Five years ago only the palms and the overgrown and obnoxious schefflera filled that space. We've been trying to fill it with bromeliad, white bird of paradise, dwarf poinciana, croton, and cordyline. None of these new plantings are mature yet, but they will be eventually and it will be beautiful.
I don't love that overgrown and obnoxious schefflera. A giant crinum lily is what we need there. The schefflera can be dug up, divided, and planted elsewhere or shared with others. I just have to find the perfect giant crinum.
The only problem is they attract lubber grasshoppers, which means we have to gear ourselves up for the killing season in early spring. Aaack. Everything is a battle.
Some random pictures of various types of crinum. There are a lot of varieties.
I adore the crinum lilies, we have not been very successful with them and we are dedicated lily people. Now I think I'll have another go. Schefflera won't make it outdoors here, may be a blessing. I am currently persuading three plumeria to open their buds for goodness sakes. One minute change a day.
ReplyDeleteCrinum lilies seem to be part of the amaryllis family, if that's any help. They grow in zones 8, 9, and 10. There are well over 100 varieties, so you might be able to find a smaller one that would grow in a big pot inside? Might be fun to try. I had never heard of them before we moved to Florida. And yes, one minute definitely can change a day in the garden.
DeleteSuch pretty flowers. You must put a lot of time and care into your yard.
ReplyDeleteWe try. We'd put more time in if it wasn't so unbearably hot and humid during the summer months.
DeleteThat is a lovely lily, and we agree it will be far more pleasing than an obnoxious schefflera! Well, that's the end of my opinion.
ReplyDeleteAlways happy to hear your opinion, Joanne. Flowers are so tricky to grow (and limited in variety) down here that few people try perennial gardening or flower based gardens like the kind that proliferate up north. However, some do, and when they take the time it is absolutely stunning. Schefflera, with it's bits of yellow here and there, are often used in landscaping. I miss the northern flowers. They are so diverse. However, I am learning a lot about semi-tropical plants and flowers. They are a fierce breed. The thing you'll see more often than flowers down here are flowering shrubs and trees.
DeleteI'm not a schefflera fan at all. I don't like the way they grow, their waxy leaves, their habit after they've been trimmed. Buggers.
ReplyDeleteGood luck on your quest.
Thanks, Linda.
DeleteGardening is simply not my thing; earth (compared with steel, wood, paper and idle thoughts) is a treacherous medium. But boy I envy you the vocabulary. Croton, for instance, which due to a foolish lapse in concentration had me thinking of US prep schools. Would that I were able to refer to schleffera as "obnoxious", and hang out the clothes on a cordyline. No doubt about it you talk the talk. Go girl.
ReplyDelete(Big smile)
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