Creating the Tropical Look: Low-Care Tropicals for the Upper Gulf Coast of Texas
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Creating the Tropical Look: Low-care tropicals for the Upper Gulf Coast of Texas Galveston County Office Dickinson, Texas Gracious thanks is extended to Dr. William M. Johnson Galveston County Extension Agent - Horticulture for his invaluable technical assistance and review of this publication. All photos were taken by Galveston County Master Gardeners and are the property of the Galveston County Master Gardeners Association. All rights reserved. No part of this work covered by the copyright hereon may be reproduced or used in any form or by any means without written permission from the Galveston County Master Gardener Association. Educational programs of Texas AgriLife Extension Service are open to all people without regard to race, color, sex, disability, religion, age, or national origin. Creating the Tropical Look: Low-care tropicals for the Upper Gulf Coast of Texas EDITORS PHOTOGRAPHERS Mary Yurkovich, MG 1999 Herman Auer, MG 1983 Marge Jenke, MG 2005 Larry Baker, MG 1992 Deborah Repasz, MG 2003 Laura Bellmore, MG 1992 Alcestis Cooky Oberg, MG 2002 Raford Brister, MG 2004 GRAPHIC ARTIST Helle Brown, MG 2008 Sandra Devall, MG 1998 Margaret Canavan, MG 2003 WRITERS Lillian Canouet, MG 2006 Larry Baker, MG 1992 Sandra Devall, MG 1998 Pam Barton, MG 2005 Yvonne Enos, MG 2008 Anne Baugh, MG 2006 Billy Jenke, MG 2006 Jan Brick, MG 2001 Marge Jenke, MG 2005 Camille Goodwin, MG 2008 Gloria Johnston, MG 2008 Candice Hawkinson, MG 2006 Ted Landry, MG 2005 Clyde Holt, MG 2005 Karen Lehr, MG 2008 Dawn Hoyle, MG 2002 Alcestis Cooky Oberg, MG 2002 Marge Jenke, MG 2005 Sam Powers, MG 1987 Trish McDaniel, MG 2001 Mona Ray, MG 1987 Alcestis Cooky Oberg, MG 2002 Deborah Repasz, MG 2003 Mona Ray, MG 1987 Linda Steber, MG 1991 Judithe Savely, MG 2005 Judithe Savely, MG 2005 Eileen Storey, MG 2006 Eileen Storey, MG 2006 Sara Thompson, MG 2006 Mary Yurkovich, MG 1999 Diana Wozniak, MG 2006 Mary Yurkovich, MG 1999 Table of Contents Chapter 1 Gingers . 07 Chapter 2 Hibiscus . 17 Chapter 3 Bromeliads . 25 Chapter 4 Orchids . 33 Chapter 5 Bulbs, Corms, Rhizomes & Tubers . 43 Chapter 6 Flowering Vines . 55 Chapter 7 Tropical Foliage . 61 Chapter 8 Flowering Shrubs . 77 Chapter 9 Flowering Trees . 85 Bibliography . .95 Introduction To enjoy lush, colorful foliage and dramatic floral displays, gardeners along the Upper Gulf Coast of Texas are lucky. They can add to their gardens tropical- looking plants that grow in temperate, subtropical and tropical climates. All plants described in this book are available locally and require no, little or manageable cold-weather protection. The USDA plant hardiness zones for the Upper Gulf Coast of Texas are generally recognized to be zones 9a and 9b. Zone 9a cold-weather temperatures are 20 to 25 degrees Fahrenheit; zone 9b, 25 to 30 degrees Fahrenheit. Although these zones help as guidelines, many local gardeners have learned that in some areas of the Upper Gulf Coast of Texas, such as Galveston Island, the temperature more closely conforms to zone 10a, 30 to 35 degrees Fahrenheit. Further, as our climate warms, winters are shorter than they used to be. The first freeze in this area occurs around the middle of December. The last freeze date occurs about the middle of March. Gardeners use this knowledge to judge when to set out warm-weather plants and when to protect them. Our Master Gardeners and other local gardening experts also are knowledgeable about natural microclimates and how to create them or take advantage of them. A warm-temperature plant can survive on the south side of the house or next to a brick wall. But in the open or on the north side of the house, that plant will surely freeze. Temperatures in Dickinson, League City, Santa Fe, San Leon, or Galveston Island all vary slightly, and a difference of two to three degrees Fahrenheit can affect the survival of a plant. By learning the native origin of the plant, its growing requirements, and where to place it in the garden, gardeners along the Upper Gulf Coast of Texas can confidently grow any of the plants discussed in this book. 6 1Gingers Humans have had a connection with gingers for thousands of years. Zingiber officinale has been cultivated for at least 2,000 years, and is included in 2nd century BC Roman books of cooking and farming. It has always been considered a highly valued spice. Turmeric spice evolved from Curcuma longa ginger, and has an even longer history — over 4,000 years. These two ginger species alone have provided edible, folkloric, herbal, and medicinal value for most of the recorded history of mankind. In Victorian England, gingers were grown for their flamboyant and sometimes beautifully perfumed flowers in greenhouses, but in time the plants fell victim to increased heating costs, ending the tropical plant craze. Recent interest in tropical plants has once again brought gingers to the forefront. This versatile group can be used in many different tropical-style settings. They can be an accent in woodland gardens, around ponds, in borders, with shrubs or under trees. Gardeners in the Upper Texas Gulf Coast of Texas are fortunate to be able to cultivate an amazing array of gingers. 