Alpinia hainanensis

Alpinia hainanensis is a large, fast-growing species of ginger. At first glance, one might assume it is a shell ginger, but there are several key distinctions. 

This species grows about 6 feet tall and tolerates sun or shade. Flowers appear in spring at the top of all mature canes. The inflorescence is an arching cluster of a couple dozen flowers, opening in sequence. 

The floral buds are soft pink and open to reveal a reddish throat and large, bright yellow lip marked by red striations.

Pollinated flowers develop into round green fruits that develop over the summer. 

By late summer, the seedpods mature and turn bright orange. They keep good color throughout the winter. It is these orange fruits, and the seeds inside, that are grated and used as a cardamom substitute.

Alpinia hainensis multiplies by long rhizomes that spread out underground from each cane. 

This results in a fast-spreading plant with canes spaced a foot or more apart. The canes are evergreen and will live for several years.

The leaves are about 30 inches long, and glossy, with distinctive ruffled edges. The leaves and stems are highly fragrant when brushed against.

The native region of Alpinia hainanensis is south-east Asia. It is one of the hardiest of the Alpinias, surviving underground in USDA Zone 8, although flowering won't occur where the canes freeze back.

Propagation is normally by division of the rhizomes, but it is also easily grown from seed.

There is a horticultural cultivar sold under the name 'Pink Perfection'.

Vachellia farnesiana (Sweet Acacia)

The flowers of Vachellia farnesiana have a fragrance similar to grape candy, which is probably where it gets the common name Sweet Acacia (this species was previously in the Acacia genus). The flowers may appear at any time during the year, but are more numerous during the cooler months. The inflorescence is a fuzzy yellow ball of multiple flowers about 1/2 inch in diameter.

Pollinated flowers develop into 2- to 3-inch long, lumpy green pods that turn black when mature. Seed germination is improved by scarification and soaking.

The bipinnately compound leaves have a delicate fern-like appearance, but the entire plant is covered with sharp thorns.

This species grows into an open-branched tree or shrub about 15-20 feet tall. The foliage is semi-evergreen and is often retained on the plant during warm winters.
Vachellia farnesiana is believed to be native to tropical America, but it is now found growing all around the world.
It is a nitrogen-fixing plant, capable of utilizing atmospheric nitrogen as a nutrient source, and is very drought-tolerant once established.. Growth and flowering is best in full sun. It is recommended for USDA Zones 8-11 and is tolerant of acidic, alkaline and salty soils.

The leaves, roots and bark are used in folk medicine to treat a variety of ailments and an essential oil distilled from the flowers is used in the perfume industry.

Tetradenia riparia (Iboza)

Tetradenia riparia is a shrubby plant with highly fragrant foliage and spectacular winter flowers. The leaves are thick with a scalloped edge. Glandular hairs cover both sides of the leaf, giving it a sticky feel. They emit a strong scent that remains even when the leaf dries. In its native Africa, the leaves are added to stored seeds and grains to keep out weevils and other injurious pests. There are also many traditional medicinal uses. Simply inhaling the scent of the crushed leaves is supposed to relieve headaches. A tea made from the leaves is used for colds and flu.

In winter the tip of every branch is covered with clusters of snow-white flowers. Even the smallest of plants bloom. I've had them flower in a 4-inch pot with a flower spike taller than the plant itself. The blooming period may extend for more than two months as new buds continue to open at the branch tips. The species is semi-deciduous, depending on the climate, so in some locations the plants will be nearly bare when they come into bloom.

Tetradenia can grow to 8 or 9 feet in height, but is cold-sensitive, and only recommended for USDA Zones 9B-11 when planting in the ground. At 30°F the plant completely defoliates, but will leaf out again from the bare stems. Fortunately, it thrives in containers. In slightly colder zones it may be grown as a perennial (it's supposedly root-hardy to Zone 8), but frost may come before the bloom. Even then, it's still worth growing for the scented foliage and medicinal uses.

The species name, riparia, means growing on the banks of rivers, and that is where the plant is frequently found in its native habitat, as well as in dry wooded valleys and on hillsides. It grows well in full sun, but in hot climates it benefits from a little shade during the middle of the day.

The common name Iboza is a native Zulu word referring to its aromatic qualities, and that name is sometimes seen listed as the genus for the plant. Other common names include misty plume and ginger bush. Cultivars supposedly exist bearing pink or lavender flowers.

Carissa macrocarpa (natal plum)

Carissa macrocarpa (syn. C. grandiflora) is a very attractive shrub that bears edible fruits. It is sometimes called natal plum, but it is not a plum, belonging instead to the Apocynaceae family.
Very fragrant white blooms appear near the stem tips whenever the plant is in growth. The fragrance doesn't carry far, so it's best enjoyed up close. Individual flower are five-petaled and about 2 inches across. Pollinated flowers are followed by 1-3 inch long reddish fruits.

