Musical Notes Clerodendrum

Clerodendrum incisum

As the clock struck midnight, song and celebration rang out as we turned over a new year filled with more amazing plants to feature as our Plant of the Month. To kick off the month of January, we bring you a plant that is bound to harmonize soundly with your landscape, the Musical Notes Clerodendrum. Although this plant cannot croon a tune or serenade with a musical instrument, its appearance still sings out for attention. This small shrub produces numerous white flowers year-round that harmonize melodically among its matte green leaves. Before developing into the complete flower, the buds are rolled up into the distinguished shape of a musical note, as its name entitles. The buds then slowly unroll into a trumpet shaped bloom, erupting with long red stamens like a metaphor for the sound exploding from Louis Armstrong’s horn. The Musical Notes Clerodendrum has a rapid growth rate but is self-contained to modest size, making it ideal for planting in groupings or being used for bordering. With little pruning required, this uniform plant gets equally as wide as it is tall, producing a well-formed shape that can also be displayed in a landscape container. Start your year off right with the addition of the Musical Notes Clerodendrum for an addition to beautifully symphonize with your landscape. Happy New Year!

Written by: Christian Brewer, Landscape Designer

Interested in suggesting our next Plant of the Month?

Contact Vaughan Johnson Today

Pink Princess Philodendron

Philodendron erubescens

If you are looking to get your sweetheart something unforgettable this Valentine’s Day, ditch the chocolate and flowers and go with our February Plant of the Month, the Pink Princess Philodendron. This rare plant features a spectacular form of pink variegation that will turn anyone into an admirer. These patterns form as large splotches, small streaks and sometimes the entire leaf. Ranging from light to dark shades, the pink colors arrange boldly with the varying green shades of the rest of the leaf. As if to emulate the love for your significant other, its leaves are heart shaped, growing large and glossy as if it were a canvas to display its ravishing pigmentation. The Pink Princess Philodendron grows slowly and will begin to vine as it matures. It does best in loose, well drained soil with bright indirect sunlight either indoors or outside in a landscape container. As this plant matures, it will need structure to support its vining growth for an unforgettable display. Prevent leaf burn and root rot by minimizing direct sunlight and overwatering. Be sure to present the remarkable Pink Princess Philodendron to a remarkable person in your life this Valentines Day.

Written by: Christian Brewer, Landscape Designer

Interested in suggesting our next Plant of the Month?

Contact Vaughan Johnson Today

Lucky Nut

Thevetia peruviana

If you did not find your pot of gold on St. Patrick’s Day, you can still find it in the beauty of our March Plant of the Month, the Lucky Nut. Unique in appearance, this small tree radiates eye catching qualities that will have you chasing leprechauns to discover its visual riches. The canopy of this tree is densely covered in long linear foliage. These finely shaped leaves are bright green and glossy for a bold appearance and texture that contrasts vividly with the surrounding landscape. The Lucky Nut has exceptional flowering capabilities, as they bloom nearly year-round. And like a leprechaun’s pot of gold, the flowers are bright yellow to gold in color and cover the tree numerously like a treasure trove. Its linear bright green foliage creates a dense backdrop for the large flowers, creating an attractive variance lucky enough to behold. But just like the trickery of a leprechaun, all parts of this beautiful tree are poisonous, and caution should be used in its handling and location in the landscape. If you can’t find a four-leaf clover to get luck on your side, the nut from its seed pod, once dried out and safe to handle, is said to bring good luck, hence its name “Lucky Nut”.

In addition to the distinct foliage and incredible blooms of the Lucky Nut, its trunk and stems turn a silvery gray color as it matures, adding to its distinguished attributes. This tree thrives in full sun and has exceptional tolerance to drought and heat, making it an excellent option for xeric landscaping. It is also known to be salt tolerant and can be used in coastal areas. Although St. Patrick’s Day has past, you can still add green and gold to your landscape with year-round luck with the Lucky Nut this March.

Written by: Christian Brewer, Landscape Designer

Interested in suggesting our next Plant of the Month?

Contact Vaughan Johnson Today

Wax Plant

Hoya pubicalyx

As we intertwine with the Spring season, your landscape can become intertwined with our April Plant of the Month, the Wax Plant. The Wax Plant is a climbing or trailing vine that can grow over 20 feet long. It has lush foliage of long, narrow, dark green leaves that turn silvery-pink when exposed to sunlight. New growth often has a reddish tinge and their glossy texture along with unique patterns provide year-round visual interest. The most distinctive feature of the Wax Plant is its clusters of star-shaped flowers. The celebrated flowers are striking and fragrant, making them a focal point of the plant. Each cluster, known as an umbel, contains numerous individual flowers. The flowers are typically maroon to dark purple in color with shades of pink in between. They have a waxy texture and a sweet, spicy fragrance that intensifies in the evening.

