TROPICAL LOOKING PLANTS - Other Than Palms
11,343 topics in this forum
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- 5 followers
- 3.5k replies
- 397.9k views
One of the things I look forward to this time of year is the new flushes of growth and cones from my Cycads. It is so amazing to see the lettuce soft new growth emerge from such a spikey formidable plant. I've been REAL into Cycads lately and many of the seedlings I just recently purchased are starting to flush as well. So lets see what Cycads are flushing or coning for you. Sorry about the lighting on my pics but we had the heavy duty May gray socked in today. Here is my Lepidozamia Hopei with a 2 leaf mini flush. Stevo
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The Jack is back!
by bubba- 8 replies
- 164 views
Jacaranda's always look better out West. This local started going off a couple of days ago. Please post your Jack's as they bloom
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Colvillea racemosa
by aztropic- 6 replies
- 144 views
Just picked up a 7 gallon, 8 foot tall (seedling😄) Colvillea racemosa tree to plant as a commemorative birthday gift. (makes it easier to remember when planted) We already have 2 Royal Poinciana trees that flower every year, so this Madagascar cousin should also be a winner in time, in the Arizona desert... Don't know of any others planted in Arizona, although they are known to grow well in our neighboring California, (but with sporadic flowering) which is the whole point of growing this species. The fall flowers literally will stop people and hummingbirds in their tracks; they are so bright orange! 🤯 aztropic Mesa, Arizona
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Bromeliads ID
by Jonathan- 1 follower
- 21 replies
- 1.2k views
I picked up these pretty cheap from a local hardware shop, no idea what they are but all looked interesting. Particularly like the skinny leaf one with the black leaf bases. The tags said Bromeliads Assorted! Any help appreciated.
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- 1 follower
- 10 replies
- 191 views
NoMa/Capitol Hill (Downtownish, Washington, DC—Zone 8a This winter was absolutely brutal and relentless. It had been unusually cold during the day for many weeks (high30’s-low 40’s), and unlike most winters, there were virtually no mild breaks in the cold. My wife and I returned from 3 weeks in London, mid to late January, and returned to an ice ramp over top of the stairs leading to our front down. We’ve lived here, in different neighborhoods in DC proper, for a total of near 25 years between us. The year of “Snowmaggedon” was not one of those years. I had never seen anything like it here—6 inches of thick ass ice. Driving was a nightmare for two weeks. Oh, a…
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Coralloid roots gone wild
by Urban Rainforest- 0 replies
- 38 views
So yesterday I was working at some condominiums I maintain as a landscaper in Pacific Beach San Diego. Im weeding around a street planter when I see them. Coralloid roots with the nearest Cycad a Cycas Revoluta at least 7 feet away! The crazy thing is it had to go underneath a curb and sidewalk to pull it off😳Is this normal? Here is a pic of the roots and the Sago in the distance.
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Special strelitzia plants
by April- 0 replies
- 20 views
Dear community, I was just really interested in case someone out there has ever seen as seeds/purchasebale plants or maybe even has Strelitzia reginae subsp. mzimvubuensis? It’s an orange strelitzia with a white tongue. I saw it in UK botanic gardens and actually a few years back someone in this community pasted a picture of what looked to be this plant. I was not able to find seeds or references to this plant anywhere apart from botanic gardens and was curious to see if maybe someone saw it somewhere else. I’m also curious if someone has seen or has any interesting, non standard strelitzias out there!
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Ficus maxima
by idontknowhatnametuse- 1 reply
- 49 views
I germinated these from seed that I collected and brought from Yucatán. Now growing in Monterrey zone 10. Notice the little hairs.
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Post your Banyans
by bubba- 12 replies
- 280 views
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Post your Sapodilla trees
by bubba- 0 replies
- 56 views
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- 7 followers
- 1.5k replies
- 111.4k views
I have always been fascinated with orchids, and I sort of assumed that orchid fascination was pretty common. I also used to think they were difficult to grow, at least in non-tropical climates, and so didn't bother with them, and again I assumed that this misconception was the reason more people don't grow them. So am I right? The reason I'm asking is that I've been experimenting with orchids for 4 or 5 years now and have gradaully realized that for a small lot in a less than perfect climate like Southern California, they are quite possibly the most rewarding group of plants to grow. They are also, in my opinion the ultimate palm companion plants...they grow be…
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help with my yucca!
by AliPno3- 1 follower
- 2 replies
- 93 views
hello, I have attached 2 pics - one of my yucca when it was first planted, nice round head, good proportions. then one of it now...big trunk, small head and leaves. It is next to 2 small olive trees, it is not in the shade. I was told not to water it so I don't, unless its very hot in summer. How do I get the leaves nice and long again?
