 |
PHOENIX
RUPICOLA
Indian date palm
Theophrastus
gave this name to date palm. An exceedingly useful genus of palm. Twelve
or more species in tropical Asia and Africa.
Scientific Name: Phoenix rupicola O'Brien
Family: Arecaceae
Recommended
Temperature Zone:
sunset: 17,19-24
USDA: 9b-10
Frost
Tolerance: 26°F (-3°C)
Sun Exposure:
Full sun to light shade
Origin:
Foothills of the Himalayas in northeastern India
Growth
Habits: Up to 25 feet tall (7.5 m), 16 feet wide (4.8 m); trunk with
no crownshaft, contrarily to most Phoenix, the leaf bases fall by themselves,
leaving the trunk clean; bright green pinnate leaves, 10 feet long (3
m)
Watering
Needs: Regular water, good drainage
|
|
|
FURCRAEA
The genus
comprising of nearly 10 species is distributed over mexico and W. Indies.
F.Gigantia 'Medio-picta'
(Giant false Agave)
Recommended
Temperature Zone:
USDA: 9a-11
Frost Tolerance: Hardy to 20-25°F (-7 to -4°C)
Minimum
Avg. Temperature: 50°F (10°C)
Heat Tolerance:
Protects from afternoon sun in Phoenix
Sun Exposure:
Full sun to light shade
Growth
Habits: Succulent rosette, 5 feet tall (1.5 m), up to 8 feet in diameter
(2.4 m)
Watering
Needs: Low to moderate
Propagation:
Bulbils developing on the inflorescence
Blooming
Habits:
Strongly fragrant white to pale green flowers on a 20 feet tall inflorescence
(6 m).
Description:
The plant attains up to 4 m diameter. Stemless, short stemed with age,
rarely offsetting from base.Leaves in dense rosette, long, sword shaped,
wide, tapering towards the apex, upper surface concave, with entirely
creamy white or light yellow, broad, longitudinal panels, lower surface
convex, entirely creamy white or light yellow; margin somewhat irregularly
wavy, with a few hooked teeth. Inflorescence up to 6 m high, branched.
Flowers white, small; adventitious plantlets between the flowers.
|
 |
Bambusa
ventricosum
Common Name: Buddha's Belly
Plant Type: Bamboo
Description: Culms curiously enlarged between the nodes ("Buddha's
belly" appearance), about ten to twelve feet (3-4m) tall in containers.
Much bigger and losing the belly with a bigger root run.
Temperature: 50-75°F, 10-24°C
Environment: Suitable for the home or a greenhouse
|
|
|
ADENIUM
A obesum 'Obesum'
(Desert rose, Mock axalea)
The name
is coined from an Arabian vernacular name 'Adan'. The genus occurs in
East Africa, Arabia and Socotra. It is also found wild in West Africa,
especially in senegal and Nigeria.
Frost Tolerance: Hardy to 34°F (1°C). Extended periods
below 40°F (4°C) will kill some of the branch tips.
Minimum Avg. Temperature: 55°F (12°C)
Heat Tolerance: Excellent
Recommended Temperature Zone:
sunset: 23-24
USDA: 11-12
Sun Exposure: Full sun
Growth Habits: Shrub to 5 feet tall (1.5 m)
Watering Needs: Water when growing, keep on the dry side in winter,
needs perfect drainage, very rot prone
Propagation: Cuttings, seeds
Description:
Roots thick, often swell above the ground. Plant Shrubby. Caudex and branches,
thick, fleshy, shiny grey-green, sometimes horny on the caudex. Leaves
spirally arranged at the tip of the branches, about 8 cm long, obovate,
glossy, dark green at the upper surface, sometimes with pink midrib, pale
green beneath. Flowers many, on umble-like cymes, short-stalked, 5 cm
long, funnel-shaped; petals pinkish.edges carmine-rose. A cultivar with
leaves variegated yellow and green, flowers small we than those of the
species is illustrated as ' Variegata'.
Cultivation: The plants thrive well on varieties of tropical environs
from very dry tropics in Mozambique with annual rainfall of about 25 mm
to monsoon lashed gangetic plains of India with an annual rainfall of
about 1500mm. They get adapted to hot and humid climate very quickly.
Grow in most rugged soil. In boulder granite slopes, in sandy ravines
and dry lowveld woodlands. Flourish best in coarse, light, calcareous
soil, with good drainage. Soil should have moderate level of organic matter,
good amount of phosphorus and potassium and low nitrogen. Restricted watering
in winter is required. Propagation by seed and sometimes by stem cutting
and graft.The desert rose produce a massive stem when growing older, but
will start blooming when quite young, at only 6 inches tall (15 cm). It
makes a nice Bonsai. As the related Oleander, its sap is poisonous.
|
|
|
ARAUCARIA
HETEROPHYLLA
Norfolk island pine
Family Araucariaceae.
Origin Norfolk Island (Australia).
Description Known also as A. excelsa. Evergreen conifer which in its native
habitat may grow to a height of 60 m (almost 200 feet) but indoors only
to 1-1.5 m (3-5 ft.). Its Grows very slowly. The branches normally grow
horizontally; the narrow, sharp, needle-like leaves from a fan. The color
of the new foliage is light green, becoming dark in autumn.
Varieties A. heterophylla glauca has blue-green foliage; A compacta is
more compact in habit.
Care The species needs moderately bright light but not too dim, otherwise
it loses its leaves. It lives happily at room temperature but not below
5 degree C (41degree F). Above 23 degree C (73degree F) it requires a
high degree of atmospheric humidity , spray the foliage every 3-4 days.
In summer it can usually be kept in the open, watering abundantly without
letting water collect in the pot and applying liquid fertilizer once a
fortnight. During the resting period suspend feeding and water little.
