flowers are available in
gorgeous colors like the usual pink we often see and
crimson, burgundy, red with white stripes and giant white.
Grows best in zones 10 - 11. Height will be 6 to 8 ft. It
is a tropical plant so is cold tender. Mandevilla vines
can grow 6' - 8' tall so it would be beautiful on a
trellis or on a fence. This mandevilla has a long blooming
cycle, is disease resistant and is very easy to grow.
Drift Roses (Click to Enlarge)
Photo: FNGLA How
about some roses called Drift Roses? This series comes in
many colors like red, light pink, apricot, coral, peach,
pink and white. Height will be 18 to 24 inches tall with a
2 - 3 ft wide.......a miniature shrub rose. It can give
you many options for planting.....in mass plantings, as a
border, maybe a ground cover situation or as just an
eye-catcher in a small garden. .....Or possibly in a
container. Now for the best parts....they are easy to
grow, do very well in hot weather and the blooms are
self-cleaning so you can use them even around a pool.
They're drought and disease tolerant once established.
I'll definitely be watching for these to add to our
landscape.
Rosemary (Click to Enlarge)
Photo: FNGLA
Rosemary is our next one. This 12" variety is a
short-lived perennial herb that can be used in containers,
in the ground, in hanging baskets or in an herb garden.
Excellent for either ornamental or culinary use. Leaves
are very fragrant and are edible. Needs to be in full sun
for flowering....colors range from white and pink to the
more common blue-purple. Special things about this
rosemary is that it tolerates salt spray and attracts bees
and butterflies.
Bamboo (Click to Enlarge)
Photo: FNGLA Finally
we have a Bamboo called Slender Weaver's Bamboo. It's a
fast-growing, graceful ornamental bamboo. Height 20 - 30'
tall. Use it as a specimen, large hedge and it will make a
great windbreak especially during a windy weather or even
in a hurricane. This bamboo can be groomed easily into a
hedge and the foliage will stay full and looking good.
It's been given high marks for use in home landscapes.
