Plant Info O-R

Plant Info O-R

PHOTO

COMMON NAME

BOTANICAL NAME AND ETYMOLOGY

LIGHT REQUIREMENT

IRRIGATION

PLANT ORIGIN

CULTIVATION, TOLERANCES, CHARACTERISTICS, LANDSCAPE USES

Oleander

Nerium oleander (from the Greek nerion, "Oleander"; probably alteration influenced by Latin olea, "olive," an apparent reference to the olive-like leaves, and Late Latin lorandrum, "rhododendron," because of its similar-shaped leaves)

full sun to partial shade

can survive both dry and wet soils (fastest growth occurs when provided moisture)

northern Africa, the eastern Mediterranean basin and southeast Asia

monoecious evergreen shrub (AKA Rose Bay); tolerant but prefers good drainage, fast growth rate, heat tolerant, will survive some frost, parts of plant are poisonous, prune the tips of young plants to help stimulate the production of new branches, deadhead spent blooms, can be trained or pruned to a single or multi stemmed tree, can grow to 20', grows well in pots, suitable for xeriscaping, (an ornamental plant with showy flowers in white, red, pink, salmon and light yellow; use for screens, colorful accents, beach plantings, cityscapes, shrub borders and at the edge of woodsy areas where the flowers show their best)

Onion (from Latin unio, meaning "onion"; ancient names for this plant in Sanskrit, Hebrew, Greek, and Latin are apparently unrelated, indicating widespread culture of onions from prehistoric times)

Allium cepa (Latin allium, meaning "garlic"; Latin cepa, meaing onion)

full sun to partial shade

lots of water in the summer (may go dormant during extreme dry periods)

Iran and southern Russia

long season annual vegetable (a cool-weather crop); prefers well-drained fertile soil and low humidity, a mulch will conserve soil moisture and help suppress weed growth, frost tolerant, growth and yield can be greatly enhanced by feeding with a fertilizer rich in phosphorous, when grown close to other plants they tend to increase that plants resistance to disease and reduce insect infestation, (has been bred in varying sizes, shapes and colors; should not be grown on the same patch year after year - should be sown as part of a crop rotation scheme)

Orange (the word orange comes from the Tamil word na\b ru, meaning "sweet")

Citrus sinensis (from the Greek word kedrus, derived from kedromelon, meaning “apple of cedar,” referring to the citron; sinensis, of or from China)

full sun for maximum production, but oranges do quite well in partial shade

fairly drought-tolerant (fruit quantity and size may suffer if supplemental water is not given during prolonged dry periods)

Vietnam, northwest India and southern China

subtropical citrus evergreen tree (the most commonly grown fruit tree in the world, the Orange blossom is the Florida state flower); requires well-drained soil, cold sensitive, can grow to 25', (makes a beautiful and carefree specimen tree; with glossy evergreen foliage, highly fragrant blossoms and ornamental as well as edible fruits, the oranges are hard to beat in the subtropical landscape)

Orange Jessamine (from a variant spelling of the English word jasmine, which derives from yasaman, Persian for jasmine)

Murraya paniculata (named after Johann Andreas Murray, 18th century Swedish student of Linnaeus; paniculata, referring to the panicles, or flower clusters)

full sun to partial shade

water plentifully when in full growth but otherwise only when dry

has a native range from India and China through Southeast Asia and Malaysia to northern Australia

evergreen shrub/small tree (a member of the citrus family AKA Murraya ovatifolioata, Orange Jasmine, Mock Orange, Chinese Box, Satinwood, and Cosmetic Bark Tree); prefers a well-drained organic soil, heat tolerant, frost-sensitive, mulch to retain moisture and restrict weed growth, feed with a complete fertilizer, has fragrant blossoms, propagation by stem cuttings, considered invasive, grows well in pots, will grow indoors, (a decorative specimen tree, also a popular hedging plant)