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Ice Cream Banana What To Do
by SCVpalmenthusiast- 10 replies
- 217 views
Hey folks, Got this ice cream banana about 1.5 months ago. It was delivered during a terrible santa ana winds episode. Once it was planted it lost all the banana leaves. First planted A week later Now recovering My question is should I cut the other two stalks? Should I fertilize? The nights here are still in the low 50s here. It receives daily water through sprinklers and we’ve had a few drizzle days this week. I hear coffee grounds help push new growth. Should I try that?
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- 13 replies
- 204 views
Our cold February has caused questions about the effect of early or later blooming of these beautiful trees. I was very surprised to see an early bloomer:
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Post your biggest mango trees
by bubba- 10 replies
- 226 views
These two side by side mango trees are the largest I have seen:
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Nageia nagi in Houston or Texas.
by Chester B- 7 replies
- 265 views
I had never heard of Nageia nagi until a few months ago. It is a very interesting looking tropical conifer. Online sources say it’s hardy to 8b. Has anyone grown this? If so can you share your experience. I found a source for small plants and don’t want to waste the money on something that has little chance of survival.
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A few more NorCal blooms for Spring 2026
by Hillizard- 3 replies
- 129 views
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Sowing some rare rainforest seeds
by happypalms- 14 replies
- 429 views
Some unusual and rare species of rainforest trees. The Eleocarpus no one has managed to propagate seeds in cultivation, so that one will be interesting to give a go and if I can propagate them it will be a first. And iam sure they will be asking how I did that! Some nice looking seeds and unusual shapes and colour. Palm seeds are just as unique but for now rainforest seeds are a welcome change. It will be an interesting science project this one set to challenge my horticultural skills!
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Hinobambusa tranquilans 'Shiroshima
by PAPalmtrees- 8 replies
- 155 views
This is hands down one of my favorite bamboo varieties, its Hinobambusa tranquilans 'Shiroshima'. It's Hardy in zones 6a-8b (Photos from the National Arboretum)
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This afternoon, while walking through the community garden, I saw that the rhizomes of all three Strelitzia reginae plants are healthy and thriving and firmly rooted in the ground. It’s nothing short of a small miracle, and we’re incredibly grateful for it...
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Boyce Thompson Arboretum Spring 2026, ...Take #2.
by Silas_Sancona- 9 replies
- 254 views
Non - palmy highlights from this springs' check in up at Boyce.. Random stuff first, Standouts later. As expected, hot, dry winter we experienced has rushed the flowering season compared to past years at this time. While there were some around, obviously, dry winter = few native things to be found, let alone in flower right now. Still, lots of stuff to see and enjoy, even during a spring like this. A few " haven't seen this / these " flowering here " observations as well.. Staying kinda palmy for a sec, some coning Dioon edulis in one of the courtyard gardens.. Dioon and Cycas with the Sabals.. Hecht…
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Some rare cycas scratchleyana seeds
by happypalms- 6 replies
- 151 views
A nice bag full of some scratchleyana seeds you don’t see very often. A beautiful understory cycas species from Papua New Guinea. Looking forward to growing a few of these ones!
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Plant I’d needed please
by happypalms- 2 replies
- 120 views
All I know about this plant is that it apparently grows out near Bourke, so this plant is from the back of Bourke as they say! But I have no idea about it!
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A nice little tropical island in the bush
by happypalms- 0 replies
- 84 views
Created this little island oasis in the middle of the bush on a tree stump. I just chuckled em in there nothing special just time was all that was needed, left untouched!
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Nice little puya planted
by happypalms- 0 replies
- 84 views
A new plant in the collection. And the easiest way to grow something that’s new is plant it in the ground.
