FNGA Announces 2002 Florida Plants Of The Year

Sponsored by the Woody Division Steering Committee of FNGA, the plants of the year program was launched to promote underutilized, but proven, Florida plant material. This effort has led to increased retail and wholesale demand since the program was launched with the 1998 selections. FNGA said point of purchase materials will be available to garden centers and growers to ensure the plants of the year are kept in the public’s eye.

The 2002 Florida Plants Of The Year are (see below for pictures and more details about these plants):

• Viburnum obovatum (compact form) - Compact Walter’s Viburnum
• Arachis glabrata - Perennial Peanut
• Hydrangea quercifolia - Oak Leaf Hydrangea
• Myrcianthes fragrans ‘Compacta’ - Simpson’s Stopper (compact form)
• Bismarckia nobilis - Bismarck Palm
• Justicia spicigera - Orange Plume
• Ilex x ‘Robin’™ 9486 - Robin Holly
• Curcuma elata - Giant Plume Ginger
• Curcuma zedoaria - Hidden Ginger
• Curcuma cordata (petiolata) - Jewel of Thailand Ginger
• Zamioculcas zamiifolia - "ZZ"
• Codiaeum ‘Mammy’ - Mammy Croton

"The development of this type of program is beneficial to FNGA’s members and retail growers, who have already seen increased sales from FNGA’s promotional efforts for the past four year’s selections," said Woody Division Chair Mike Marshall, Marshall Tree Farm, Morriston, Fla. "Consumers benefit by leaning about superior plants they might not have considered purchasing before.