When the fruit turns dark red, starts to soften, and gives slightly under gentle pressure, it's time to pluck it off and pop it in your mouth. Even fully ripe fruits have a slightly milky sap, but it is undetectable when eaten whole.

Each fruit contains a few small brown seeds that are soft enough to chew or swallow. The chewed seeds do detract somewhat from the cranberry/raspberry/strawberry flavor, so I usually swallow them whole or spit them out.
The plant can be relatively slow growing, but eventually reaches 8 feet. Branching often takes on a layered look, and the stems have a cluster of sharp spines at each leaf node.

The 2-inch diameter rounded, leathery leaves are very dark green and have a glossy sheen.

The entire plant exudes a milky sap when injured. Some low-growing and thornless cultivars exist that are used commercially as groundcovers.
Carissa macrocarpa is native to South Africa and will grow in sun or shade. It is drought-tolerant and resistant to salt spray, making it popular on oceanfront properties. It is recommended for USDA Zones 9B-11.

Carica papaya

Carica papaya is a fast growing tropical herb that produces delicious fruit. Many different strains exist, producing fruit sizes ranging from 1 to 20 pounds. The flesh color also varies from plant to plant and may be yellow, orange or reddish.

Papaya grows rapidly. Under ideal conditions flowers and fruit will be produced the first year from seed, often starting when the plant is only 4-5 feet tall. It takes 3-4 months from flower to mature fruit.

When the skin is mostly yellow it's time to pick the fruit, cut it open, and enjoy! Even the black seeds are edible and have a peppery taste similar to nasturtium.

Mature green fruits may be cooked as a vegetable. A young plant will produce 2-3 ripe fruits per week. Older, branched plants will produce many more.

Leaves are palmate and deeply lobed, often growing more than 2 feet across. In the East Indies, young leaves are cooked and eaten like spinach. Crushed leaves wrapped around a tough cut of meat before cooking will help tenderize it. The milky latex exuded by immature fruits is also collected and used in commercial meat tenderizers.

Old plants form thick trunks that support a branching canopy of foliage. Branching is often stimulated by some injury to the growing tip, such as a light freeze. This 10-year old papaya has a trunk circumference of 4.5 feet at the base.

Carica papaya has a complex sexual morphology. Plants may be male, female or hermaphrodites. All flowers are very fragrant.

female flower

male flower

Papaya is believed to have originated in Central America, but is now cultivated in tropical regions around the world. They are recommended for USDA Zones 10-11, but due to their rapid maturity, can be successfully grown in Zone 9 as well. I have had several plants live more than a decade in my Zone 9B garden. Most references indicate that productivity rapidly declines with age, but I find older, branched specimens produce far more fruit than young, single-trunk plants.

Podranea ricasoliana

Podranea ricasoliana is a vigorous vining plant that blooms throughout the warm months of the year, when the plant is actively growing. The pink flowers appear in clusters on the ends of new growth. Each flower is about 2 inches across and lightly fragrant. Unfortunately the fragrance doesn't travel, so you'll have to stick your nose right into the bloom to catch the scent. There are about 18-20 flowers per cluster, opening several at a time.

Although this is a vining plant, the stems do not twine, grasp, or root onto their supports. Instead, the long flexible stems head skyward and simply lean or lay across supporting objects, which are often adjacent trees or shrubs. It quickly and easily climbs to 30 feet or more. When stems reach the top of a tree they arch over, and either flower or head back to the ground and form another plant.

If no vertical objects are nearby to climb, the stems run across the soil surface until they find a place to climb. Wherever stems contact the soil, they'll send out roots and start a new plant so it's imperative to keep horizontal shoots clipped off. Old plants develop a woody trunk that is deeply furrowed with a corky texture.

Leaves are dark green, pinnate, opposite on the stem, and 6-8 inches in length.

It's unclear where Podranea originated, but it is common in tropical and subtropical regions around the world. The plant will grow in nearly any location, surviving heat, drought, and several degrees of frost. Flowering is best in full sun. It is recommended for USDA Zones 9-11, but may survive as a perennial in slightly colder locations.
Common names include pink trumpet vine and Port St. Johns creeper.

Plumeria rubra

Plumeria rubra and its hybrids are the most widely-grown of the Plumeria species. They come in a wide range of colors and the blooms are generally very fragrant. Each inflorescence may contain between 50 and 200 buds which open a few at a time over several weeks or months.

Flower clusters often appear with the onset of new growth in the spring and may continue to emerge on new growth throughout the growing season. Individual flowers are 2-3 inches in diameter, with some varieties being more prolific bloomers than others. Flowering of all varieties is best in full sun, but the plants do tolerate partial shade.

Plumerias are native to tropical America, but are now grown in warm climates world-wide. In frost-free areas, plants may grow up to 30 feet tall with a nearly equal spread. In climates where freezes occur every few years, plants seldom reach more than 10-12 feet. These plants are recommended for USDA Zones 9b-11, but can easily be grown in containers in colder zones.
Plumeria rubra branches are thick and stubby with persistent leaf scars.

