This showy unusual herbaceous perennial has burgundy red, deeply lobed foliage and grows to 6 feet. Flat flower bracts appear in summer with small white flowers. Very tropical and adds color as well as texture to the garden. Full sun to light shade. It has medium salt tolerance and low drought tolerance. Zones 10-12

An heirloom, evergreen, year-round flowering shrub to 8 ft. with bright red or white flowers which is sometimes referred to as "sleeping hibiscus" because the flowers do not completely open. From Mexico, Peru and Brazil. Needs full sun for flowering and is drought tolerant but not salt tolerant. Zones 9-11

A beautiful flowering shrub to about 10 feet from Venezuela. Purple/red flower bracts may appear at any time during the year. Likes regular watering. Sun to partial shade. Zones 10-12

This evergreen, multi-stemmed shrub from Central America has spikes of bright red tubular flowers. In addition, we sometimes offer O. callistachyum which has deep violet flowers. Blooms are long-lasting and they bloom almost year-round when mature. Mature height is about 6 feet and can be trimmed to encourage branching and blooming.  Likes part or dappled shade and high humidity. Regular fertilizing with time-release or liquid fertilizer will prevent minors deficiencies. Butterflies and hummingbirds love it. Zones 10-11

Orthosiphon stamineus - Cat's Whiskers

A flowering shrub in the mint family that grows to 3-5 feet and originates from tropical Asia and the Pacific. The flowers are produced in delicate-looking white erect clusters. Attracts butterflies and hummingbirds. Likes full sun to partial shade. Needs regular watering to prevent wilt. Trim back to encourage bloom and prevent sprawling and legginess. Zones 10-11

Pandanus sp. - Pandanus; Screw pine

Not a pine at all, this unusual plant has its own family and most of its genus originates in the south sea islands area.  It is fairly slow growing but it is very drought and salt tolerant.  Reaches about 10-15 feet high by about 8 feet wide. When older it looks as if it is standing on stilts. Zones 10-11

Pedilanthes tithymaloides - Devil's backbone

An evergreen Euphorbia from the Caribbean & Central America that grows to 4 feet, with unusual zigzag branching and red or pink tubular flowers. Somewhat uncommon in cultivation. It is drought tolerant and has medium salt tolerance. It will thrive in full sun to light shade. Zones 10-11

Piper auritum - Yerba Santa; Root beer Plant

A very tropical-looking open shrub or small tree to 15 feet from Central America, with unusual sasparilla-scented leaves. The stems are segmented like bamboo. Should be planted in an area where new, rhizome-generated shoots can be controlled. Needs plenty of water, but cannot stand prolonged flooding. Likes full sun to part shade. This Piper adds a tropical look to a garden when planted with gingers or grasses underneath it. Zones 10-11

Plumeria pudica - White Nosegay; Amapola; Floron

A very unusual fragrant, white flowered Plumeria species that flowers throughout the spring and summer but might bloom all year round in warm conditions.  It has an unusual growth habit with multi-stems and spoon-shaped leaves. It can reach 15 feet in height. Here in Miami, it does not lose its leaves in the fall and winter as other Plumeria species do. From Trinidad, Colombia and Venezuela. Zones 10-11

Russelia sarmentosa - Coral Blow

Clusters of coral red flowers appear year-round at the leaf axils on this perennial. The unusual growth habit calls for planting it among other plants, as the branches may be as long as 4 feet. Striking when planted along with yellow flowering shrubs. It will tolerate full sun to part shade. Medium drought tolerance. Zones 10-11

Sanchezia speciosa

There are several interesting things about this herbaceous shrub (6-8') from the rainforests of Brazil, Ecuador and Peru. It will prosper in sun or shade and, in fact is one of the few reliable bloomers for shady locations, requiring only a little sun to initiate flowers. It also blooms pretty much all year. The large leaves are exotic and heavily veined with a tremendous amount of variability from leaf to leaf on the same plant. Zone 10 -11

Senna mexicana var. 'Chapmanii' - syn. Cassia bahamensis

An evergreen, slightly gangly yellow-flowering shrub that grows to about 5 feet. It is native to south Florida and the Caribbean region. It has a rather fast growth rate and is highly drought and salt tolerant. It generally blooms in the fall and winter.  Attracts butterflies. Zones 10-11

Senna polyphylla - Desert Senna

Although well-known to south Florida plant aficionados, this flowering shrub from Mexico is very difficult to find in the plant reference books under either "Cassia" or "Senna". It grows to only about 6 feet, whereupon it produces an attractive weeping form and blooms yellow on and off all year round. It looks best as a specimen plant on its own, but works well in a border, too, as shown here. The Desert Senna is drought resistant, as the name implies, and will produce flowers with almost no direct sun, though it will bloom better in full sun. Attracts butterflies - especially sulphurs.

Sophora tomentosa - Necklace pod

Native to South Florida and the American tropics, this yellow-flowering shrub (6 feet or a bit taller) blooms throughout the year. It likes a sunny location and attracts butterflies and hummingbirds. Necklace-like seed pods are attractive, but poisonous if eaten. New leaves have an unusual silvery, velvety texture. Salt and drought tolerant. Zones 10-11