Podcast: Let's Argue About Plants

Episode 93: Tropicals We Wish We Grew

Video by Danielle Sherry and Carol Collins. Edited by Kara Demos.

You know you’re a hardcore gardener when you dream about moving to the tropics—not for the beaches and tiki drinks, but because that would enable you to grow so many more cool plants. In this episode, we discuss tropical plants we wish we could grow in our cooler climates, or even ones that we are looking forward to trying to grow in the future (and overwintering them, like our agaves). There are some selections you’ll recognize, but there are also a couple plants we are 99% sure you’ve never heard of before. So grab your grass skirt (and a glass of rum punch), and meet us south of the equator for this tropical-themed chat.

Expert testimony: Jim Kincannon is a horticulturist who previously worked at the Indianapolis Museum of Art (now called Newfields) gardens.

 

Danielle’s Plants

Butterfly stripe plant
Butterfly stripe plant (Christia obcordata, Zones 11–12)

 

Porcipine tomato
Porcupine tomato (Solanum pyracanthum, Zones 9–11)

 

Black cotton
Black cotton (Gossypium herbaceum ‘Nigra’, Zones 10–11)

 

Coral plant
Coral plant (Russelia equisetiformis, Zones 9–11)

 

Steve’s Plants

Gold vein plant
Gold vein plant (Sanchezia speciosa, Zones 9–11)

 

Angel’s trumpets
Angel’s trumpets (Brugmansia spp. and cvs., Zones 7b–11)

 

‘Thailand Giant’ elephants’ ears
‘Thailand Giant’ elephants’ ear (Leucocasia gigantea ‘Thailand Giant’, Zones 8–10)

 

Gunnera
Gunnera (Gunnera manicata, Zones 8–11)

 

Expert’s Plants

Jim Kincannon is a horticulturist who previously worked at the Indianapolis Museum of Art (now called Newfields) gardens.

Golden lotus banana (credit: Jim Kincannon)
Golden lotus banana (Musella lasiocarpa, Zones 7–10). Photo: Jim Kincannon

 

Pineapple lily (credit: Jim Kincannon)
Pineapple lily (Eucomis spp. and cvs., Zones 7–10). Photo: Jim Kincannon

 

Candle bush (credit: Jim Kincannon)
Candle bush (Senna alata, Zones 9–11). Photo: Jim Kincannon

 

Mauritius hemp (credit: Jim Kincannon)
Mauritius hemp (Furcraea foetida ‘Mediopicta’, Zones 9–11). Photo: Jim Kincannon
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Comments

  1. Mashabear21 08/26/2021

    The glory of gardening: hands in the dirt, head in the sun, heart with nature. To nurture a garden is to feed not just on the body, but the soul. | Hudson Valley Deck and Fence

  2. Mark214 10/13/2021

    Very nice. Thank you for sharing this podcast. more power

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