The "A" Word
05:49 PM - May 19, 2009
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Can you feel it, because I can. Sure, the warm spring days are still followed by cool spring nights, but that’s gonna change real soon and we all know it. Once the nights start to warm up, that’s when you see the real difference between the men and the boys, at least in the garden. Gardeners and plants alike have definite thermal tolerances unique to each, and once that tolerance is exceeded, both disappear from the garden. But for all the discomfort our hot Texas days and nights create, there is one reason for gardeners to rejoice: TROPICALS! And I don’t mean pothos ivy, peace lily and so many other indoor shade-loving tropicals, I’m talking about some of the showiest, heat loving-est garden plants on the market, and now’s the time to procure and plant these exotic beauties. Most indoor tropical plants come from areas of the world that get warm but not HOT, and cool, but not COLD.
The tropicals that love Texas gardens are those that come from some of the steamiest, sunniest parts of the globe and just giggle at our summer highs. The real kicker is most tropicals have flowers and/or foliage interest throughout the spring, summer, AND fall, which here in Central Texas might mean upwards of 8 months. Imagine that, 8 months of continuous color from just one plant! That means, the earlier you buy it, the more value you get. Wanna know something even cooler? Lots of tropical “annuals” are actually turning out to be perennials in Austin, translating to years of show in the garden. You would have to get a perennial through at least three blooming seasons to equal one year with some tropicals. It’s a shame that annuals have gotten such a bad rap over the years, but I understand why. Plant breeders have spent so many decades trying to get the bluest blue or the reddest red, and have bred out all the other characteristics that make plants successful, like heat tolerance, disease resistance, and so forth. The result is endless seas of gorgeous sparkling little horticultural WEENIES, wimps, and well, pansies; plants that don’t even deserve to be called plants much less GOOD plants. You know what I’m talking about, the gerberas, the petunias, the marigolds that stop looking healthy almost the second you get them in the ground, and pretty much decline thereafter. They look and perform great in mixed bowl planters, but languish in the Texas soil and heat. So it’s no wonder annuals are all wearing a scarlet letter, and it’s no wonder I have to do a little salesman tap dance routine with every skeptical, eye-rolling perennial convert that comes in the store. But the fact of the matter is: THERE ARE GOOD ANNUALS, in fact there are some spectacular ones… …and here are a few of my favorites:
Hibiscus acetosella ‘Red Shield’. Talk about an exclamation point! This red wonder will grow all spring, summer and fall, cloaking itself in a blanket of burgundy…and that’s just the leaves. In spring, the only things darker than the foliage are the flowers, which in the bright sun look like little black holes floating around in your garden universe. Trippy.
Duranta ‘Golden Edge’ What sells as a tropical annual in Dallas tends to be an evergreen shrub here in Austin! Of course, if we have a “real” winter, this sturdy shrubbing perennial will freeze to the ground, but ours planted in front of the store made it through last winter without losing a leaf. The sunny golden leaves on dense branches make for an eye-catching addition to any container planting or perennial border. Looks great with burgundy, especially purple fountain grass or canna ‘Australia’.
Cassia alata Candlestick Plant. This is hands-down the biggest annual we can grow in Austin. If planted soon after the last frost in mid-March, you can assuredly have bright yellow bloom spikes sitting atop a 6-9’ mammoth of a plant by its fall bloom time. I’m not kidding, this thing is a moose, and it loves being stir-fried in the blazing Texas sun.
Ricinus communis ‘Carmencita’ Red Castor Bean. Another garden giant, red castor bean never fails to amaze even the most experienced plantsfolk with its seemingly overnight transformation from tiny seedling to monster (up to 10’) tower of horticultural power. The palm-shaped burgundy tropical leaves nicely frame puffy spikes of red-orange flowers. This is a must-have plant for anyone seeking the jungle look on a budget, especially considering the low price of seeds. Two things to know about this plant: 1. it is a prolific seeder, so either save seeds for next year or just let them fall. They’ll germinate in the spring and you’ll accidently have 10 where there was only one. 2. THE SEEDS ARE HIGHLY TOXIC, SO IF YOU HAVE KIDS OR HUNGRY DOGS, KEEP THEM AWAY FROM THIS PLANT!!
Jatropha hastata ‘Spicy’. Diversify your garden’s spice rack with this robust red wonder. Cherry red clusters float above deep green tropical foliage making for an all-summer show. This is another one that’s been evergreen for us here at the store, but expect it to be a tender perennial (more tender than perennial!) in most winters. The hotter the better!
