Purples

Coleus
Thanks to: Southeast Africa/Malaysia
- good for shade gardens / hanging baskets
- if planting in beds, go for mass plantings
- this annual becomes perennial the further into the tropics you go.
- caterpillars like to eat

Passion Vine
Thanks to: Eastern U.S.
- grows 20-30 ft. in season or 2
- attracts butterflies and birds
- can grow fruit
- high drought tolerance

Sky Flower Vine/
Blue Trumpet
Thanks to: North India
- can grow 50 ft. a year!
- invasive? In Australia it's considered a weed.

Cordyline
Thanks to: Hawaii
This example:Ti plant (Fuscia ones are called "red sisters")
- needs deep soil for long roots
- if you're not in a tropical clime, confine to containers
- high salt tolerance

Purple Waffle
- low light causes leaf color to fade
- hanging containers or ground cover
Pinks

Hidden Lily
Thanks to: Malaysia/Thailand
this example:pink or Siam tulip
- good for containers, but grow bigger in the ground

Caladium
Thanks to: South America
- shady / no direct sun
- goes dormant in winter

Hibiscus
Thanks to: Southeast Asia
- a shrub
- likes it hot and humid
- tolerant of salt air

Golden Rain Tree
Thanks to: Southwest China
Blacks

Amazonica
- is an elephant ear
- also called African Mask
- goes dormant in winter

Tacca
Thanks to: Malaysia, India, Thailand
- a.k.a. bat plant
Oranges

Heliconia
Thanks to: Brazil
- true tropical plants: need constant humidity
- not drought tolerant

Canna
Thanks to: tropics
this example:tropicanna
- plenty of moisture, full/almost full sun, protection from wind
- green striped version is called "bengal tiger"
- can grow to 5 ft. high
- caterpillar attractor

Bird of
Paradise
Thanks to: South Africa
- does well in containers
- high drought tolerance
- may reach 6 feet in height

Croton
Thanks to: Pacific Islands
- more sun = more color
- not drought tolerant (despite being used all over Florida)
Greens

Bromeliad
- can be a ground cover
- as water holders, they can be home to small creatures
- pineapple is a bromeliad, as is spanish moss!
- drought tolerant

Coontie
Thanks to: Florida native
this example:cardboard palm
- cycads, not palms
- as old as the dinosaurs!
- roots used as flour by the native indians
- slow growing; high drought and salt tolerance

Sago
Thanks to: Japan
- cycads, not palms
- as old as the dinosaurs!
- slow growing; high drought and salt tolerance

Philodendron
Thanks to: Brazil
- not just an indoor plant
- can grow to 10 x 10 feet!

Snakeplant
- a.k.a. mother-in-law tongue
- all sansevierias are succulents
- blotchy with yellow outline are known as "magic swords"
- very drought tolerant

Sea Grape
Thanks to: Florida, Caribbean, South America
- dune plants nearest the ocean shield other plants from wind and spray
- berries are edible