Category Archives: Tips

Plants and Palms that are Cold Hearty

Florida cold hardy plants and shrubs are a good choice for Florida landscaping.

This will give some relief from the worries of having problems from cold weather. The following are some of our customers favorites.

Cold Hardy Shrubs: Indian Hawthorn, Juniper, Japanese Boxwood, Ilex Shilling, Pittosporum, Asparagus Fern , Flax Lilies, Liriope,

Cold Hardy Palms: Sylvester Palm, Chinese and European Fan Palms, Washingtonian,

Bamboo: The lovely and fast growing bamboo is very cold hardy, most varieties down to 25 degrees

JANUARY PLANT OF THE MONTH

PLANT OF THE MONTH FIRESPIKE. (Odontonema strictum)

If you are looking for a plant that will bloom in sun or in shade, that has lovely red flowers for much of the year and attracts hummingbirds, then Firespike may be for you. Firespike may be best utilized in the landscape in a mass planting. Plants can be spaced about 2 feet apart to fill in the area quickly. It is one of only a few flowering plants that give good, red color in a partially shaded site. The lovely flowers also make firespike an excellent candidate for the cutting garden. This perennial may be grown on a wide range of moderately fertile, sandy soils and is quite drought tolerant. Firespike can be tender to cold but winter freezes help to control its size. You can prune this plant to the ground in the winter if hit by strong freeze. There are few known pests. It can grow to four feet but can be kept pruned and flowering at 2-3 feet. For more information call Bongard Nursery at 561-746-4240.