The Wax Plant thrives in indirect sunlight with well-drained soil. It requires minimal maintenance, as pruning is only necessary to keep its reach at a desired length or to encourage bushier growth. Reblooming occurs continuously from the same flower stalk, so it is important to avoid removing them after they are done blossoming. When allowed, its vigorous climbing capabilities can reach great distances, ornamenting trees, fences, trellis, and any other structure used for support. From heights, its flowers cascade from above in a fantastic display. The Wax Plant also makes a great display in hanging baskets and decorative landscape containers. Be sure to add the Wax Plant to your landscape this April and May flowers will follow.

Written by: Christian Brewer, Landscape Designer

Interested in suggesting our next Plant of the Month?

Contact Vaughan Johnson Today

Giant Yarey Palm

Copernicia fallaensis

With Summer on our doorstep, it’s time to start preparing for our big summer plans. Our May Plant of the Month, the Giant Yarey Palm, could be the biggest plan of them all for your landscape. This Imposing yet elegant Palm from Cuba is enormous. The fronds can span over 6’ wide and boast a striking blue to silver-green color. Its numerous fronds are densely arranged to create a distinct rounded crown on top of its robust trunk of a light gray color. The waxy leaf blades are divided into 120 stiff segments that create a mesmerizing symmetrical pattern against the sky. The sheer size and combined attributes of the Giant Yarey Palm produce a truly awe-inspiring sight to behold.

Endangered in the wild of its native habitat in Cuba, the Giant Yarey Palm adapts well to South Florida conditions. Once established, this slow growing palm is drought tolerant, moderately salt tolerant, and thrives in full sun conditions. While its tall, impressive stature is the characterized appearance of this palm, it looks fantastic sized down as a younger specimen mixed into the landscape. Just be sure to allow plenty of room for it to grow and mature into the unparalleled behemoth it is known to become. Make room in your schedule (and landscape) this may for the Giant Yarey Palm.

Written by: Christian Brewer, Landscape Designer

Interested in suggesting our next Plant of the Month?

Contact Vaughan Johnson Today

Dwarf Sugar Palm

Arenga engleri

As June kicks us off into the warm and rainy summer season, the landscape is eager and ready for new palms to be planted. The Dwarf Sugar Palm, originating from Taiwan, provides a variety of uses, including privacy screening to accenting your yard as a specimen piece. The multi-stemmed, clustering palm presents outstanding buffering abilities while maintaining a lush, tropical appearance. Alone, the palm boasts attractive foliage with the silvery undersides of its large-leafed fronds. During this rainy season, the palm shines, presenting its showy, fragrant bloom, which then turns into a bright orange and red fruit- But please don’t touch or eat! The fruit contains high oxalates that can irritate the skin.

Staying relatively short, the Dwarf Sugar Palm can also be used as an understory plant, forming a soft, arching layer. The palm thrives in full sun to partial shade, giving you the flexibility of where to add it to your home landscape. In full sun, however, the fronds can develop a lime-green tint. Additionally, choosing an area with well-drained soil will provide the best habitat for the palm to grow in. As the Dwarf Sugar Palm gradually matures into its average size of 10’ tall and 15’ wide, it produces basal offshoots as older ones die off, forming the multi-stemmed, hairy base of the palm. Growing into this summer season, we can’t wait to see where you decide to plant your Dwarf Sugar Palm!

Written by: Gabriella Gilliam, Landscape Designer

Interested in suggesting our next Plant of the Month?

Contact Vaughan Johnson Today

Odorata Bromeliad

Alcantarea odorata

The Odorata Bromeliad, native to Brazil's Atlantic Rainforest, glows in July's radiant sun with its silvery-green hues. Named after Dom Pedro d'Alcântara, Brazil's second emperor, this species is admired for its grandeur and resilience. Its striking light blue appearance and ability to thrive in tropical and subtropical climates captures the attention of gardeners worldwide. Whether as a solitary specimen or grouped for impact, the bromeliad adds tropical elegance to gardens and landscapes of all scales. The plant's spineless leaves distinguish it from other bromeliads, allowing flexible placement, such as along pathways. The plant's ability to tolerate both full sun and partial shade makes it versatile for various garden settings. The Odorata Bromeliad is a sustainable landscape choice with low-maintenance needs. Once established, the plant is relatively drought-tolerant, relying on occasional watering during dry periods and intermittent fertilization to thrive.

