Blooming, this tropical plant is a must for cut gardens, with flowers off and on thru out the year. The large substantial flowers are held above the leaves by long stiff stems. They are an explosion of feather shaped color. Petals are dark blue, sepals are bright orange, and they emerge from a vivid canoe shaped bulge at the end of the stem. All over the world, florist love to utilize our star in really beautiful arrangements. In the garden our plant is a naturally shaped shrub with banana shaped leaves and lovely birds peeking thru. The most common question I receive about our star is why isn’t mine blooming?  Here are some considerations: at least 4+ hours of sunlight with regular watering, doesn’t like continual wet feet, and it takes around five years for a plant to mature and bloom. Otherwise, they are easy to care for, everything connects at the base in a clumping manner, which can grow wider or be divided by a shovel and a little muscle. After blooming be sure to clean out the old blossoms, which will start to smell if left unattended. Maximum height for this slow grower is 5-6 feet tall, which makes it perfect for patios with a view. You may plant in full sun or filtered shade, and well drained soil.  It is a non invasive exotic with little or no pests or diseases. Great habitat plant because, birds drink from the flower bases. They are enjoying the collected water and the flowers nectar. Bird ala bird!

Pros: Great low growing shrub – Does well in wet areas – Likes full sun – can be divided and planted other places or share with neighbors – non invasive  – May have bird watcher in your garden – Salt tolerance – Will fill in unsightly areas with little effort – Birds love it!

Cons:  Needs to be separated periodically – Can get dead foliage/ trim away – Need to trim away spent blooms – Not good unless watered regularly – Annoying when they don’t bloom – Non native.

Conclusion: Bring out those binoculars-there are birds blooming in the bushes. No need to worry, they won’t fly away in our tropical eye catching garden. Don’t wanna miss this bloomer!

Our tree is about 20 feet tall but can reach 30 feet high. It has a natural shape, slow-growing with textured, dappled gray, trunk and limbs. The spirally arranged leaves are quite lucent and appear glowing green. They do a great job of hiding the treasured fruit with their dense arrangement. You really don’t notice the fruit until you stand directly under the canopy.  We always select the ripe ones, which are glowing bright orange.  We utilize a hand held fruit picker to reach the fruit. It has a long extendable pole with a wire basket on one end. The basket is deep with a small claw around its edge to aid in trapping any fruit.  We are fortunate to have Starfruit in varying stages of maturity about 9 months out of the year. Its taste reminds me of a waxy, mildly sweet combo of apple, pineapple, and kiwi fruit. How do you eat a Starfruit?  First you wash it real good, and then you slice it horizontally starting at one end on to the other end.  Wha-laa !!!

Pros: Unique exotic fruit – Likes full sun – Attractive when fruiting or non fruiting – Insect damage minimal – Easy to maintain/prune – May get the urge to throw more parties – Drought tolerant – Earn some extra pocket money selling fruit – Compact tree for a small space – Lots and lots of fruit – Even if you don’t like the taste everyone enjoys the shape of the fruit.

Cons: Daily clean up oodles of fruit after windy day – Non Native status – Neighbors may be stealing fruit when your not looking – Low salt tolerance – Slow grower – 3-5 years to bear fruit

Starfruit is a party waiting to happen. The best place for any Starfruit is on your party platter; well it also looks good on this gorgeous tree. You got to see, this fruit tree dripping constellations of celestial orange in our paradise garden.

Don’t wanna miss this fruiter!

will be presenting a lecture on Favorite Plants for Tropical Gardens.

As the guest speaker for the Shell Point Garden Club

Luncheon and lecture at Shell Point Village

MAR  7, 2012  at 11:00am

will be presenting a lecture on Flowering Plants for Sanibel  Island  Gardens.

As the guest speaker for the Shell Island Garden Club

Luncheon and lecture at the Thistle Lodge Restaurant

FEB 14, 2012  at 11:30am

FEB 17, 2012  at 11am – 1pm

Shell Island Garden Club will be welcomed for a private botanical garden tour.