Category: Tropical Looking Plants

For years I have not known what this plant was.  It appears like a weed in pots in the greenhouse, amongst the palms, colocasias, bananas, cycads.  Many times I pulled it out and when I did so, I noticed there were no roots.  Well, lo’ and behold, one day a visitor comes by and says, “Psilotum nutum”.

I look at him funny and say “same to you.”  He says, “No, you have it.  It’s a primitive fern, very difficult to find.  After he points it out and I see what he is talking about, I’m overjoyed.  It isn’t a weed, but more ancient than leaves, flowers and seeds.  Like cycads, Psilotum nutum was in existence when dinosauers walked the earth.

Apparently it can be found in Florida and parts of Texas, requiring tropical or sub-tropical conditions.  However, I have found it in palm pots out in the yard that were subject to temperatures in the 30’s.  Never have I seen it in the ground.  Here in the greenhouse, it is always with another plant, so I wonder if isn’t symbiotic in nature.  According to biologists it has the xylem for water transport, but no phloem for sugar transport.  The stems are triangular and at times sport small yellow heads, which must be spores vessels.   

 

 

 

Our white ornamental gingers, Hedychium coccineum, are blooming at last.  Here it is October!  Better late than never, as they say.  And the fragrance is so wonderful, right there with any jasmine and gardenia.  This ginger is hardy to the PNW, asking only for a bit of mulch to protect the surface running rhisome.   Place it close to a south facing wall if you have one and the collected heat will help in all respects.  Many love the foliage, which is arrow-like on stalks that can reach 4′.  The emerging stalks in May look like bamboo shoots.

There are many different ornamental gingers.  We have five or six and the colors include orange, pink,  and yellow.  Some have variegation in the leaves and some are bronze colored on the underside.  Be sure to explore these wonderful plants if you are not familiar with them. 

We love the green in our greenhouse, of course. But when a hardy hibiscus with bright magenta blooms gifts us with not one, not two, but three stunningly huge blooms on a single day, we gather around and celebrate the “eye candy” it delivers. It performs best in full sun, but can stand a little afternoon shade. Keep it moist but not wet, and you’ll watch it grow to full size (2 ft. by 5 ft.) within a year or two. A stunner to enjoy all summer!