Orchids

Orchidaceae spp. (from the Greek word orchis, which means "testes," so named because of the resemblance of their root bulbs to testes)

likes moderate to low light situations (diffused sunlight)

water often enough to keep continuous moisture just below the surface of the medium, but be cautious of over-watering

Asia, South and Central America and the U.K.

terrestrial, epiphytic, or saprophytic perennial herbs (the largest of all the plant families -- more than 30,000 species, or 10% of all known species of flowering plants are orchids); use a potting mix for epiphytic orchids (overall consideration is to provide lots of air spaces between medium particles), enjoys a humid environment, slow-growing, feed once a month using a high-nitrogen soluble plant food, grows well in pots, will grow indoors, (among the most highly prized of ornamental plants)

Oregano

Origanum vulgare (from the Greek words oros, "mountain," and ganos, "beauty, brightness, ornament, delight," thus "mountain joy"; Latin vulgare, "common-place")

full sun to partial shade (it is said that the pungency of oregano is directly related to the amount of sun it gets)

water sparingly; too much water will cause root rot

Mediterranean region of Europe and Asia (grows in mountainous areas with rocky, calcareous soils)

herbaceous evergreen perennial subshrub (related to the Mint and AKA Wild Marjoram); prefers well-drained soil, will thrive with minimal fertilizer, should be pinched back to encourage branching, propagated by stem cuttings, grows well in pots and hanging baskets, will grow indoors, (use as an edge in borders and around the herb garden; for tomato dishes, meat, poultry, vegetables, sauces, etc.)

Osteospermum

Osteospermum spp. (from the Greek osteon, "bone," and sperma, which in Greek compound words means "-seeded," thus meaning "hard-seeded")

full sun (they will tolerate some partial shade)

tolerates drought well; roots are relatively susceptible to rotting if watered too profusely (water well weekly until soil is completely moist)

Africa and southwestern Arabia

herbaceous evergreen perennial subshrub (AKA African Daisy, South African Daisy, Cape Daisy, Sunscape Daisy, Blue-eyed Daisy and Shrubby Daisybush); tolerant but prefers well-drained fertile soil, salt-tolerant, feed with a balanced fertilizer for continuous flowering, remove spent flowers promptly to promote new growth, attracts butterflies, grows well in pots, (eye catching plant ideal for growing in problem areas; at home in borders, good bank or hillside covering)

Oyster Plant (grown for its edible root, which has an oyster-like taste)

Tradescantia spathacea (syn. Rhoeo spathacea) (named after John Tradescant, 1608–1662, gardener to King Charles I; Latin spatha, "spathe")

partial shade to full sun

keep the soil evenly moist

West Indies, Mexico and Central America

tropical succulent herb (sometimes grows as an epiphyte, AKA Moses-in-a-Boat and Moses-in-the-Cradle); although it likes soil with substantial organic matter it will grow in sand or even coral rock, prefers high humidity, contains poisonous sap, considered invasive, relatively tolerant of allelopathic chemicals, parts of plant are poisonous, grows well in pots, will grow indoors, (use in bedding, rock gardens and for tropical effects)

Pampas Grass (a tall grass native to southern South America, including the pampas after which it is named; from Quechua, meaning "plain")

Cortaderia jubata (from cortadera, the Argentine term for cutting, in reference to the finely toothed leaf margins; jubata, meaning "mane")

full sun to partial shade

tolerates drought well but prefers moist soil (will tolerate flooding if not persistent)

Chile, Brazil and Argentina

clumping sub-tropical perennial grass (AKA Uruguayan Pampas Grass); tolerant but prefers well-drained fertile loamy soils, fast-growing, armed with razor sharp leaves, considered highly invasive, suitable for xeriscaping, (has long been a popular lawn highlight where it looks great alone or arranged in groups of several clumps, it also makes a great screen for hiding unsightly views, use with palms, pines and other grasses)

