Teresa's Top Five

Photo credit: www.Heirloomroses.com, Pinterest, www.floribundance.com, Teresa Watkins

Rosa chinensis ‘Viridiflora’

A China rose with green sepals instead of petals. This rose attains a height of 3 to 5 feet and has a shrubby growth habit, making it suitable for border plantings or as an ornamental feature.  Zoned 5 through 10, as well as its tolerance of shade,

Green Tea: Pale Green Hybrid Tea

Hybrid tea rose grown in South America showcases a pale green, nearly white, double blossoms with a traditional rose form. Grows to a height of 3–4 feet.

Green Romantica®  

The Hybrid Tea variety, bred for its distinct green hues, is noted for its subtle fragrance and gentle green coloration. Available on Heirloom Roses dot com.

Lemonade: Chartreuse Cabbage Rose

This rose features large, chartreuse-green, ruffled blooms and sturdy heads, ideal for centerpieces. It grows 3–4 feet tall with a bushy form.

St. Patrick, Hybrid Tea Rose

I have grown this lovely yellow rose, indeed tinged with green, displays striking chartreuse buds and large 5-inch flowers with more than 35 petals. Its bushy form blooms continuously, and the grey-green leaves provide a perfect contrast to the blossoms.

www.heirloomroses.com and specialty growers.

5. Bleeding Hearts: Clerodendrum thomsoniae is a vine from the mint family (Lamiaceae), though some sources like the USDA Plants Database list it under Verbenaceae. It grows in Central or South Florida with full sun to partial shade, producing red, heart-shaped flowers throughout the year, especially in milder weather.

4. Witches Hair — Cuscuta, or dodder, is a genus of over 201 parasitic plants, usually yellow, orange, or red. Once classified in Cuscutaceae, it is now part of the morning glory family.

3. Black Bat Plant – Tacca chantrieri. – Species of flowering plant in the yam family – National Flower of Thailand. It smells like a rotting corpse, self-pollinating. It can be planted in full shade outside or can be an indoor plant.

2. Snapdragon Skulls – After blooming, snapdragon seeds resemble human skulls. Historically, these plants were believed to protect against deceit, curses, and witchcraft, and some myths claimed they could restore youth and beauty to women who consumed them.

1. Ghost Pipes – Monotropa uniflora Ghost plant or Death plant, Indianpipe is a spectral herbaceous perennial wildflower, Grows throughout Florida naturally in mixed temperate hardwood forests and scrub, particularly where the ground is covered in leaf litter and lichens. It typically blooms in November. Its whitish color is due to it being non-photosynthetic and does not contain chlorophyll.

Hanging baskets are an effective way to enhance entryways, patios, arbors, or gazebos, adding both vivid color and vertical interest to outdoor spaces. Consider these new and attractive low-maintenance flowering options and more from Proven Winners for your landscape.

  1. Variegated Dogwood, Cornus alba ‘Variegata’ Zone 2 - 8

  2. Fatsia japonica ‘Spider’s Web’ Zone 7b - 10b

  3. Giant Double Begonia, Begonhia spp. Zone 9 - 10

  4. Variegated Liy of the Nile, Agapanthus praecox ssp orientalis 'Variegata Zone 7 - 10

  5. Ornamental Allium, Allium aflatunense, Zone 7 - 10

Flowers that are in bold can be planted in Florida. Alliums must be planted in the Fall.

Plants with Great Texture

a.      Fatsia Japonica ‘Spider’s Web’

b.      Arizona Cypress, Cupressus arizonica var. ‘Blue Ice’

c.      Alocasia amazonica ‘Polly’

d.      Round-leaf Calathea, Calathea orbifolia

e.      Colocasia esculenta ‘Pharoah’s mask’

Find the plants at your local box store or independent garden center or below:

Fatsia japonica at Southern Living Plant Collection.

Alocasia amazonica ‘Polly at Costa Farms.

Calathea orbifolia at Costa Farms

GET THE "IN YOUR BACKYARD" NEWSLETTER!

Monthly gardening information for Florida-friendly landscapes,, what to do in your garden, design advice, and more!

Sign Up!