7 Alpinia Alpinia (Al-PIN-ee-uh) Named in honor of the 16th century botanist Prospero Apinio, Alpinia is the largest genus in the Zingiberaceae family, with more than 230 species. Most species originate in Southeast Asia, and most varieties are tropical and sensitive to cold. Alpinias bloom in the second year of growth, but even if the bloom is absent, the foliage is striking. Shell Ginger A. zerumbet (zer-UM-bet) Shell ginger is the largest of the root-hardy Alpinias, growing to eight to 10 feet. It blooms on the previous year’s canes. The foliage, noted for its beauty, is often aromatic. Shell ginger requires light sun to shade and adequate moisture. Variegated shell ginger is grown as a foliage plant and is the most popular variegated ginger. A dwarf version is also available. Shell Ginger Variegated Shell Ginger 8 Costus Costus (KOS-tus) Costus, with at least 70 species, is the largest of the Costaceae family. These plants have leaves arranged in a spiral around a stem that grows from six to 10 feet tall. Some varieties attract hummingbirds, and oth- ers attract bees. Costus gingers need three to five hours of direct sun, along with fertile, organic, moist, and well-drained soil. They do not like standing in water. Costus is the only ginger that can be propagated by stem cuttings. However, the most common way is by rhizome divi- sion. Crepe Ginger Crepe Ginger C. speciosus (spee-see-OH-sus) There are two distinct varieties of crepe ginger. One has a red/bur- gundy pinecone-shaped flower at the top. Another is called variegated crepe ginger and has white blooms resembling crepe fabric. Crepe Ginger can also be grown as a container plant, growing five to seven feet and producing its best blooms in full sun. Red Tower C. barbatus (bar-BAY-tus) This plant produces a combination of red bracts and yellow flowers. It blooms in the spring. It can grow in filtered shade, reaching a height of seven feet and is sensitive to frost. Spiral Ginger Red Tower C. woodsohii (wood-SO-nee) This spiral ginger grows to 24 to 36 inches tall in sun or partial shade and blooms all year. Flower tips produce a honey-like ginger nectar attractive to bees, butterflies and hummingbirds. This plant is cold hardy to 30°F. Spiral Ginger 9 Curcuma Curcuma (KER-koo-muh) Native to Southeast Asia, curcumas, also called hidden gingers, are used as spices, vegetables, coloring agents, perfumes, oils, and medicines. They are also widely grown as ornamentals. There are spring and summer curcumas. The spring variety blooms before the leaves appear. The summer curcumas bloom from summer until early fall and has leaves taller than the flower stem, obscuring the flower. Curcumas are superb foliage plants, with tough, banana-like leaves that turn yellow and begin to drop in the fall. Curcumas foliage can be protected from the sun by planting it in light shade. Keep the soil evenly moist, and plants will grow from one to seven feet tall. Most Alimanda propagation is by rhizome division. Alimanda C. alimanda (al-ih-MAN-da) This hidden ginger has a reddish/orange bloom and prefers shade. It is an excellent cut flower and stays fresh for an extended period. Purple Prince C. ‘Purple Prince’ Curcuma ‘Purple Prince’ is a hybrid and grows two to three feet tall. It prefers light shade to some sun and produces beautiful foot-long flower stalks with maroon bracts and smaller flowers in late summer. Giant Plume Ginger Purple Prince C. elata (el-AH-tuh) The flower stalk develops into a brilliant bright pink torch before the banana-like leaves emerge. At heights up to eight feet, this is the tallest and one of the hardiest curcumas cultivated. Bright filtered light and well-drained soil are recommended. Giant Plume Ginger 10 Globba Globba (GLAH-buh) The genus consists of 40 to 100 species. Globbas are rarely more than 24 inches tall, with inch-long flowers. The plant is quite distinc- tive and ornamental as the dangling flowers swing and sway in even a light breeze, appearing to be dancing. Globbas require moisture and a well-drained soil. They prefer shade or part shade, though some have been seen blooming and thriving in full sun. They die to the ground in the fall and don’t re-emerge until late spring. Propagation is by stem cutting (place it horizontally in a vase of water and watch for emerging sprouts), clump division during the growing season, and by cutting and planting dormant rhizome pieces.