Ask the Experts

• Excoecaria cochinchinensis 
• Originated from Asia
• •Habit-Hot ;Full coastal sun to light shade
• •Height x width 3-4’ x3-4’
• •Description-Unusual poinsettia relative grown for its ornamental/medicinal leaves shiny olive green above and glossy blood red below, allow to go slightly dry between watering. Zone 9b-11 (came back from 23 )
• •Ethnobotany-Leaves have been used for years for there anti-parasitic, hemostatic, and anti-microbial properties; especially against clindamycin resistant Staphylococcus aureus.

1 gallons available

•Tetrastigma voinieranum

•Originated from Indochina

•Habit-Full to Part sun

•Height x width-Climbing 30+; Spreading

•Description-Tough fast growing evergreen vine loves heavy trellises or makes excellent ground cover. Large leaves are great accent to any tropical garden. Zone 9-11 (comes back from roots; strong)

• •Botany-Species of this genus Tetrastigmaare the host plants for the parasitic plant family Rafflesiaceae

3 gallons available

•Myrcianthes fragrans 

•Native to Florida

•Habit-Full sun to shade, prefers slightly alkaline and good drainage, salt tolerant

•Height x width-12’ x 10’

•Description-Large shrub to small tree, evergreen with small leaves and fragrant white flowers. Displays beautiful smooth red-brown bark if grown in shade. Zone 9-11

•Ethnobotany-Small edible fruit has the flavor of nutmeg with the consistency of a grape. Provides food for birds and hungry staff. Called a stopper, because it was used for treatment of diarrhea

4" pots available

•Melaleuca alternifolia 

•Endemic to Australia

•Habit-Streams and swampy regions

•Height x width -20’ x15’

•Description-Small tree with delicate looking foliage blooms white or cream-colored masses of spikes (1–2in) long over a short period, mostly spring to early summer. Beautiful papery bark provides year round interest. Zone 8a-11

•Ethnobotany-The crushed leaves were originally used by Aborigines to treat skin infections, later on tea tree oil made from the leaves was found to have amazing antiseptic and anti-inflammatory properties.

1 gallon and 5 gallon available

•Gynura pseudochina

•Originated from Asia

•Habit-Full sun to shade, sandy slopes or roadsides

•Height x width -1-2’ x2’

•Description-semi-succulent, herbaceous perennial. Grown for its dark purple foliage and contrasting greens veins, constantly blooms bright orange flowers with peculiar smell that attracts monarchs. Woody tubers ensure it’s a returning perennial. Zone 9-10

•Ethnobotany-Leaves are cooked in soups and sauces as a high protein and mineral rich food and to reduce fevers, also a common vulnerary used to reduce skin irritation caused by insect stings, pimples and bruises.

The plant has a strong smell of musk, and it is said to have the same property as garlic in protecting against crocodiles

4" pots and 1 gallons available

•Pavonia missonum

•Native to northern Argentina and southern Brazil

•Habit-Full to part sun; upright, found near rivers

•Height x width -4-5’ x 4’

•Description-This evergreen perennial has slightly aromatic leaves covered in delicate hairs producing red-orange hibiscus like flowers, is excellent nectar source and likes a good hair cut from time to time. Zone 8-11

1 gallons available

•Calotropis gigantea 

•Origin from India

•Habit-Full to part sun; upright, found near rivers

•Height x width -4-5’ x 4’

•Description-This evergreen perennial has slightly aromatic leaves covered in delicate hairs producing red-orange hibiscus like flowers, is excellent nectar source and likes a good hair cut from time to time. Zone 8-11

•Ethnobotany-The root bark is febrifuge, anthelmintic, expectorant, and laxative. Calotropisyields a durable fiber useful for ropes, carpets, fishing nets, and sewing thread

1 gallons available

•Woodwardia orientalis 

•Origin from China and Japan

•Habit-Part sun to shade; upright, found on moist hill sides

•Height x width -4’ x 6’

•Description-Large hardy fern, cascading fronds come out with a beautiful tint of red. Excellent choice for woodland garden, but be sure to give plenty of room to this self propagating specimen. Deer and rabbit resistant. Zone 8a-10

•Botany-Makes small plantlets on fronds. These bulbils make vegetative propagation easy for anyone

1 gallons available

•Cupressus cashmeriana 

•Native to Southern Tibet, Bhutan

•Habit-Full to part sun; upright main, pendulous branchlets

•Height x width -15-20’ x 40-60’

•Description-Natural weeping evergreen conifer. Pyramidal shape and aromatic blue-green foliage make this conifer a definite center piece. Prefers good drainage and protection from hard winds. Zone 7-9

•Ethnobotany-Deep in Bhutan culture, often used in Buddhist religious ceremonies.