Panda Plant

Kalanchoe tomentosa 'Chocolate Soldier' (syn. Bryophyllum) (the species name means "wooly," and the plant is velvety to the touch)

full sun to partial shade

allow soil to dry between waterings

southern Madagascar

perennial succulent subshrub (AKA Panda Bear Plant, Pussy Ears and Plush Plant); prefers well-drained soil and warm temperatures, can tolerate brief temperatures down to 25 degrees, can grow to 3', grows well in pots, will grow indoors, suitable for xeriscaping, (remains as a relatively compact, sturdy, and hardy plant; use in cactus and rock gardens)

Pansy (from the French verb penser, meaning "to think," as the bowing head of the flower was seen to visually echo a person in deep thought)

Viola wittrockiana (Latin viola, meaning "violet"; species named after Professor Veit Brecher Wittrock, 1839 - 1914, a botanist from Sweden)

full sun to partial sun

keep the soil evenly moist

Europe

perennial herb (a cool-season annual related to the Violet); prefers well-drained fertile soil, mulch to retain moisture, cold-hardy, apply a nitrate form of fertilizer, grows well in pots and hanging baskets, (as cut flowers they are perfect for use in a bouquet; can be planted among bulbs, in mass or in drifts with other flowers in beds and borders)

Papaya

Carica papaya (derived from the Greek karike, which was a kind of fig and given to the Papaya because of the fig-like leaves; papaya, from Sp., probably from Arawakan)

does best when grown in full sun (grown in partial shade, they produce fruit that is not very sweet)

the plants should be kept on the dry side to avoid root rot, but also need enough water to support their large leaves (likes plenty of water when it's warm and less when it's cooler)

native to the lowland tropics of South America

trioecious tropical evergreen herb (erroneously referred to as a "tree," the plant is closely related to the Passionflowers, AKA Mamão, Fruta Bomba, Lechosa, Papaw and Tree Melon); fairly tolerant but prefers well-drained fertile soil, fast growing, requires regular applications of nitrogen fertilizers, young plants produce more fruit than older specimens, parts of plant are poisonous, (one of the easiest of tropical fruits to grow; best planted in mounds or against the foundation of a building)

Parsley (alteration of Latin petroselinum)

Petroselinum crispum (from the Greek words petros, meaning "stone, rock," and selinum, meaning "parsley"; Latin crispum, "with curled leaves")

prefers full or part sun

keep soil evenly moist

southern Europe and the eastern Mediterranean

clump-forming biennial edible herb; prefers well-drained fertile soil with a slightly acidic pH, frost tolerant, harvest outer leaves leaving the central rosette, grows well in pots and hanging baskets, will grow indoors, (a nutritious garnish --has a relatively higher vitamin C content than an orange; at home in the perennial border or flower bed as well as in the herb and vegetable garden)

Parson's Juniper

Juniperus davurica 'Parsoni' (Latin juniperus, meaning "Juniper")

full sun to partial shade (partial shade will result in a thinner groundcover)

drought-tolerant

Central Asia, Siberia, and possibly Japan

coniferous evergreen shrub (ground-hugging); tolerates acidic to slightly alkaline soils, fast-growing, very high salt tolerance, responds well to a balanced fertilizer, propagated by tip cuttings or stem layering, (one of the more popular evergreens for bonsai; use as groundcover, especially attractive to mix and match with other juniper species)

Passion Vine (for the Passion of Christ on the cross; Spanish missionaries thought they saw a reference to the Crucifixion of Christ in the elaborate flower structures)

Passiflora spp. (from the Latin passio, "passion," and flos, meaning "flower")

likes full sun except during those very hot summer days, if possible provide some partial shade

to keep the vines flowering almost continuously, regular water is necessary

tropical and sub-tropical America

evergreen tropical vine/shrub (AKA Passion Flower, Passion Fruit, Apricot Vine, Maypop and Passionflowers); grows in many well-drained soil types, will benefit from a thick layer of organic mulch, fast grower, likes humidity, cold-hardy, feed with a fertilizer with a 2-1-3 ratio, attracts butterflies and hummingbirds, produces an edible fruit, propagated by stem cuttings, grows well in pots, will grow indoors, (plant it next to a chain link fence or on a trellis)

