FIRST PLACE: LEAST AFFECTED BY a WIDE RANGE OF CONDITIONS goes to:
the AGAVE family~ Agave americana
Very beautiful with other plants and this cultivar has a nice curve to the leaves, not bayonet style like some.
Agave desmettiana 'Joe Hoak'
SECOND PLACE: MOST BEAUTIFUL LEAVES THROUGHOUT THE YEAR goes to:
The Neoregelia genus of Bromeliads
Pictured: Neoregelia 'Raphael'
THIRD PLACE: BEST GROUND COVER goes to:
Licorice plant Helichrysum petiolare (from South Africa)
FOURTH PLACE: BEST NATIVE TREE goes to:
Redbud~ Cercis canadensis
Bloomed, grew, and set seed despite half the normal rainfall!
FIFTH PLACE: BEST TROPICAL LOOKING TREE goes to:
Eriobotrya japonica~ Loquat tree
SIXTH PLACE: MOST ABUNDANT BLOOMER goes to:
Lantana montevidensis ~ Trailing lantana (see below)
Lantana montevidensis was never out of bloom from June to December!
SEVENTH PLACE: BEST HERB goes to:
Rosemary (many cultivars). It is VERY drought tolerant!
EIGHTH PLACE: MOST ENDURING BUTTERFLY HOST goes to:
Aesclepius curassavica~ bloomed for months, got eaten to death, attacked by yellow aphids, and still looks good!
NINTH PLACE: PLANT MOST WORTH KEEPING ALIVE goes to:
Odontonema strictum ~ Mexican firespike
I had to water it, but the blooms and leaves respond quickly after wilting.
TENTH PLACE: PALM MOST TOLERANT OF SEVERE FREEZES, HEAT WAVES, DROUGHT, AND FLOODING goes to:
Livistona chinensis ~ Chinese fan palm
Happy Gardening and thanks so much for stopping by Tropical Texana
David and family
along with the chickens: Hoot, Gwen, Phoebe & Zeebee
(P.S. Marco the Rooster had to get a new home)