2002 Florida Plants Of The Year

COMMON NAME: Compact Walter’s Viburnum BOTANICAL NAME: Viburnum obovatum (compact form) HARDINESS: Zones 7-10 MATURE HEIGHT AND SPREAD: 4-6 feet tall, 3-4 feet wide CLASSIFICATION: Native evergreen shrub LANDSCAPE USE: Low hedge or specimen plant CHARACTERISTICS: This Florida native features white flowers in early spring. These selected shrubs have red new growth and a more compact growing habit. The red fruit turns black in the fall and in North Florida it is semi-deciduous. PHOTO: Stephen G. Pategas, ASLA COMMON NAME: Perennial Peanut BOTANICAL NAME: Arachis glabrata HARDINESS: Zones 8B-11 MATURE HEIGHT AND SPREAD: 6-12 inches tall, 1-3 feet wide CLASSIFICATION: Ground cover LANDSCAPE USE: Flowering ground cover, turf replacement CHARACTERISTICS: Good ground cover for well-drained soil in a sunny area that tolerates mowing. Bears yellow flowers during late spring, summer and fall. PHOTO: Harry P. Leu Gardens COMMON NAME: Oak Leaf Hydrangea BOTANICAL NAME: Hydrangea quercifolia HARDINESS: Zones 5-9 MATURE HEIGHT AND SPREAD: 5-8 feet tall, 5-6 feet wide CLASSIFICATION: Deciduous flowering shrub LANDSCAPE USE: Specimen or mass planting CHARACTERISTICS: This native plant needs light to medium shade and has large, fragrant creamy-white terminal bloom-clusters in spring. The large, coarse rusty-brown foliage turns red-orange in the fall. PHOTO: Harry P. Leu Gardens COMMON NAME: Simpson’s Stopper (compact form) BOTANICAL NAME: Myrcianthes fragrans ‘Compacta’ HARDINESS: Zones 8-11 MATURE HEIGHT AND SPREAD: 5-10 feet tall CLASSIFICATION: Evergreen shrub LANDSCAPE USE: Low hedge or specimen plant CHARACTERISTICS: An evergreen, Florida native shrub with small glossy leaves that bears small white fragrant flowers in late spring followed by reddish-orange berries. Birds are attracted to the berry-like fruit. PHOTO: Harry P. Leu Gardens COMMON NAME: Bismarck Palm BOTANICAL NAME: Bismarckia nobilis HARDINESS: Zones 9B-11 MATURE HEIGHT AND SPREAD: 30-50 feet tall, 10-15 feet wide CLASSIFICATION: Palm Tree LANDSCAPE USE: Specimen plant CHARACTERISTICS: A massive robust palm with large silver-blue colored fronds. A pure green form exists, but it is less cold hardy. PHOTO: Harry P. Leu Gardens COMMON NAME: Orange Plume BOTANICAL NAME: Justicia spicigera HARDINESS: Zones 8B-11 MATURE HEIGHT AND SPREAD: 4-6 feet tall, 2-4 feet wide CLASSIFICATION: Perennial shrub LANDSCAPE USE: Accent plant or massive perennial color CHARACTERISTICS: A shrub that bears bright orange tubular flowers during the warm months. Evergreen but possibly cold-damaged in the upper half of the state. This accent plant needs full sun or part shade to exhibit maximum growth habits. PHOTO: Derek Burch COMMON NAME: Robin Holly BOTANICAL NAME: Ilex x ‘Robin’™ 9486 HARDINESS: Zones 7-9 MATURE HEIGHT AND SPREAD: 10-15 feet tall, 6-8 feet wide CLASSIFICATION: Evergreen shrub LANDSCAPE USE: Specimen shrub, small tree or hedge CHARACTERISTICS: Large, dark green spiny leaves have a reddish-maroon foliage when new growth emerges. The glossy foliage shows off the red berries of this improved plant. PHOTO: Flowerwood Nursery, Inc. COMMON NAME: Giant Plume Ginger BOTANICAL NAME: Curcuma elata HARDINESS: Zones 8-11 MATURE HEIGHT AND SPREAD: 7-8 feet tall CLASSIFICATION: Perennial LANDSCAPE USE: Specimen plant or ground cover CHARACTERISTICS: This perennial bears a bright pink inflorescence in spring as the massive foliage emerges to form impressive clumps. The exotic-appearing bloom can be cut for a long-lasting cut flower. PHOTO: Derek Burch COMMON NAME: Hidden Ginger BOTANICAL NAME: Curcuma zedoaria HARDINESS: Zones 8-11 MATURE HEIGHT AND SPREAD: 4-5 feet tall CLASSIFICATION: Perennial LANDSCAPE USE: Specimen or ground cover for shade CHARACTERISTICS: Maroon colored inflorescence with yellow flowers appears in the spring before the foliage. Leaves are tropical looking with a purple midrib. The bloom can be cut for a long-lasting cut flower. PHOTO: Derek Burch COMMON NAME: - Jewel of Thailand Ginger BOTANICAL NAME: Curcuma cordata (petiolata) HARDINESS: Zones 8-11 MATURE HEIGHT AND SPREAD: 3 feet tall CLASSIFICATION: Perennial LANDSCAPE USE: Specimen or ground cover for shade CHARACTERISTICS: Bears a 1 foot tall pink inflorescence with yellow flowers in the Fall. The pleated leaves are a handsome addition to the garden through the summer. PHOTO: Derek Burch COMMON NAME: "ZZ" BOTANICAL NAME: Zamioculcas zamiifolia HARDINESS: Zones 9B-11 MATURE HEIGHT AND SPREAD: 2-4 feet tall, 3 feet wide CLASSIFICATION: Foliage plant LANDSCAPE USE: Ground cover, accent or specimen plant INTERIORSCAPE USE: High indirect light location, can tolerate low light CHARACTERISTICS: The succulent aroid resembles a Zamia cycad. It has thick glossy leaflets and is one of the few aroids (Philodendron relatives) that can be grown from a leaf cutting. PHOTO: Butler’s Foliage, Inc. COMMON NAME: Mammy Croton BOTANICAL NAME: Codiaeum ‘Mammy’ HARDINESS: Zones 9B-11 MATURE HEIGHT AND SPREAD: 3-5 feet tall, 2-3 feet wide CLASSIFICATION: Colorful shrub for full sun LANDSCAPE USE: accent, hedge or specimen INTERIORSCAPE USE: color specimen in very high light CHARACTERISTICS: Leaves are a fiery orangish-red with variegation of green and yellow. The narrow leaves form a slight twist to give this plant a different look from the ordinary croton. PHOTO: Derek Burch