They much prefer sunny, warm & humid tropical climates. However, most of us know it as a smaller foliage house plant, before much of a trunk has developed. Of course, as a ground cover, it will need to be sheared from time to time to maintain its desired height and width. Hibiscus bushes are divided into two main categories: tropical flowering hibiscus & hardy flowering hibiscus. Height: 3 to 6 ft Light: Full sun - partial shade Growth: Clumping Cold Tolerance: Zone 8 & above or indoors Garden croton occurs naturally in southern Asia, Indonesia and other Eastern Pacific islands where it grows in open forests and scrub. Alpinias grow from thick fleshy roots called rhizomes, similar in appearance to the ginger root found in grocery stores. Plants should be carefully watered when young and later during droughts. I'm your new favourite Ginger - move over, Ed Sheeran! The evergreen leaves of bird-of-paradise do not drop from the plant, which makes it an excellent addition around pools or wherever shedding leaves are an aesthetic and/or maintenance problem. The Dwarf Firebush (aka hamelia patens compacta/glabra) is not a native Florida plant. Shell Ginger will bring the tropics to you. The leathery leaves are held upright on stiff leafstalks and are about 6 inches wide and 18 inches long. Weeping Fig will grow in full sun or partial shade on any well-drained soil. Because variegated ginger doesn't flower until its second year, it can only be enjoyed for its foliage in the cooler areas. Unfortunately, no one has been able to reliably determine the origin of plants being sold as Hamelia patens Dwarf or Compacta. Firebush is a popular shrub for Central and South Florida landscapes. Water regularly, especially during the initial growing season when the roots are establishing. They come in a variety of colors & sizes & can also be found in both bush and tree form. T (239) 774-9311 | F (239) 774-5325, Image Use | Privacy Policy | Website By RGB Team Web, Requires low to medium well drained water, Medium growth rate & gets up to 8 ft tall, No flowers, but foliage is very vibrant in color, Slow grower, but can get up to 10 ft tall, No flowers, but foliage is vibrant & showy, Varies due to usual pruning of this type of shrub, but can get 25 ft tall, Not native (although there are some varieties of Eugenia that are native - like the Eugenia Spanish Stopper), Performs well in low, medium or full sunlight, Usually stays low growing, unless left to grow into a tree form (slow growing), Capable of getting 60 ft tall in tree form, but is usually kept pruned into a hedge form, Medium to full sunlight * Approx. Trees can grow to be quite large and spreading in this fashion. Alpinia zerumbet, commonly known as shell ginger, is a perennial species of ginger native to East Asia.They can grow up to 8 to 10 ft (2.4 to 3.0 m) tall and bear colorful funnel-shaped flowers. Bird-of-paradise makes an attractive landscape plant throughout Florida, although it requires cold protection in the northern part of the state. Variegated Shell Ginger. Typically, variegated shell ginger grows to about 6 ft tall, which is not as large as the non-variegated species (Alpinia zerumbet), which can grow to as much as 12 ft tall. The hibiscus is one of the most sought after flowering plants in Florida. Variegated shell ginger is best used as a specimen plant in partly shaded areas or as a container plant on a shaded patio. Easy to Care for Variegated Shell Ginger. The colors may follow the veins, the margins or they may be in blotches on the leaf. 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