TropicalsPlants native to frost-free areas near the equator

KEY:Provides food for butterflies

Provides food & nesting for hummingbirds

Provides food, cover, or nesting for birds

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Bird of ParadiseStrelitzia reginae

• Half-hardy clumping plant

• 3 ft x 4 ft• Part shade• Regular water• Spring-frost

bloom• Native to S

Africa • Hardy to 25°• Giant form:

Strelitzia nicolai15 ft x 6 ft

BougainvilleaBougainvillea glabra

• Half-hardy evergreen vine 12 ft x 8 ft

• Sun• Low water• Spring-fall

bloom• Native to S Am• Many colors of

bracts• Salt tolerant• Hardy to 25º

FirebushHamelia patens

• Deciduous shrub or root-hardy perennial 12 ft x 8 ft

• Sun

• Low water

• Summer-fall bloom

• Native to MX & C Am

• Salt tolerant

• Deer resistant

• Texas Superstar

FirespikeOdontonema tubiforme

• Evergreen shrub 6 ft x 3 ft

• Part shade/sun• Medium water• Summer-fall bloom• Native to C Am• Salt tolerant• Stems hardy to

upper 20°

Shell GingerAlpinia zerumbet

• Sub-tropical evergreen perennial 5 ft x 3 ft

• Shade• Low water• Native to India• Hardy to mid 20º• Salt tolerant• Deer resistant

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JatrophaJatropha

integerrima• Evergreen tropical shrub

10 ft x 8 ft• Sun/part shade• Low water• Spring-fall coral bloom• Native to the Caribbean• Root hardy, stems hardy

to upper 20º• All parts of plant are toxic• Salt tolerant• Deer resistant

Dwarf OleanderNerium oleander hybrid

• Dwarf varieties 6 ft x 6 ft

• Sun/part sun• Low water• Spring-fall bloom• Native to Asia &

Mediterranean• Salt tolerant• Root hardy to 10º• All parts of plant are

poisonous• Deer resistant• Susceptible to Oleander

Leaf Scorch ShariD dwarf - Turners

Orchid TreeBauhinia variegata

• Tropical tree 40 ft x 20 ft

• Sun/part shade

• Low water

• Spring bloom

• Fast growing

• Native to Asia

• Hardy to 25°

• Parts of plant are poisonous

• Naturalized in Texas

PlumeriaPlumeria spp.

• Tender deciduous shrub 20 ft x 20 ft

• Sun/part shade• Regular water/fertilizer• Summer-fall bloom• Native to MX, Caribbean

& C Am• Many colors; some

varieties are fragrant • Salt tolerant• Damaged below 40º• May be dug & stored

bare-root/bare-leaves for winter

Pride of BarbadosCaesalpinia pulcherrima

• Deciduous shrub 12 ft x 12 ft

• Sun/part shade• Low water• Summer-fall bloom• Native to W Indies &

Tropical America• Stems hardy to 30°• Root hardy to 18º• Salt tolerant

Split-Leaf PhilodendronPhilodendron selloum

• Tropical shrub 12 ft x 15 ft

• Filtered sun/shade

• Medium water • Native to S

Brazil• Salt tolerant• Parts of plant

are poisonous• Deer resistant• Hardy to 25°• Root hardy

below 25°