Coleus- I Planted Roots in Mexico

By Tommy Clarkson on the May 2020 Edition Solenostemon scutellarioides Family Lamiaceae Also known as Painted Nettle or Variegated Coleus (Ladies and gentleman, meet the veritable poster child for wildly multi-colored, variegated tropical plant leaves!) The subtitle for Nellie Neal’s book, Gardener’s Guide to Tropical Plants, is “Cool ways to add hot, bold foliage and striking textures.” […]

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Ivy-Leaf Peperomia- I Planted Roots in Mexico

By Tommy Clarkson on the May 2020 Edition Peperomia griseoargentea Family Piperaceae Also known as Radiator Plant or Ivy Leaf Pepper Or is it? I’ve always admired the array of interesting characters in the Peperomia genus what with some 1,000 of them, we’ve no few from which to choose! In fact, I wrote about the Pepperface […]

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Scarlet Spiral Flag-I Planted Roots in Mexico

By Tommy Clarkson on the April 2020 Edition Scarlet Spiral Flag Costus woodsonii Family Zingiberaceae Also known as Indian Head Ginger, French Kiss, Red Button Ginger, Red Cane Dwarf, Panama Candle Plant, Panamanian Candle Ginger or Cone Ginger Born with the appellation of Thomas one derived from the Aramaic personal name meaning “twin” I actually […]

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Blushing Spiral Ginger – I Planted Roots in Mexico

By Tommy Clarkson on the April 2020 Edition Family Zingiberaceae Also known as None known Few are the folks who don’t like the assorted flowers of Ginger! In Volume I of “The Civilized Jungle”, I wrote about the Shell Ginger (Alpinia zerumbet). In Volume II, it was the Red Ginger (Alpinia puepirata), Torch Ginger (Etlingera […]

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Aaron’s Beard Prickly Pear – I Planted Roots in Mexico

By Tommy Clarkson on the March 2020 Edition Aaron’s Beard Prickly Pear Opuntia leucotricha Family Cactaceae Also known as Arborescent Prickly Pear or Semaphore Cactus (From the very outset, I acknowledge that far be I from any manner of a sage of succulents or cacti fact guy. Thus, it should surprise no one that, for me, […]

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Dwarf Dracaena- I Planted Roots in Mexico

By Tommy Clarkson on the February 2020 Edition Dwarf Dracaena Dracaena compactaFamily Agavaceae Also known as Pineapple Dracaena or Dwarf Dracaena The Dracaena compacta is a rather compact (Gee, ya’ think?), somewhat, slow-growing native from South East Africa. Though it’s been an indoor favorite of many homeowners for years (though, at times, difficult for some to […]

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Mexican Fence Post- I Planted Roots in Mexico

By Tommy Clarkson on the February 2020 Edition Mexican Fence Post Pachycereus marginatus, Cereus marginatus, Lemaireocereus marginatus, Marginato-cereus marginatus, Stenocereus marginatus, Cereus gemmatus or Stenocereus marginatus var. gemmatus Family Cactaceae Also known as Central Mexico Pipe Organ, Organ Cactus or Órgano (Some plants’ common names seem to fit them perfectly. Such is the case for the […]

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Cascada Palm-I Planted Roots in Mexico

By Tommy Clarkson on the January 2020 Edition Cascada Palm Chamaedorea cataractarum Family Arecaceae Also known as Cat Palm or Cataract Palm While having our specimen happily thriving as a potted, shade-appreciating, interior palm in the lower living room for perhaps ten years, I’d never gotten around to properly identifying it. It seemed somewhat obvious […]

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