Download Winter Bloomers - The Deerfield Beach Arboretum

Winter Bloomers
Winter is not usually the time of year you think of flowering plants and trees but, if you
want some color in January and February, here are some plants found in the Deerfield
Beach Arboretum for you to consider:
Flowering Shrubs
-Clusia lanceolata is a shrub related to our native Pitch Apple that holds silver dollar
sized white and pink flowers that almost look like they were made from china.
-Yesterday, Today and Tomorrow, Brunfelsia grandiflora is a large shrub with flowers
that start off deep blue (yesterday) then turn light lavender (today) and finally white
(tomorrow).
-Tahitian Gardenia, Gardenia taitenensis, is a more tropical Gardenia with huge leaves
and white fragrant flowers.
-Mexican Sunflower, Tithonia rotundiflora, is an everblooming large shrub with yellow
flowers. It can grow rampantly so you need to cut it back yearly.
-Brazilian Cloak Bush or Red Cloak, Megaskepasma erythrochlamys, a large shrub with
red flower spikes rising a foot tall over the light green leaves. It needs some winter
protection.
Flowering Vines
-Queen’s Wreath, Petrea volubilis, a vine with a medium growth rate with stunning blue
(and some varieties, white) flowers. You need a strong support for this vine.
-Clock Vine or Sky Vine, Thunbergia grandiflora, a very fast, rampant vine with sky
blue flowers. Be careful where you plant this beautiful but aggressive vine.
Large Shrubs / Small Trees
-Dombeya X Seminole, a large shrub with light green heart shaped leaves that gives an
absolutely show stopping pink color display from November to April.
-Starburst, Clerodendron quadriloculare, a small tree or large shrub with leaves dark
green on top and purple/maroon below. A fantastic 6 week white and pink bloom
display, starting in early February. It has easily removed root suckers that pop up around
the tree.
-Desert Cassia, Senna polyphylla, a yellow flowering small tree with tiny, lacy foliage,
grows to about 12’. This little beauty blooms on and off all year long.
Flowering Trees
-Purple Trumpet, Handroanthus impetiginosus, ( formerly Tabebuia impetiginosa) Purple
trumpet shaped flowers that give a 4-6 week display. If you drive by the Court House on
Hillsboro just west of I-95, you will see some outstanding examples.
-Golden Penda, Xanthostemon chrysanthus, a relatively new comer from Australia.
Medium to large upright tree with dozens of golden silver dollar sized flowers held in
bunches at end of each branch. Fantastic display that is repeated several times a year.
-Hong Kong Orchid Tree, Bauhinia X Blakeana, a large fast growing, reliable winter
bloomer. Reddish purple flowers almost as big as your hand, with a display lasting
several months.