1 gallons available

•Araucaria biwillii 

•Native to Australia

•Habit-Full to part sun, Pyramidal when young

•Height x width -100’ x 40+’

•Description-Distinct evergreen conifer with spiny whorled branches. Has beautiful pyramidal shape, flaky bark, and up to 18lb seed cones. Extremely drought and cold tolerant. Zone 8b-11

•Ethnobotany-Extremely important to the Aboriginalswithin its range.Considered a sacred tree often used for tribal ceremonies, hunting, feasting, and corroborees( The bunya feasts) cryptogealseeds

-The owner is very fond on his Bunya Bunya trees so they are very pricey to let go.  We only have 2 currently available

1-5gallon ($1000) and 1-95 gallon ($9000)

(we are always looking for more)

 Aloysia citrodora 

•Originated in South America

•Habit-Full to part sun; upright open

•Height x width -5-8’ x 5-6’

•Description- Aromatic leaves provide a delicate look as well as a incomparable sweet lemon scent. Likes to be pruned, and would prefer to be near a warm border. Zone 9-11

•Ethnobotany- leaves have a gentle sedative action and a reputation for soothing abdominal discomfort. Has been shown to have anti-bacterial and anti-candida potential.

 1 gallons available

 Ebenopsis ebano    

Native to Southern Texas and Mexico Habit- Full to part sun, upright tree Height x width- 15-30’ x 15-20’ This is a desert-like ornamental evergreen blooms usually mid-summer, its frilly white flowers are reminiscent of a bottle brush tree. Woody fruits follow and grow to several inches long,. Its scraggly growth, yet uniform canopy and toleration of tough environments make this a popular choice for arid landscape gardeners. This tree grows very well in hot, dry climates. Water occasionally during summer and when young. Once established, it needs minimal care. Drought and cold tolerant. Zone 9-11 Ethnobotany- Texas Ebony fruit is edible when green and is an alternative to coffee when the seeds red/brown, in Mexico. The seeds are also made into jewelry.  

4" pots and 1 gallons available

Hemigraphis alternta  

Native to India, Java, Malaysia Habit- part sun-shade, spreading herbaceous perennial  Height x width- ½-1’ x 1-2’ Description- Sometimes called red ivy purple and pink leaves followed by unusual waffle patterns on the leaves make this a sought after ground cover. Prefers to stay moist and can even be used indoors. Zone 9b-11 Ethnobotany-Plants in the genus are known to contain a Methanolic extract that has natural wound healing properties.   

1 gallons available

 Pseudobombax Ellipticum  

Origin Mexico (North America) Habit- Full sun succulent like tree shrub Height x width- 15-20’ x 15’ Description- Deciduous tropical tree with unusual swollen green trunk followed by heart shaped leaves. Zone 9-11 Ethnobotany-The small fibers inside the seed pod are supposedly a preventive of ulcers if ingested.  

1 gallons available

 Cinnamomum parthenoxylon 

•Native to south and east Asia

•Habit-Full to part sun

•Height x width -30-60’ x 30-40’

•Description- Compact perennial sage, Aromatic foliage emerges purple-bronze followed by intense true blue flowers, a must have in every southern garden . Don’t over water in winter. Zone 8-10

•Ethnobotany- Considered critically endangered in Vietnam. Families scatter flowers on graves of family remembers to help connect with the dead. Tree contains safrole, precursor to some pesticides as well as to MDMA.

1 gallon and 5 gallon  available 

Impatiens repens

•Native to rain forest of Sri Lanka

•Habit-Bright to filtered light; trailing, found on moist rain forested areas 

•Height x width -1-2’ x 3-cascading’

•Description- Rare impatien has beautiful red stems that cascade up to 4 ft, followed by large bright canary yellow flowers. Provides an excellent exotic look but is still very easy to grow.

•Ethnobotany- Impatiens are known to have anti-inflammatory and anti-fungal properties. Parts of this plant are used for treating epilepsy in its native environment.

6" pots available  

Echeandia texensis

•Native Habitat: Open, clay ground on dunes and arroyos.

•Height x width: 2-3 ft. x 1 ft. 

•Description: Looks like a delicate flower is actually tough and are a rich shade of gold. It has the ability to tolerate clays soils, heat, a moderate amount of winter cold and drought. Sometimes referred to as Mexican Hate Lily because it looks like an upside down, floppy sombrero. This flower is also know for attracting butterflies but at the same time discourages deer. 

•Ethnobotany: Still looking...

1 gallons available

Vachella cornigera  

•Native from Mexico to Costa Rica. 

•Habit- wet sites in lowlands

•Height x width- 15ft x 8ft

•Description- Small tree to shrub, leaves bipinnate, pairs of large, semi-hollow spines inhabited by ants which protect the plant from herbivores.  When bullhorn acacia is wounded it releases chemicals into the air as an alarm signal that the ants detect and respond to rapidly. As the plant matures, the mated acacia queen ant looks for the thorns and digs a hole at the base. It digs until it reaches the hollow center and then begins to lay its eggs. And the worker ants are born, they get out of the thorny nest and patrol the stem and leaves. These ants will hunt down anything that tries to eat the leaves. The ants will even attack any animal or human that touches or harms the tree. 

•Ethnobotany-The bark extract has been shown to have anti - inflammatory effects.

4" pots available