Peace Lily

Spathiphyllum spp. (from the Greek words spathe, meaning "bract," and phyllon, meaning "leaf," due to the flowers being leaf like in shape)

prefers bright filtered light; in too much shade the plants won't flower, although they will survive nicely

the surface of the soil should be dry to the touch before watering (if the soil is still wet do not water because spaths are very prone to root rot)

tropical America

monocotyledonous clumping perennial herb (AKA Spathe Flower and White Flag); prefers well-drained soil, use a high nitrogen fertilizer for foliage plants with a 3-1-2 ratio, sensitive to chilling temperatures, parts of plant are poisonous, grows well in pots, will grow indoors (for shady patios, porches and interiors; Peace Lilies and Begonias in the same garden bed are wonderful compatriots)

Peacock Echeveria

Echeveria peacockii (syn. Echeveria subsessilis) (named after Atanasio Echeverria Codoy, 18th century Spanish botanist)

full sun

drought-tolerant, although they do better with regular deep watering

Mexico

clumping tropical perennial cactus (AKA Hen and Chickens); prefers well-drained soil, use an all-purpose liquid fertilizer diluted to one-quarter strength once a month during the growing season, will grow indoors, suitable for xeriscaping, (particularly suitable as a windowsill house plant; great for pots, rockeries, borders and cactus gardens)

Peacock Plant

Calathea makoyana (from the Latin word calathus, "basket," referring to the inflorescence; for Jacob Makoy Lambert, 19th century sponsor of plant collecting trips into Brazil)

prefers filtered sunlight

keep evenly moist, not soggy

Brazil, Guyana, Columbia and Nicaragua

herbaceous evergreen perennial (a clump-forming jungle plant); soil should be highly organic and well-drained, prefers high humidity and high temperatures, feed with a liquid fertilizer every two weeks during Spring and Summer and once a month during Autumn and Winter, will grow indoors, (makes an excellent specimen/border plant or groundcover in shaded conditions, looks best when grouped with other foliage plants, can be used in a bottle garden or terrarium)

Pentas

Pentas lanceolata (Greek pentas, meaning "group of five," for the five-petaled flowers, and the Latin word lancea, meaning "lance," the shape of the leaves)

full sun to partial shade

water regularly; do not overwater

Africa

evergreen perennial subshrub (a member of the subtropical Madder family to which Coffee and Quinine belong); prefers fertile moisture-retaining soil, heat tolerant, feed regularly with an all-purpose fertilizer, attracts butterflies, (provides a lush backdrop for prolific clusters of never-ending flowers; can be used in the garden in mass plantings or as spots of color in the border)

Peperomia

Peperomia spp. (from the Greek peperi, "pepper," and homoios, "resembling," referring to its resemblance to a true pepper -- to which it is closely related)

filtered light; does best in at least 50% shade

allow soil to dry slightly between waterings

damp tropical hardwood forests and warm sheltered sloughs inside swamps on the Caribbean islands and in South Florida

tropical perennial epiphytic succulent; prefers well-drained moisture-retaining fertile soil, mulch to keep the soil evenly moist, cannot tolerate frost, fertilize sparingly with a weak foliar spray, grows well in pots and hanging baskets, will grow indoors, (grown for their ornamental foliage; can easily serve as groundcover, potted plants for the patio or waterfalls, fillers around your pond, or roamers among the mulch in you hammock)

Persian Shield

Strobilanthes dyerianus (Greek strob, meaning "cone," and anthos, "flower"; named after Sir William Turner Thiselton-Dyer, 19th century botanist and director of Kew Gardens)

partial shade; avoid direct sun (does best with morning sun and afternoon shade)

do not allow soil to dry out

native to Myanmar (formerly called Burma)

herbaceous tropical evergreen perennial subshrub; thrives outdoors in humid climates in well-drained fertile soil, keep it growing vigorously by fertilizing monthly with a light application of a slow release fertilizer, trim plant to stimulate bushiness, propagated by stem cuttings, can grow to 5', grows well in pots, will grow indoors, (a beautiful foliage plant for semi-shady areas in tropical and subtropical gardens; makes a great summer bedding plant, mixing well with colorful flowering annuals)

