An Introduction and Describing the Plant

Hello, Howdy, and Aloha! Welcome to TropPlants! 

TropPlants, short for Tropical Plants (or if translated partially from French "Too Many Plants") is a site dedicated to easily assessible information about tropical plants for the landscape designer, horticulturist, and plant fanatic. Each post features a plant description, images, and exciting facts. The plants discussed are tropical plants as defined:  1) Any plant that naturally grows in tropical climates, usually hot (>18C) and humid with zero frost days; or 2) any plant growing in tropical latitudes.  

Descriptions:

Each post will describe the plant using the below characteristics. In Italics is a description of category. Categories that use specific terminology or descriptors have those terms or descriptors added after the italicized category description (i.e. Plant Type).

  • TropPlant Accession Number (TPAN): An arbitrary number assigned to the plant for record keeping on TropPlant
  • Botanical Name: A formal scientific name in accordance with the International Code of Nomenclature for algae, fungi, and plants (ICN). If a cultivated variety, then the name is in accordance with the International Code of Nomenclature for Cultivated Plants (ICNCP). This unique descriptor is universally accepted as a specific plant throughout the scientific and landscape communities.
  • Common Name: The name(s) associated with the plant. Not a unique descriptor for the plant.
  • Cultivar: A cultivar is an assemblage of plants that (a) has been selected for a particular character or combination of characters, (b) is distinct, uniform and stable in those characters, and (c) when propagated by appropriate means, retains those characters. (Brickell, 2009) The name in accordance with the International Code of Nomenclature for Cultivated Plants (ICNCP). 
  • Family: The taxonomic rank between order and genus. Provides insight into shared characters with other family members.
  • Native To: The region in which the plant is naturally occurring. 
  • Plant Type: A general description of the plant's characteristics. Tree, Shrub, Vine, Groundcover, Indoor Plant, Fern, Conifer, Deciduous, Broadleaf Evergreen, Palm, Herbaceous, Annual, Perennial, Bulb/Tuber/Corm, Rhizome, Cycad, Cactus/succulent
  • Texture: The feel or appearance of a plant. Fine, Medium, Dense, Coarse, Open
  • Form: The outline of the plant's shape. Mat, Cushion, Mound, Dome, Spreading, Columnar, Round-Headed, Conical, Upright-Narrow, Upright-broad, Ovoid, Obovoid, Vase-shaped, Weeping/Pendent, Irregular
  • Height (on average, in landscape use): Average height at maturity of the plant in landscaped settings <1', 1', 1.5', 2', 4', 8', 10', 15', 20', 25', 30', 45', 60', 90', >90'
  • Height to Spread Ratio: The ratio of height at maturity to the width (spread) at maturity.
  • Growth Rate: The rate of plant height or spread over time relative to other plants. Slow , Medium, Fast
  • Landscape Values: The common uses of the plant in landscaping Accent, Street Tree, Background, Border, Color, Edging, Facer, Filler, Foundation, Framing, Groundcover, Hedge, Indoor, Lanai, Mass, Patio, Quick Effect, Screen, Shade, Sculptural Form, Space Division, Specimen, Windbreak, Erosion Control
  • Outstanding Quality: Noteworthy features Flower Color, Foliage Color, Seasonal Color, Fragrance, Variegation, Form/Silhouette, Foliage Characters, Fruit, Bark
  • Flowers: A description of the flower; details include Color, Type, Size, Fragrance, Bloom Time, and Effectiveness.
  • Fruits: A description of the fruit; details include Color, Type, Size, Edibility, Season of Fruiting, and other relevant details. 
  • Foliage Color: A description of the foliage when Young/immature: Bronze, Reddish, Soft, light green, or Yellow Green. Mature: Bright medium green, dark green, gray green, blue-green, gray, light green, yellow-green, bronze to red, or variegated. 
  • Foliage Base: A description of the shape of the base of the leaf. That is to saw the shape of the leaf nearest the petiole. Rounded, Obtuse, Acute, Attenuate, Truncate, Cordate, Sagittate, Hastate, Cuneate, Auriculate, Orbicular Pelta. (see Wikipedia for leaf morphology terms)
  • Petiole: A description of the stalk that connects the leaf to the stem.
  • Stipules: A description of the outgrowths on the leaf base. 
  • Margins: A description of the shape of the edge of the leaf; descriptions could include Serrate, Smooth, Toothed, Undulate, Lacerate.
  • Leaf Arrangement: A description of the attachment of the leaves to the stem; descriptions can include Opposite, Alternate, Distichous, Whorled, 4-ranked, Rosette.
  • Leaf Shape: A description of the overall form of the leaf; descriptors include Needle, linear, lanceolate, oblong, elliptic, ovate, obovate, oblanceolate, spathulate, rhomboidal, cuneate, deltoid, obdeltoid, peltate, cordate, obcordate, sagittate, hastate, reniform, or orbiculate. (see Wikipedia for leaf morphology terms).  
  • Leaf Type: A description of the general type of the leaf. Descriptions can include Simple, Palmate, Once Pinnate, Twice Pinnate, Trifoliate, Thrice Pinnate, Even-Pinnate, Odd-Pinnate, Leaflet #, Palmately Lobed, Pinnately Lobed, Frond, Fan, Scale. 
  • Leaf Texture: A description of touching the leaf, how the leaf feels to the touch.
  • Leaf Special Notes: Notes that the author has regarding special characteristics of the leaf.
  • Bark and Trunk: A description of the bark and trunk. 
  • Light Preference: A description of the preferred amount of sunlight. Shade, Semi-Sun, Full Sun.
  • Light Tolerances: A description of the type of light the plant will tolerant. The plant might not develop in the same way as the light preference. Shade, Semi-Sun, Full Sun. 
  • Soil Preferences: A description of the type of soil the plant prefers.  Not Particular, Acidic, Slightly Acidic, Neutral, Alkaline, Clay, Loam, Sand, Organic, Moist, Dry (Mesic), Dry (Xeric), Well-Drained.
  • Tolerances: A description of the conditions the plant can tolerate or withstand.. The plant might not develop in the same way with these conditions, yet it is not know to perish due to them.. Not Particular, Acidic,  Alkaline, Poor Drainage, Submerged Roots, Smog, Compacted Soil, Salt Air, Saline Soil, Strong Winds, Moderate Winds, Humidity, Regular Watering, Drought, Being Walked Upon. 
  • Water Requirements: A description of the relative amount of water necessary to facilitate natural , healthy growth.
  • Notes on Maintenance: A description of the plant's needs regarding pruning, fertilizer, and pest and disease prevention. 
  • Propagation: Methods of asexually reproducing the plant. Cutting, Layer, Division, Grafting/Budding.
  • USDA Hardiness Zone: A region described by the annual average extreme minimum temperature. Regions are described by zones ranging from 1A to 13B with 1A having the lowest annual average extreme minimum temperature (-51.1 to -48.3C) and 13B being the highest (18.3 to 21.1C). Generally, tropical plants will not survive below zone 7, but some are cold hardy. (see USDA Plant Hardiness for more information)




