The Virtues of Sanchezia speciosa in the Garden

This morning I was admiring the Sanchezia in the garden around our aviary. They are big and lush and give us so much color. I though it was a good time to revisit an earlier post about this versatile plant.

One of the situations many landscapers find themselves dealing with is areas where the light changes drastically at different times of year. In Florida in particular, many homes have exceptionally long entries when one side may be shady and the other is in the blazing sun. (Some of our builders seem to LOVE these long, narrow areas, but why?) Finding plants that will work on both sides is a challenge. Sanchezia speciosa is one of the solutions we offer. This beautiful plant native to Ecuador through Peru has beautiful, elliptical variegated foliage of green and yellow, with strong yellow to white veins. It can grow as tall as 6-8’ but is easily maintained shorter. Their blooms are terminal, and are typically red, but can also be yellow though white. This is a lovely plant in mass, as its aspect is much softer and less rigid than that of the Crotons which are much more commonly used. They can be a bit cold sensitive north of USDA Zone 9, but if they are established, they typically grow back from the roots after a frost. Use them in full sun to partial shade, in mass, along foundations, in large mixed containers or island beds. I have read that they will do well as an interior plant, but I have never seen one indoors. They are rarely bothered by pests, though if you use them in shade watch for snails. Ready now in 3-gallon pots. www.gardenind.com #plants #garden #foliage #tropical #botanical #plant #leaves #variegatedplants #plantsmakepeoplehappy #florida #gardendesigns