Tropical Plants 7Tropical Plants 7Created Summer 2008Created Summer 2008

Araucaria-EpipremnumAraucaria-Epipremnum

BOTANICAL NAMEBOTANICAL NAME

ARAUCARIA ARAUCARIA HETEROPHYLLAHETEROPHYLLA

PRONUNCIATIONPRONUNCIATION

ah-raw-KAIR-ee-uh ah-raw-KAIR-ee-uh het - er - oh - FIL - uhhet - er - oh - FIL - uh

COMMON NAMECOMMON NAME

Norfolk Island PineNorfolk Island Pine

DESCRIPTIONDESCRIPTIONLeaf is a needle, but the plant Leaf is a needle, but the plant

is not really a pine even is not really a pine even though it produces conesthough it produces cones

Small treeSmall treeHorizontalHorizontalWhorled branching with short Whorled branching with short

needlesneedles

WaterWater

Keep Evenly moistKeep Evenly moistSevere drying will kill Severe drying will kill needles and branchesneedles and branches

Fertilizer Fertilizer

Feed year round with all Feed year round with all purpose or foliage purpose or foliage fertilizerfertilizer

LightLight

HighHigh

Size and Growth RateSize and Growth Rate

Grows slowlyGrows slowlyHeight controlled by Height controlled by container sizecontainer size

PropagationPropagation

Sow seeds any timeSow seeds any timeTerminal Shoot may be Terminal Shoot may be rootedrooted

Air layeringAir layering

Additional InformationAdditional Information

Will not tolerate hot, dry Will not tolerate hot, dry draftsdrafts

BOTANICAL NAMEBOTANICAL NAMEASPARAGUS ASPARAGUS DENSIFLORUS cv. DENSIFLORUS cv. ‘Sprengeri’‘Sprengeri’

PRONUNCIATIONPRONUNCIATION

As - PAIR - ah - gus As - PAIR - ah - gus den - sih - FLOOR - us den - sih - FLOOR - us SPRENG - ger - eyeSPRENG - ger - eye

COMMON NAMECOMMON NAME

Aspargus FernAspargus Fern

Connecting the Scientific Name with Connecting the Scientific Name with the Common Name (the Mrs. A Way)the Common Name (the Mrs. A Way)

Sprengeri and SprengeriSprengeri and SprengeriRemember that the cv. in Remember that the cv. in the scientific name the scientific name means Cultivar (this is a means Cultivar (this is a test question)test question)

DESCRIPTIONDESCRIPTIONLeaves are needles and Leaves are needles and

occur all around the stemoccur all around the stemStem has thorns when Stem has thorns when

maturematureSpiny, Deeply arching Spiny, Deeply arching

stems are covered with stems are covered with bright green 1” needlesbright green 1” needles

WaterWater

Keep soil moistKeep soil moistAllow for good drainageAllow for good drainageDo not allow to dry out Do not allow to dry out severelyseverely

FertilizerFertilizer

Feed all-purpose Feed all-purpose fertilizer year roundfertilizer year round

LightLight

HighHigh

Size and Growth RateSize and Growth Rate

VigorousVigorousFast-growing plant with Fast-growing plant with 18-24” stems18-24” stems

PropagationPropagation

Sow seeds Sow seeds Divide established plantDivide established plant

Additional InformationAdditional InformationWill bear tiny white flowersWill bear tiny white flowersFollowed by green berries Followed by green berries

which turned redwhich turned redHanging baskets and mixed Hanging baskets and mixed

potspots

BOTANICAL NAMEBOTANICAL NAME

CHLOROPHYTUM CHLOROPHYTUM COMOSUM cv.COMOSUM cv.

PRONUNCIATIONPRONUNCIATION

klor - OH - fie - tum klor - OH - fie - tum koe - MOE - sumkoe - MOE - sum

COMMON NAMECOMMON NAME

Spider PlantSpider PlantAirplane PlantAirplane Plant

Connecting the Scientific Name with Connecting the Scientific Name with the Common Name (the Mrs. A Way)the Common Name (the Mrs. A Way)

Chlorophytum bite ’em Chlorophytum bite ’em because spiders bite youbecause spiders bite you

DESCRIPTIONDESCRIPTIONArching leaves and Arching leaves and flower stemsflower stems

