As sun rooms and home greenhouses become more commonplace, people are growing tropicals more than ever. Tropicals can be used here in Missouri as summer annuals or can be fairly easily overwintered inside. Plants that have been overwintered will often bloom much more heavily as they mature.

We are pleased to offer a selection of some harder-to-find tropicals. Many can be grown successfully in the windowsill or greenhouse during the winter, and then moved outside for the warmer months.

Our plants will impress you with their size and vigor. They are all started here in our greenhouses and they are ready to grow for you!

A few examples of the tropicals we have to offer:
 

With one of our kids living in Southern California, we have watched the succulent craze pick up speed and move across the country. We have always offered a decent selection of hardy succulents, but not a lot of tender ones. We simply could not sell them. But now there is a new interest in these tough plants. Native to dry, inhospitable places (deserts to mountain tops, these plants are used to some abuse. The make great house plants that like to take summer vacations outside. Succulents demand well-drained soil and being allowed to gently dry out between waterings. They do not need much plant food to thrive. Succulents come in many colors and textures. While their colors are most intense under high light and cooler conditions, these plants will survive in less than perfect conditions provided they do not get overwatered.
 

Commonly known as air plants, these sub-tropical plants are once again becoming popular. Using their roots only as a "hold on" fixture, these pineapple relatives use their leaves to absorb moisture and what little plant food they need. We splash them with a little water every day or two and feed them lightly with a water-soluble fertilizer (Miracle-Gro) once or twice a month. They do like it warm (60 degrees or warmer) in a nice bright spot. Lindsay has created some interesting holders for them: some as window sun catchers, some as a sculpture for a desk or table display. Our plants start life in a specialty nursery in either California or Florida and are not jungle collected! Give them a try.
 

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Caladiums are the junior cousins of the elephant ears – same "elephant ear" leaves, only much smaller and very colorful. Caladiums are best in pots in bright shade to part sun, by themselves or in mixed containers (for example, with maidenhair ferns, impatiens, rex begonias and ivy!)
 

We grow these sun lovers in hanging baskets. (They like to be pot-bound to bloom the best.) They love the sun and hot weather, making them perfect for a Midwestern summer. We will have plants blooming orange, purple, white, and hot pink. New to the line-up is 'Imperial Thai Delight', a beautiful pink and white bicolor. Add a truly tropical look to your yard this summer!
 

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These shade-loving plants grow quickly into beautiful specimens, possessing dazzling "stained-glass" colored leaves. Their ease of growth and their acceptance of pot culture allows you to bring them in the house for the winter without complications. We offer about 30 varieties. One of the easiest houseplants to grow in a bright (but not sunny) window, Rex begonias can also spend the summers outside in shady spot. They do bloom but the foliage color and patterns steal the show.
 

Nothing gives such a "tropical" feel as a banana, and they make great backdrops for other plants, too. Bananas prefer full sun, but will accept less with good grace. You can plant banana plants directly into the ground, but they must be dug up in the fall – just cut off the top and store the stump and root-ball in cool, frost-free area. The exception is the hardy 'Basjoo', which can remain in the ground all winter!
 

'Maurelii' Banana
An extremely vigorous grower. Its red foliage quickly grows to 6+ feet tall and wide. It does not "sucker" to form a clump but stays a single-trunked specimen.
 

'Basjoo' Banana
This banana has green leaves and is supposedly hardy to Zone 5. We were skeptical at first, but when it overwintered for us we became believers! This green-leafed banana will grow just as fast as the other bananas. Our 4-year-old plant gets over 10' tall and 8' wide every summer. In the fall we let the freeze "take it down" and do not clean it up until the spring. Self mulching and much easier clean-up.
 

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This is what the ancient Egyptians made paper out of. Loves the moisture and full sun. Will easily grow to 6 feet tall in one season! Elegant!

'Baby Tut' Papyrus
This one looks like its old man, but it gets only 3' tall.
 

This dramatic foliage plant shimmers with vibrant purple and silver coloring. It is easily grown in the house or outside for the summer in either sun or part shade. The plant quickly forms a mound 24" x 36" if given enough root room. Trim it back as needed, and in the fall when you bring it in for the winter.
 

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