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Graptophyllum pictum (Caricature Plant)

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T ropPlant Accession Number (TPAN) : 0002 Botanical Name: Graptophyllum pictum Common Name: Caricature Plant Cultivars: 'Igneum', 'Lurido-sanguineum', 'Tricolor'/'Waimea', 'Eldorado' Family: Acanthaceae  (Acanthus Family) Graptophyllum pictum   Photo by Matthew Gaston Graptophyllum pictum 'Igneum'  Photo by Matthew Gaston Graptophyllum pictum 'Lurido-sanguineum'  Photo by Matthew Gaston Graptophyllum pictum 'Eldorado'  Photo by Matthew Gaston Graptophyllum pictum 'Tricolor' (believed to be the same as Graptophyllum pictum 'Waimea') Photo by Matthew Gaston Native To: New Guinea Landscaping Information
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Bucida buceras 'Variegated' (Dwarf Variegated Geometry Tree)

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TropPlant Accession Number (TPAN) : 0083 Botanical Name: Bucida buceras 'Variegated' Common Name: Dwarf Variegated Geometry Tree, Variegated Madagascar Almond, Spiny Black Olive, Oxhorn Bucida Cultivar: 'Variegata' Family: Combretaceae Native To: Mexico, Central America, The Caribbean, and Northern South America Bucida beceras ' Variegata' growing in a Malaysian neighborhood parkway Photo by Mahmud Yussop of Laman Kambatik Plants List Landscaping Information Plant Type : Broadleaf Evergreen Tree Texture: Fine, Open Form: Upright-Narrow to Spreading, somewhat Irregular Height (on average, in landscape use): 5'-8' (As a house plant), 30'-60' (Outdoors) Height to Spread Ratio: 1:1 to 2:1 Growth Rate: Fast Landscape Values: Accent, Street Tree, Color, Framing, Indoor, Lanai, Patio, Sculptural Form, Specimen, Windbreak, Erosion Control, Shade Outstanding Quality: Foliage Color, Variegation,
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Pseuderanthemum carruthersii var. carruthersii (Variegated False Eranthemum)

