David Bache’s Post

Variegated plants have been all the rage for the past several years, but there are some that have been around seemingly forever, that have never gone away. But here’s one with a name that has been confused for so long, which is now definitively corrected. This is Caladium praetermissum, which for decades was sold variously as Alocasia ‘Hilo Beauty’ or Colocasia ‘Hilo Beauty’. To be fair, it exhibits characteristics of both those families, but in 2009 it was classified as its own species within the Caladium genus. This is a dramatic and beautiful aroid, with mottled leaves of cream, green, white, chartreuse, and even gold at times. The leaves are large and heart shaped, atop stems that can reach 2-3’. It loves moisture, so it’s a great marginal aquatic, or it can be grown in a more traditional garden situation or in containers. It can be grown in sun or shade, but in a bright location it will need more water. It is hardy USDA zone 9a and higher, and in more temperate areas, it can be dug and stored indoors for winter. I have loved this plant for as long as I’ve known of it. It has gone in and out of popularity, though it’s a very good performer in the garden, so I’m happy to have them ready in 1-gallon pots.  www.gardenind.com Instagram @mr_plant_man #plants #flowers #garden #landscape #nursery #tropical #landscapedesign #gardenlife #florida #plantsmakepeoplehappy #plantsofinstagram #flowersofinstagram #botanical #tropicalplants #wholesalenursery #caladiums #caladium #nosmallplantshere #houseplants #houseplantsofinstagram #aroids #aroidaddicts #coolplants

Anyone who has visited the nursery or who looks at our social media knows that we absolutely love Begonias here. We grow a range of reliable varieties for landscape, focusing on the Cane-Like, Shrub Like, and Rhizomatous types. (The classification of begonias is a post for another day!) Among the most beautiful and durable of the cane-like selections is ‘Di-Erna.’ First hybridized in 1939 (b. dichroa x rubra), this sturdy “Angel Wing” begonia typically grows about 4’ in the garden, though it can easily be trained taller as space allows. It has medium green foliage with silver spots on the newest growth, and canes that branch quite well. The flowers are a lovely coral-red color, which hang down in clusters below the foliage and are highly visible, particularly on taller plants. It does best in bright, indirect light to moderate shade, and needs well-drained, evenly moist organic soil. When placed properly, it will thrive in the landscape for years, with only the occasion tipping to keep it full. Use it in the shade garden, as the centerpiece of mixed containers, or in brightly lit interiors. For those of you in temperate climates, grow it outdoors for summer, and bring it back inside to enjoy during the winter. I have personally grown dozens of varieties of begonias, and of those, ‘Di-Erna’ is always one of the most solid performers in the landscape. And who doesn’t love that in a plant? Ready now in 3-gallon pots, loaded with flowers. www.gardenind.com Instagram @mr_plant_man #plants #flowers #garden #landscape #nursery #tropical #landscapedesign #gardenlife #florida #plantsmakepeoplehappy #plantsofinstagram #flowersofinstagram #botanical #tropicalplants #wholesalenursery #nosmallplantshere #iloveplants #begonias #pinkflowers #shadeplants #houseplants

Are you one of those people who hates it when you’re told something isn’t possible, when in your mind you know it is? I know I certainly am. So, when I was told that it wasn’t possible to grow a proper Lantana Patio Tree in Florida, I decided we’d do it. And this is the result: Beautiful Lantana ‘Confetti’ in PT form, with broad, full heads, sturdy stems, and loads of color, looking just the way they should; loaded with flowers in tones of pink, yellow and magenta in an ever-changing mix. I won’t say it was fast, or easy, but we did it! Lantanas are, of course, a part of so many landscapes, and you can find them in nearly every pollinator garden. But growing them as Patio trees adds a whole new dimension to them, elevating them to a more stylish form. They look wonderful in containers in both the formal and informal landscape and can be planted directly into the garden in USDA zones 9-11 as well. A good trimming or two each year will help them keep their shape and will remove spent blooms. They do best in full sun, and handle heat beautifully. The best part is their prolific blooms, occurring repeatedly throughout the year. These flowers are a favorite of nearly every pollinator, so it’s not uncommon to see butterflies, hummingbirds and bees sharing the same plant. These will plant at 5’, allowing them to be underplanted with low, creeping, or trailing flowers, adding another layer of beauty. For those in the South, it’s the perfect time of year to plant them for Summer color, and to attract our seasonal hummingbirds. Once we got these plants started, I became just a bit obsessed with them, so we now have 6 different varieties coming along in patio tree form for next Fall, in a range of colors. I can’t wait! [Note: Even though we grow them with the sturdiest stem possible, it is still an unnatural form for them, so we recommend keeping them always staked. A piece of rebar works best for long term stability.] Ready now in 15-gallon pots, loaded with color. www.gardenind.com Instagram @mr_plant_man #plants #flowers #garden #landscape #nursery #tropical #landscapedesign #gardenlife #florida #plantsmakepeoplehappy #plantsofinstagram #flowersofinstagram #botanical #tropicalplants #wholesalenursery #nosmallplantshere #iloveplants #pollinator #pollinatorplants #pollinatorgarden #hummingbirds #butterflies #bees #lantana 

There are few tropical foliage plants that add as much color to the landscape as Cordylines do. We grow an assortment of cultivars sure to work in any landscape project, in both 3-gallon and 7-gallon pots. www.gardenind.com Instagram @mr_plant_man #plants #flowers #garden #landscape #nursery #tropical #landscapedesign #gardenlife #florida #plantsmakepeoplehappy #plantsofinstagram #flowersofinstagram #botanical #tropicalplants #wholesalenursery #nosmallplantshere #iloveplants #cordyline #foliage #color