There is a very obvious delineation between this year's new green growth and last year's grayish stem.
Leaves are large (often more than a foot long) and pointed on the end.

This species drops its leaves completely in the winter. All plant parts exude a milky sap when cut, which may irritate the skin of sensitive individuals.
In some areas, Plumerias are commonly known as Frangipani.

Related species: Plumeria pudica

Sabal palmetto

One of the most attractive, durable, and wildlife-friendly palms to have in your landscape is the Sabal palmetto. The early summer bloom spikes are 5-6 feet long, and pleasantly fragrant.

Thousands of creamy white flowers open on each spike, and attract an equal number of flying insects foraging for pollen and nectar. Here's a 20 second video showing the multitude of insects visiting these blooms. You can really only see the largest of the flying insects, but there are about 10 times as many bugs present as what are visible in the video.

 By late fall, the small black fruits are ripe, and provide a feast for squirrels, raccoons, bear, deer, and many different species of birds.

Known as the sabal palm or cabbage palm, it is the state tree of Florida and South Carolina. It is tolerant of both drought and flood, and survives brush fires with only superficial damage.

This plant is native to the southeastern U.S., Cuba, and the Bahamas. It is recommended for USDA Zones 8-10.

Sabal palmetto typically reaches a height of about 50 feet, with a trunk diameter of up to two feet. Leaves are up to 12 feet long, with drooping tips.
The palm fronds are usually self-cleaning. The petioles snap off when brown and brittle, leaving a distinctive "boot" attached to the trunk.

There is some genetic variability in how long the boots will remain. Some plants keep them for the life of the palm, while others quickly fall off, leaving a "slick" trunk. Debris collects in the boots of older palms, often providing a home for ferns, tillandsias, and other small plants.
The large leaves were traditionally used by the Seminole Indians to thatch roofs.

Trachelospermum asiaticum

Trachelospermum asiaticum is a durable vine or ground-cover plant with fragrant white flowers in the spring. It grows in sun or shade, and is drought-tolerant once established.
It makes a nice evergreen ground-cover that can be mowed short a couple of times a year if it starts looking unkempt. The dense growth will prevent most weeds from sprouting, and provides excellent erosion control on slopes. This plant is also a good low-maintenance grass alternative for your lawn. The semi-woody stems can spread beyond the area where they're planted, so you may want to surround the planting bed with landscape edging to keep it in bounds.

Flowering will be best on stems that are allowed to vine up, or drape over some other object. The 2-inch long leaves are a dark glossy green, and have a leathery texture.
Trachelospermum asiaticum is not a true jasmine, but is sometimes called Yellow Star jasmine, or more commonly, Asiatic jasmine. It is native to Korea and Japan, and is recommended for USDA Zones 8-10.
There are some cultivars available with variegated or bronze foliage.

Jasminum sambac

Jasminum sambac, otherwise known as Sambac jasmine or Arabian jasmine, is a highly fragrant shrub for subtropical gardens. The one-inch white flowers appear in small clusters on the ends of new growth, and their fragrance can be detected quite a distance away. Blooming occurs during the warm months, whenever the plant is actively growing.
This species grows as a shrub, but if planted near a support it will send out long shoots that climb straight up. There are no tendrils, and it doesn't twine around the support. Instead, it mostly leans, and eventually will send out rootlets along the stem to attach itself. The plant also spreads by root suckers, and if left to grow, will form a dense thicket. The shrub height will be around 4-6 feet. Leaves are rounded to oval, and bright green in color.

Jasminum sambac is native to southeast Asia. Several cultivars exist that vary in petal count and flower size. It is recommended for USDA Zones 9-11.
Flowering is best in sun or part shade. The flowers are used to make jasmine tea and perfume.

Jasminum nitidum

Jasminum nitidum is a fragrant shrub that can also be grown as a twining vine. When planted alone, the plant maintains a shrubby form, and wayward growths can be clipped off to keep it in shape. When planted near taller plants or some other type of support, the growth becomes more vine-like, twining around the support and climbing upward. The natural height in shrub form is about 3-4 feet, but as a vine can climb to 15 feet or more.
The white flowers are multi-petaled and fragrant. They appear in clusters on the ends of new growth any time the plant is actively growing. Individual flowers are two inches across. Leaves are dark green and glossy, making the plant attractive even when not in bloom. Flower buds are pinkish in color before opening.

Jasminum nitidum is synonymous with J. ilicifolium and J. magnificum. Some of the common names it is known by include Star jasmine, Shining jasmine, Pinwheel jasmine, Angel wing jasmine, and Windmill jasmine.
This species is recommended for USDA Zones 9-11. A hard freeze in the colder parts of this range may cause some stem die-back but the plant quickly recovers. It is native to the Admiralty Islands of Papua New Guinea.
Growth and flowering will be best in full sun to part shade. Gulf Fritillary and Swallowtail butterflies are attracted to the blooms.