The rosette of stiff leaves forms a rainwater-collecting basin that fosters a microecosystem for small insects and amphibians. As the plant matures, a long spike shoots from the center of the rosette, drawing attention to the fragrant, yellow bracts ornamenting its peak. This bloom attracts various species of birds, butterflies, and bees, further enhancing its ecological significance. Although the odorata shares the same family as pineapples, it does not bear any fruit. The Odorata Bromeliad is the perfect accent plant, bringing a cool tone to your landscape for summer.

Written by: Gabriella Gilliam, Landscape Designer

Interested in suggesting our next Plant of the Month?

Contact Vaughan Johnson Today

Brazilian Red Cloak

Megaskepasma erythrochlamys

The Brazilian Red Cloak’s fiery pops of color resemble August’s hot summer sun. Vibrant clusters of bright red bracts form a dramatic floral display periodically throughout the year, primarily from late fall through early spring, and “cloak” small, white tubular flowers beneath. These blooms deliver a striking burst of color while captivating a range of pollinators, especially hummingbirds and butterflies. The large, glossy green leaves enhance the Brazilian Red Cloak’s tropical allure, with each leaf featuring prominent venation, adding texture and movement to the foliage.

Often used in landscapes for its ornamental value, the Brazilian Red Cloak typically grows to 6 to 10 feet and features a dense, bushy habit. Its fast-growing nature can be beneficial in creating a lush privacy screen. Despite its name, this shrub originates from the rainforests of Venezuela, where it thrives in well-drained, acidic soils and prefers a sunny to partly shaded location. It is relatively low maintenance, requiring regular watering but minimal pruning in early spring or late summer when its blooming period ends. Its tropical climate origins allow it to thrive in the conditions of South Florida. The Brazilian Red Cloak boasts a colorful show and easy maintenance, making it an attractive addition to your landscape.

Written by: Gabriella Gilliam, Landscape Designer

Interested in suggesting our next Plant of the Month?

Contact Vaughan Johnson Today

Silver Palm

Coccothrinax barbadensis

As September unfolds, the Silver Palm is the perfect fan palm for the start of the fall season, bringing its signature silver-tinted leaves and tropical elegance to any landscape. Native to Puerto Rico, Trinidad, and many other Caribbean islands, the palm is well adapted to coastal environments, thriving in salty conditions, sandy soils, and sunny locations. Its slender trunk can reach heights up to 40 feet, with a crown of fan-shaped leaves at its peak. The durability of its leaves allows the Silver Palm to withstand high winds from intense storms.

Additionally, the stiff, segmented leaves grow in a rounded, symmetrical form, which makes them well-suited for traditional basket weaving and roof thatching. In landscapes, the palm is used in various ways, from lining streets to emphasizing focal points with its grand size. The Silver Palm’s ornamental appeal in landscaping and resilience in harsh coastal climates make it an optimal choice for South Florida landscapes.

Written by: Gabriella Gilliam, Landscape Designer

Interested in suggesting our next Plant of the Month?

Contact Vaughan Johnson Today

Crabwood

Gymnanthes lucida

October, celebrated as Florida Native Plant Month, highlights the state's diverse and resilient flora, including one of its coastal natives, the Crabwood, or Gymnanthes lucida. A small tree or large shrub, this species is integral to the health of many ecosystems in South Florida. The leathery, dark green leaves have intricate venation that shimmer in the sunlight. Looking closely, you may observe minor white specks of lichen growing on the leaves' surface that develop from wind pollination. Its reddish-grey trunk can grow up to 20 feet tall, stretching sturdy branches that form a natural refuge for small mammals and birds. The Crabwood contributes substantial ecological value and is a larval host plant for the Large Florida Purplewing Butterfly, a species often found in the hardwood hammocks of the Florida Keys. Additionally, its small, round fruits shift from green to reddish-brown as they ripen, providing a reliable food source for many animal species year-round.

Though its small, yellow-green flowers are unremarkable, the Crabwood's real beauty lies in its adaptability. It thrives in environments where many other plants struggle, moderately withstanding salt spray and drought. The plant’s deep roots help stabilize sandy soils, making it a key player in preventing shoreline erosion. The Crabwood is a highly valued plant species in natural restoration projects and ornamental landscaping, making it an amazing addition to your coastal garden!

Written by: Gabriella Gilliam, Landscape Designer

Interested in suggesting our next Plant of the Month?

Contact Vaughan Johnson Today