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T ropPlant Accession Number (TPAN) : 0005 Botanical Name: Pseuderanthemum carruthersii var. carruthersii (syn. Pseuderanthemum reticulata) Common Name: Variegated False Eranthemum, El Dorado, El Dorado False Eranthemum, El Dorado Eranthemum, Yellow Veined Eranthemum Variety: carruthersii (See Additional Notes at the bottom of the page) Family: Acanthaceae Pseuderanthemum carruthersii var. carruthersii  Photo by Matthew Gaston Native To:   Melanesia   Landscaping Information Plant Type : Shrub Texture: Dense Form:   Upright-broad Height (on average, in landscape use):   4'- 6' Height to Spread Ratio: 1:1 Growth Rate: Medium Landscape Values: Background, Border, Color, Edging, Facer, Filler, Foundation, Framing, Hedge (large one really), Mass, Screen, Space Division Outstanding Quality: Foliage Characters Pseuderanthemum carruthersii var. carruthersii growing tightly between a walkway and a wall.  Photo by Matthew Gaston
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Ficus microcarpa var. crassifolia (Wax Fig)

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T ropPlant Accession Number (TPAN) : 0016 Botanical Name: Ficus microcarpa var. crassifolia Common Name: Wax Fig, Taiwan Ficus Variety: crassifolia Family: Moraceae Native To: Southern Taiwan Ficus microcarpa var. crassifolia leaves. Note the bronze to bright yellow-green young leaves.  Photo by Matthew Gaston Landscaping Information Plant Type : Shrub Texture: Dense Form: Mound, Cushion Height (on average, in landscape use): 1.5' - 4' Height to Spread Ratio: 1:2 Growth Rate: Fast Landscape Values: Border, Color, Edging, Facer, Filler, Foundation, Framing, Hedge, Indoor, Lanai, Patio, Space Division, Groundcover, Specimen Outstanding Quality: Foliage and Form; often used for Bonsai  Ficus microcarpa var. crassifolia  as a hedge/groundcover below a tree  Photo by Matthew Gaston Botanical Descriptions Flowers/Fruits: paired figs, sessile, 0.2"-0.4" long, glabrous, purple to black when ripe.
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Breynia disticha (Snow Bush)

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TropPlant Accession Number (TPAN) : 0151 Botanical Name: Breynia disticha 'Roseopicta' Common Name: Snowbush, Snow bush, Ice-Cream Bush, Calico Plant, Sweetpea Bush, Foliage Flower Shrub, Laukalakoa (Hawaiian) Cultivar: 'Roseopicta' is likely the cultivar seen in the images on this page. Family: Phyllanthaceae Breynia disticha Photo by Matthew Gaston Native To: Vanuatu and New Caledonia  Landscaping Information Plant Type : Treelet, Shrub Texture: Dense Form: Upright-broad to even Weeping/Irregular, but usually seen trimmed into a hedge Height (on average, in landscape use): 2'- 4' (can reach 10' in ideal conditions) Height to Spread Ratio: 1:1 to 1:2 Growth Rate: Medium to Fast Landscape Values: Accent, Background, Border, Color, Edging, Facer, Filler, Foundation, Framing, Hedge, Mass, Quick Effect, Specimen Outstanding Quality: Foliage Color Breynia disticha between a fence and
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Jatropha integerrima (Peregrina)

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TropPlant Accession Number (TPAN) : 0069 Botanical Name:   Jatropha integerrima Common Name: Peregrina, Spicy Jatropha, Rose-Colored Jatropha, Fire Cracker Jatropha Cultivar: N/A Family: Euphorbiaceae Jatropha integerrima  Photo by Matthew Gaston Native To: Hispaniola and Cuba Landscaping Information:  Plant Type : Treelet Texture: Medium, Open Form:  Round Headed to Upright-broad. Can be somewhat easily trimmed into a Spreading form. Height (on average, in landscape use): 10'-20' Height to Spread Ratio: 1:1 Growth Rate: Medium Landscape Values: Accent, Color, Framing, Screen, Specimen Outstanding Quality: Flower Color Jatropha integerrima  Photo by Matthew Gaston Jatropha integerrima  in Honolulu acting as a large hedge and screen. Note the staircase where the plant can be appreciated from above. Photo by Matthew Gaston Jatropha integerrima at UH Manoa trimmed into a spreading form Photo by Matthew
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