QUASSIA & HOLMSKIOLDIA

This is quite a sad site over at Bay East with the parched turf. However, this weather is extremely desirable to some plants that relish the scorching heat before it would flower profusely. 

Two of these plants are Quassia amara (Common Name: Amargo, Bitter-Ash, Bitter-Wood; Family: Simaroubaceae) and Holmskioidia sanguinea. Frankly, I have seen the  flower frequently but I have never seen it produced so many flowers at one go. I also observed that the same orange coloured flowers of the Holmskioldia took on a darker orange to vermillion and were more compact along the Skyline Promenade where the soil is considerably drier. What an interesting discovery, I must say!

Flowers of Quassia

The Chinese Hat Plant

HOLMSKIOLDIA SANGUINEA

I deliberately planted this Holmskioldia sanguinea (common name: Chinese Hat Plant, Cup and Saucer Plant, Parasol Flower) from the Verbenaceae Family along this drain with the intention that someday they would grow big and bushy enough to allow their overlapping branches to provide a beautiful bed of orange flowers.

In the past, the contractor used to prune off the arching branches but finally they got the message and left the branches alone.

I would definitely post more photos when they grow even more established. A link is provided below for reference:

http://floridagardener.com/pom/holmskioldias.htm