Stolons support flowers Stolons support flowers and plantletsand plantlets

Green leaves with yellow Green leaves with yellow or white stripesor white stripes

WaterWater

Water freely from spring Water freely from spring to fallto fall

Reduce in winterReduce in winter

FertilizerFertilizer

Feed every other weekFeed every other week

LightLight

HighHigh

Size and Growth RateSize and Growth Rate

Can grow to about 3’ tallCan grow to about 3’ tallStems up to 5’ long Stems up to 5’ long Moderate growthModerate growth

PropagationPropagation

Remove plantletsRemove plantletsRooted side shorts as Rooted side shorts as they formthey form

SeedsSeeds

Additional InformationAdditional Information

Perfect in hanging Perfect in hanging basketsbaskets

Easy to maintainEasy to maintain

BOTANICAL NAMEBOTANICAL NAME

DIEFFENBACHIA DIEFFENBACHIA MACULATAMACULATA

PRONUNCIATIONPRONUNCIATION

dee - fen -BACH- ee -ahdee - fen -BACH- ee -ah

COMMON NAMECOMMON NAME

DumbcaneDumbcane

Connecting the Scientific Name with Connecting the Scientific Name with the Common Name (the Mrs. A Way)the Common Name (the Mrs. A Way)

You are You are DumbDumb if you eat if you eat this plant because you this plant because you could could DieDie

DESCRIPTIONDESCRIPTIONLeaves are dark green with Leaves are dark green with

spots of grey-silver on themspots of grey-silver on themEvergreen featuring a single, Evergreen featuring a single,

thick trunk when youngthick trunk when youngMaturing to multiple trunks Maturing to multiple trunks

with a palm like appearancewith a palm like appearance

DESCRIPTIONDESCRIPTIONArching, oblong, pointed Arching, oblong, pointed leavesleaves

10”-12” long, spiral 10”-12” long, spiral around the trunkaround the trunk

QuickTime™ and aPhoto - JPEG decompressor

are needed to see this picture.

WaterWater

Water thoroughly but Water thoroughly but allow to dry between allow to dry between wateringswaterings

FertilizerFertilizer

Fertilize all year Fertilize all year More heavily in summerMore heavily in summer

LightLight

MediumMedium

QuickTime™ and aPhoto - JPEG decompressor

are needed to see this picture.

Size and Growth RateSize and Growth Rate

Moderate growing to 24”Moderate growing to 24”

PropagationPropagation

Stem cuttings or air Stem cuttings or air layeringlayering

Additional InformationAdditional Information

Juices can temporarily Juices can temporarily paralyze vocal cordsparalyze vocal cords

Throat may swell shut as Throat may swell shut as wellwell

BOTANICAL NAMEBOTANICAL NAME

EPIPREMNUM EPIPREMNUM AUREUM cv.AUREUM cv.

PRONUNCIATIONPRONUNCIATION

e - pi - PREM - num e - pi - PREM - num OW - ree - umOW - ree - um

COMMON NAMECOMMON NAME

Golden PothosGolden Pothos

Connecting the Scientific Name with Connecting the Scientific Name with the Common Name (the Mrs. A Way)the Common Name (the Mrs. A Way)

You can put pepper in a You can put pepper in a potpot

AU is the periodic table AU is the periodic table symbol for goldsymbol for gold

DESCRIPTIONDESCRIPTIONA fleshy vine climbing by A fleshy vine climbing by

rootletsrootletsThe leaves are heart The leaves are heart

shaped on 3” petiolesshaped on 3” petiolesLeaves are waxy dark green Leaves are waxy dark green

with yellow or creamy white with yellow or creamy white variegationvariegation

DESCRIPTIONDESCRIPTIONStems are rougher than Stems are rougher than the philodendron (you the philodendron (you will learn this plant next will learn this plant next week)week)

WaterWater

Water when soil dries Water when soil dries out to touchout to touch

FertilizerFertilizer

Fertilize lightly Fertilize lightly throughout growing throughout growing seasonseason

LightLight

HighHigh

Size and Growth RateSize and Growth Rate

Moderate growth rateModerate growth rate

PropagationPropagation

Take stem cutting at any Take stem cutting at any timetime

Additional InformationAdditional Information

Used as vining ground Used as vining ground cover in interiorscapescover in interiorscapes

Cascading accent plantCascading accent plantHanging BasketHanging Basket