It is...it's...it's..REPULSINATING! Yes, that is my very own hybrid word for a plant that is Repulsive and yet Fascinating at the same time! Our "Voodoo Lily", Amorphophallus paeonifolius, is now fully open, and every fly in the neighborhood knows it! It is a big, weird, purple, horribly aromatic bloom, which is intriguing and happens about every 5 years here. While we don’t produce Amorphophallus for sale, it’s one of many fun and curious plants we have around the nursery for customers to enjoy. For more information, check our social media from last week, where I detailed the history and cultural information of this wild and weird plant. Prepare to be Repulsinated! www.gardenind.com Instagram @mr_plant_man #plants #flowers #garden #tropical #landscape #bulbs #aroids #aroidaddicts #nursery #amorphophallus #carrrionflower #florida #plantsofinstagram #flowersofinstagram #plantsmakepeoplehappy #botanical #plantporn #gardenlife #houseplantsmakemehappy #nosmallplantshere #iloveplants

Some of the greatest plants for tropical landscapes are Cordylines, whose amazing leaf colors add so much to the garden. From 24 species there are now hundreds of selections, in a range of colors from pink to cream, green to purple, yellow, orange, red, and everything in between. One of my all-time favorites is Cordyline fruticosa ‘Electra,’ which has some of the most vivid foliage of not just any cordyline, but any tropical plant. The wide foliage has longitudinal streaks of the deepest burgundy to the brightest pink, with so many tones in between. ‘Electra’ is one of the more compact selections, typically reaching only 2-3’, so it never gets tall and thin as so many others do. Originally hybridized in India, this is one of the plants that was absolutely named correctly, as ‘Electra’ is so bright it seems to glow in the shade, and when the sun hits it, it is radiant. Like most other members of its family, it does best in filtered light to shade, in rich, well-drained soil, and is hardy USDA zones 9-11. I like to see it used in shady borders, the tropical garden, and for those of you in more temperate regions, it is a wonderful summer patio plant. I am happy to say we have them ready now in 3-gallon pots. www.gardenind.com Instagram @mr_plant_man #plants #flowers #garden #landscape #nursery #tropical #landscapedesign #gardenlife #florida #plantsmakepeoplehappy #plantsofinstagram #flowersofinstagram #botanical #tropicalplants #wholesalenursery #nosmallplantshere #iloveplants #cordyline #electra #foliage #color

ALL the colors of Spring are showing off in the nursery this week! Please enjoy this quick video reel. https://lnkd.in/g6TzYicV

Dombeya 'Seminole' is one of the signature plants of South Florida. Often called "Tropical Hydrangea", this beautiful hybrid shrub developed at the USDA Subtropical Horticultural Research Station in Miami in 1973, puts on a spectacular show Fall through Spring in Florida. It is a large mounding shrub which produces huge masses of deep pink blooms from October thru March. Large, fuzzy, heart-shaped leaves with burgundy-tinted new growth show off the blooms quite nicely. The plant does prefer full sun, a good amount of water, and a regular fertilization program. The wisdom of the internet suggests the plant only grows to about 6', but I've seen them 10', so I think it's more situational than most people suggest. Dombeya has all kinds of common names, most of which refer to it as a "Hydrangea", which it superficially resembles. When other plants have faded for winter, Dombeya comes on strong, blooming heavily through spring. It is also a favorite of honeybees, so that's a bonus. It is hardy USDA zones 9-12. Ready now in 15-gallon pots, full of blooms. www.gardenind.com Instagram @mr_plant_man #plants #flowers #garden #landscape #nursery #tropical #landscapedesign #gardenlife #florida #plantsmakepeoplehappy #plantsofinstagram #flowersofinstagram #botanical #tropicalplants #wholesalenursery #nosmallplantshere #iloveplants #dombeya #hydrangea #bees #pollinatorgarden #gardeninspiration #insects

Shipping season is in full swing in south Florida, as garden centers in other parts of the country begin to order material to restock for their spring and summer sales. Although much of our plant material is either tropical or sub-tropical, we do grow a selection of material the performs well in both our area as well as in more temperate climates. Coming to us from East Africa through Asia and into Australia, Vitex trifolia ‘Purpurea’ is a fast-growing woody shrub with 3” gray-green foliage with bold purple undersides. Small purple flowers appear several times throughout the year. Doing best in full sun, it can reach 10-15’ with an equal spread. It is quite drought tolerant once established and is hardy USDA zones 9-11. When in flower, it is quite popular with butterflies and honeybees, so it is a great centerpiece of the pollinator garden. We grow it both as a shrub and we also train it into small standard trees for a more formal presentation. I only learned recently that this selection is also referred to as Vitex ‘Fascination,’ and I have to say that when it is in full color, customers are always asking what it is. Fascination indeed. Ready now in 15-gallon tree form, with many in bloom. www.gardenind.com Instagram @mr_plant_man #plants #flowers #garden #landscape #nursery #tropical #landscapedesign #gardenlife #florida #plantsmakepeoplehappy #plantsofinstagram #flowersofinstagram #botanical #tropicalplants #pollinator #pollinatorplants #pollinatorgarden #butterflies #bees #vitex #purple #arabianlilac #nosmallplantshere #iloveplants

Just a gentle reminder that YES, you really DO need all these plants! Plant People are always on the lookout for something interesting, impeccably grown, and beautiful. We can help you with that! www.gardenind.com instagram @mr_plant_man #plants #plantsmakepeoplehappy #garden #coolplants #wholesalenursery #florida #landscape #fun #design #gardendesign #gardenideas