jor December, 1920 



393 



Plants for Winter Effect in Southern Florida 



E. HEPPLER 



TIIK subtropical climate of Southern Florida, with its 

 rainy season and its mild Winters, offers an ideal 

 home to a great number of plants growing under 

 similar conditions at corresponding parts of the world, 

 which, in addition to the valuable representatives of the 

 native vegetation, are of great service in planting, and, 

 arranged carefully as to their habits and natural require- 

 ments, are a ready means of creating pleasing scenes and 

 landscape pictures. It is a task of no difficulty to select 

 out of the diversity of material those trees, shrubs, and 

 plants that in succession give a disjjlay all the year round. 

 However, considering the fact that most of the owners 

 of estates spend only Winter and early Spring in Florida, 

 it will be a wiser plan, and of more advantage and credit 

 to the planter, to confine his selection to plants that are 

 at their best during this time. Deciduous trees, shrubs 

 and vines should for this reason be used sparingly or not 

 at all, for, no matter how delightful at their clima.x. they 

 will be bare in Winter and carry a not very agreeable 

 contrast to the surrounding landscape, the keynote of 

 which should be life and vigor. 



There are unlimited horticultural opportimities to se- 

 cure the desired effect by bringing out the subtropical 

 •character of this zone, an tmdertaking which will always 

 be successful and appreciated. Desirable plants suited 

 for that purpose will be found among the following, which, 

 though it does not comprise everything adapted to this 

 climate, will give a fairly good idea of the material mostly 

 employed. 



Palms, the most conspicuous representatives of the 

 tropical flora, are planted here to a great extent and. where 

 properly attended to, splendid results are the recompensa- 

 tion. Well mulched, watered, and fertilized, they develop 

 to stately specimens, their beauty and elegance making 

 them an adornment to any home grounds. An admirable 

 palm for outdoor planting south of Tampa is the Fishtail 

 palm, Caryota iiiitis. which is of rapid growth and whose 

 bipinnated leaves are of a peculiar beauty. 



Cocos are generally planted along the coast line and its 

 immediate vicinity, where they do exceedingly well and 

 .show their character better and sooner than elsewhere. 

 Cocos plnmosa. the most striking species, does not object 

 to slight, occasional frosts and is a rapid grower, reaching 

 a height of 30 feet to 40 feet. For street and avenue 

 planting, as well as for arrangements in groups or as a 

 single specimen, it is second to none. Cocos uncifcra is 

 found in plantations on almost sterile soil along the sea- 

 shore, where it fruits to advantage, even without an ap- 

 plication of fertilizer. Inland, however, it bears very 

 irregularly, and is planted for its ornamental qualities 

 only. 



Oreodoxa rci^'ui, a native of the Fverglades. is one of 

 the most desirable j)alms for the extreme .South, where 

 it will grow to a height of 100 feet and more. Its mag- 

 nificent crown of feathery leaves is supported by a gray- 

 ish white trunk of immense proportions, which gives the 

 plant its majestic appearance, hence its name, Roval 

 Palm. When grown north of Fort Myers, protection 

 should be provided, as it is not quite hardy, and, though 

 larger palms will stand a light frost to a certain extent, 

 the younger and more tender ones will invariably be in- 

 jured. 



Phoenix is very jiopular and is difficult to surpas-^ 

 In regard to hardiness and luxuriant growth. Phoenix 

 canaricnsis is undoubtedly the best of all for this climate. 

 BS it is of a very vigorous growth and develops to its fu'l 



Ix-auty sooner than any other kind of this genus. Phoenix 

 dactylifera, the true Date palm, is a somewhat slow grow- 

 er and is the least shown of all, but specimens of it will 

 occasionally be found. As a rule, better results will be 

 obtained in shorter time with the first-named variety. 



Sabal^ palmetto, the cabbage palmetto, is another native 

 of Florida, and is cultivated abundantly through all sec- 

 tions of the state. It is often used as a street tree and 

 as specimens on lawns and in parks, as it is easily trans- 

 planted, and with ordinary care always sure to survive 

 this operation. Immediate eft'ects are secured by planting 

 .strong, old plants taken from their native places. 



Scafortliia clcgans, the Australian Feather palm, is an- 

 other i)alm adapted to Florida and deserves a place as 

 well as Thrinax pannflora, a fan palm of smaller size, 

 which presents at all stages of its growing period an 

 interesting appearance. 



W'ashingtonia robusta, one of the characteristic street 

 trees of Southern California, has become very popular 

 in this part of the state, and it is freely planted on account 

 of its fast growing qualities. 



Of the Cycadacecc, the most ornamental plants of sub- 

 tropical gardens, C. revolitta and C. circinaUs are often 

 met with. They are of half-dwarf habit, quite hardy and 

 do not object to an occasional drought. They are favorite 

 plants for the conservatory, because of their easy culture, 

 and thrive fairly well, even if somewhat neglected. 



Xext in importance to the various palms are foliage 

 plants : plants that are cultivated more for the decorative 

 eft'ect (if their foliage than for flowers, which are usualh" 

 insignificant. Their chief value lies in the outspoken per- 

 manency of presenting a wide range of colors all through 

 the year and they are, if tastefully arranged and not used 

 too abundantly, a very welcome means to set oft' a back- 

 ground or give a pleasing contrast to the prevailing land- 

 scape. 



The Acalxphas can claim to be one of the most popular 

 plants of this .group in Southern Florida. They are ex- 

 tensively planted and have always given satisfaction if 

 not planted on too wet a place. One of their merits is 

 the magnificent coloring which with A. niarginata is ex- 

 ceptionally beautiful during Winter. Besides A. inar- 

 ginata, A. viusaica and tricolor are generally used. 



For placing in shaded or half shaded places, no plant 

 can be more highly recommended than Aspidistra Iiirida, 

 which does exceedingly well and responds to such a loca- 

 tion, with fine variegated leaves. 



Crotons are of a luxuriant growth, attaining consider- 

 able height and size. To develop them to their final glory 

 and bring out to perfection those color shades ])cculiar to 

 them, they must be set in the full sunlight and given a 

 liberal supply of water. An occasional application of fer- 

 tilizer is also of great benefit, and one need not be afraid 

 of giving them too nmch. 



Coleus. in its difl'erent varieties, is extensively used 

 for bedding and in the tloral arrangement of vases and 

 window boxes, .\lthough many carry the old stock over, 

 cutting them back and thus growing them for several 

 years, better plants and brighter colors will be had from 

 plants grown from cuttings every year. Draccrna aus- 

 tral is and iiidi'i-isa thrive in the open under ordinary care 

 and are desirable for subtropical displays on account of 

 their ])alm-like appearance and their ornamental char- 

 acter. 



The Screw-Pine. Paiidaniis itlilis. and its variegated 