Grow in medium consisting of 1part organic soil, 1 part peat and 1 part
coarse sand, repotting every 2-3 years, in spring. Pots should normally
be 20-25 cm (8-10 in) in diameter.
Propagation From seed or cuttings, but the latter procedure requires very
exact temperatures hard to obtain except in the greenhouse. Sow seed in
march at a temperature of 10 - 15 degree C (50-59 degree F). When the
seedlings have developed, transplant them into pots.
Pests and Diseases Root rot, avoid standing in water.
|
 |
BEAUCARNEA
RECURVATA
Pony Tail
Family
Liliaceae .
Origin Mexico .
Description Small tree which grows, in its native habitet, to a
height of 10 m (33 ft.). The base of the house plant's stem is swollen
and bears a terminal rosette of straight, narrow leaves up to 1 m (3ft.)
long and 1-2cm (1/2-1in) wide. The leaves are rough and slightly leathery,
blue-green or grayish. Clusters of small whitish flowers are produced.
Care Needs plenty of light and even direct sun. In winter it should be
kept in sheltered surroundings, bright but not too hot, and in summer
it can stand in the open. Coming from arid regions, it withstands drought,
needing little water in summer, its soil being allowed almost to dry out
between successive watering. In winter watering can be reduced even further.
During spring and summer feed with a liquid fertilizer every 3 weeks.
Grow in a fairly compact lime medium comprising garden soil, leafmold
and fine sand in equal parts. They make an excellent houseplant if they
are not over-watered.
Propagation:
Beaucarnea recurvata are propagated by the removal of offsets and by seed.
Seed is sown in the spring and will germinate at 68° F (20° C).
|
|
|
CYCAS
REVOLUTA
Sago Palm
Family
Cycadaceae.
Origin Eastern and southeastern Asia.
Recommended
Temperature Zone:
sunset: 8-29
USDA: 8-10
Frost
Tolerance: Hardy to 10°F (-12°C)
Sun Exposure:
Partial shade
Description The family cycadaceae comprises plants resembling palms.
They have an upright stem with a tuft of feathery evergreen leaves at
the tip. C. revoluta, cultivated as a house plant, has a pineapple-shaped
stem which only just projects from the surface and bears erect, outward-curving
leaves in a rosette, up to 1 m (3ft.) in length, Each leaf is stiff and
formed of narrow, needle-like leaflets, 7-15 cm (3-6in) long, embedded
in a central vein 1cm (1/2in) across. The stalk is spiny. The plant is
dioecious and very slow growing (1 leaf a year).
Care It does well either in direct sun or in strong, filtered light.
It is fairly resistant to cold. Provided this is not prolonged. Indoors
it should be kept at room temperatures all year round since is does not
have a rest period. It is easy to cultivate as a house plant because it
needs neither specially moist conditions nor particular attention. Water
moderately all year round, wetting the mixture well but letting it dry
out between waterings. A liquid fertilizer should be given monthly from
March to September. Growing medium consists of organic soil, peat and
sand in equal amounts. Repot every 2-3 years.
Water
when almost dry and seldom fertilize. Sagos produce a periodic growth
of leaves called flush up to 3 times a year. The plant should be regularly
watered at that stage so that the new leaves are not stunted. Excess sun
will temporarily bleach the leaves. Mature plants produce offsets (pups)
growing at their base. Pups can be removed delicately in early spring.
Remove leaves and plant them in the shade. New leaves appear after several
months.
Blooming
Habits:
The palms might be 15 years before they bloom. There are male and females.
The female inflorescense is feather like, later forming a tightly packed
seed head, closely covered by whitish miniature leaves. The male cone
is pineapple shaped. Seeds are poisonous.
|
|
|
DALBERGIA
D. sissoo
(Sisoo, South indian redwood)
Family:
Fabaceae
The genus is named after Nicholas Dalberg, a swedish botanist. It includes
about 80 species of trees, shrubs and climbers, natives of the tropics
and subtropics of which 25 species are grown in India.
Recommended Temperature Zone:
sunset:
USDA: 9b-11
Frost
Tolerance: Will take some frost
Sun Exposure:
Full sun or light shade
Origin:
India, Pakistan and Afghanistan
Growth
Habits: Small deciduous tree, up to 20 feet tall (6 m)
Watering
Needs: Regular water
Propagation:
Seeds, root suckers
Gardening:
It is often grown on roadsides and as timber tree in forests.
Sissoo is an indian vernacular name. It grows wild in sub-Himalayan tract
from the indus to Assam.
Description: A large deciduous tree attaining a height of 20 m
or more, bark rough, grey and peels off in narrow longitudinal stripes.
Leaves imparipinnate; leaflets 3-5, alternate, broadly elliptic or ovate,
3-8 cm long; leaf rachis zig zag. Flowers scented, yellowish white, 0.8
mm long, nearly sessile, in short axillary panicles; stamens9, monadelphous.
Pod linear-lanceolate, 4-8 cm long, indehiscent with 1-4 seeds; seeds
flat, oblong.
Gardening : It grows both in dry and humid regions, the growth being faster
under latter and flowers in spring or early summer for a short period.
Leaves fall in winter and new leaves appears in February, closely followed
by flowering. A valuable timber tree, but good for planting along large
roads, national highways,
canal side river bank. Also suitable for planting in large parks. It is
a timber tree, the young branches and foliage eaten by livestock. After
teak, it is the most important cultivated timber tree in India, planted
on roadsides, and as a shade tree for tea plantations. Sissoo makes first
class cabinetry and furniture. It is used for plywood, agricultural, and
musical instruments, skis, carvings, boats, floorings, etc. The leaves
are used for fodder. In the U.S. (Arizona, Florida) it is said to be one
of the most desirable shade trees for streets and backyards.
|
