Mexican plants prominent in our gardens

Many of Florida’s landscape plants are native to Mexico, the southernmost country in North America and one that encompasses 760,000 square miles of deserts, jungles, mountains and seacoasts. Except for turf grasses, every category of our gardens’ ornamentals can be supplied by species originating south of the border.

Take woody and semi-woody shrubs, for example. Among Mexican natives are poinsettia, Mexican sage, dwarf poinciana, thryallis, Tithonia species, orange cestrum, Panama rose, golden dewdrop and night-blooming jessamine. Without the color and fragrance provided by these plants, Florida would be a less pleasant place to live.

Our neighbor to the south is also the source of a vast number of our herbaceous ornamentals, including ground covers such as tri-color oyster plant and purple queen. Other stunning non-woody plants from Mexico include Anthurium hybrids, firecracker plant, red shrimp plant, false heather and the aptly named cigar flower, with its glowing red tips.

In addition to these species from Mexico’s woodlands, its deserts deliver a large number of succulents that succeed here. Among them are Yucca species, several cactuses, ponytail tree and Agaves such as century plant and dwarf century plant.

Switching to Mexican vines that grow up innumerable trellises and trees in Central Florida demands mention of the pastel-hued coral vine, the massive golden chalice and that indefatigable flowering plant — Mexican flame vine. There’s also arrowhead vine (Syngonium podophyllum), a popular houseplant that morphs into a high-climbing giant when installed in the landscape. Although considered weedy by some folks, it’s undeniably ornamental.

Speaking of weeds, I would be remiss not to note that two of our common weeds have Mexican origins. They are the pestiferous, yellow-flowered cat’s claw vine and the much-less-loathsome prickly poppy, with lovely, waxy-yellow blossoms.

What about trees? Many fruiting trees — mostly tropical species — are Mexican natives, and because our winters have become milder, these trees can be cultivated here. Some of the possibilities are mamey apple, eggfruit (canistel), mamey sapote, black sapote and avocado. Plus — as a novelty — you can try the cacao tree, the source of chocolate.

For a strictly ornamental tree, there’s the Jerusalem thorn, an airy little species with orange and yellow flowers. And when it comes to palms, Mexico boasts many, but a particularly outstanding species is hardy bamboo palm (Chamaedorea microspadix), a small, clumping, orange-fruited plant that should be widely cultivated.

Charles Reynolds, a Winter Haven resident, has an associate’s degree in horticulture and is a member of Garden Writers Association of America.