Peruvian Apple (known as apple cactus because of its 1-2 inch fleshy, red apple-like fruit)

Cereus Peruvianus (Latin cereus, meaning "wax candle," so named from the resemblance to the columnar shape of a wax candle; Peruvianus, indicating the plant is of or from Peru)

likes a full sun position

allow the soil to dry out between waterings

native to the West Indies through Venezuela

cactus (this genus was among the first in cacti cultivation and are still one of the most commonly grown cacti, AKA Cereus repandus, Cadushi, Hedge Cactus, Apple Cactus and Giant Club Cactus); likes sandy/rich well-drained soil and low humidity, heat tolerant, fast grower, has sharp spines, fertilize regularly, has large showy flowers which are followed (following successful pollination) by red edible fruit, propagation by stem cuttings, can grow to 30', will grow indoors, suitable for xeriscaping, (grown as an ornamental plant)

Petunia

Petunia hybrida (from the Native American word petun, the name for tobacco -- it has a botanical affinity to the tobacco plant)

full sun or partial shade

should be watered before the soil dries out; keep the soil moderately moist (avoid overwatering)

tropical and sub-tropical South America

herbaceous perennial herb (a cool season plant); tolerant of most well-drained soil types except clay but prefers good garden soil, does well in pots and hanging baskets, will grow indoors, (suitable for borders, beds, edging and groundcover in mass plantings at foundations, entranceways, focal points, along sidewalks or on embankments)

Philodendron Xanadu

Philodendron xanadu (from the Greek words philos, "loving," and dendron, "tree," referring to the epiphytic or vining growth habit of these tropical plants)

full to partial sun (in low light the stems will elongate giving the plant a spindly appearance)

regular watering

manmade hybrid; Plant Patent No. 7030 (Philodendrons are native to southern Brazil and Paraguay)

tropical perennial clump-forming shrub (AKA Cut Leaf or Split Leaf Philodendron); parts of plant are poisonous, relatively low maintenance but appreciates feeding, can grow to 5', grows well in pots, will grow indoors, (a popular tropical-appearing foliage plant for indoors or landscaping; works in foundation plantings under shade arbors, as a focal point of sequestered entries or as a standout against hot-colored walls of postmodern architecture)

Pincushion Cactus

Mammillaria nejapensis (from the Latin word mammilla, meaning "nipple, teat," referring to the small tubercles covering the plant body)

filtered sunlight

keep the soil evenly moist

Mexico

perennial cactus (AKA Owl Eyes and Owl's Eyes); requires well-drained soil -- prefers a good cactus soil mixture, has sharp spines, exhibits good resistance to freeze damage, grows well in pots, will grow indoors, suitable for xeriscaping, (looks good in cactus and rock gardens)

Pindo Palm (named after a city in Brazil to which this species occurs naturally)

Butia capitata (Butia is a Portuguese corruption of an aboriginal term meaning "spiny"; Latin capitata, meaning "headed," referring to the seed heads)

full sun to moderate shade (the fronds grow longer in shady situations, giving the palm a more graceful aspect than those grown in full sun)

drought-tolerant (regular watering will produce a faster growing, more attractive palm)

the grasslands, dry woodlands and savannahs of Brazil, Paraguay and Uruguay (South America)

monoecious palm tree (AKA Jelly Palm, Butia Palm and Wine Palm); adaptable but prefers well-drained sandy soil, slow-growing, cold-hardy, tolerant of salt spray, apply a palm fertilizer three times per year to encourage growth and maintain the best color, can grow to 20', grows well in pots, will grow indoors, (an essential ornamental palm for the exotic garden; use it as a lawn accent, in groupings, for urban plantings and to plant groundcover beneath -- some good ornamentals that repeat the needle-like look include Junipers, Liriope, Mondo Grass and African Iris)