(The Favorite Plants of Stokes Tropicals)

By Glen Stokes 

This is a first person (insider’s ) account of the favorite plants of Stokes Tropicals as judged by customer buying. *My description and accounts of them (favorite plants) is admittedly colored by my admiration and affection for them. As an intro to these proven “bought-and-paid-for” stars of the tropical plant world, I must say that all tropical plants bring so much to the gardener’s table: exciting all 5 of our senses, in-your-face boldness, outrageous color, outlandish size and dimension, and an unrelenting urge to survive in tough conditions.

Musa basjoo (Japanese Fiber Banana) is our #1 selling banana and for good reason: it is the worlds’ cold hardiest banana. It has been successfully grown in Canada, the northern U.S. and western Europe. Unmulched, the banana rhizome will survive temperatures down to -3°F; with heavy mulch, rhizomes will survive down to -24°F. Of course a hard freeze below 30°F will kill the soft tissue leaves and pseudostems (trunks). The abundant water inside the leaves and trunk freezes and becomes ice crystals thus bursting the cell walls of the plants and the green parts of the banana die, but the rhizomes where all the food resources (and energy for future plant growth) is stored, survive.

Due to the extreme cold hardiness, basjoo is becoming the iconic banana throughout the temperate and subtropical world. And it deserves this fame. It is very stately in form, it grows fast, up to 15 feet in one growing season, and when it produces fruit, the flower is a very attractive yellow, green oblong ball that produces small, elegant, green bananas. The fruit is seeded and inedible. To produce fruit the basjoo needs to be kept above freezing for at least 12-15 months. And don’t forget all banana varieties quit growing below 55°F.

Ananas comosus (Edible Pineapple) is our #1 selling bromeliad. It is considered to be the miracle fruit of the Americas since the 15th century. The pineapple has served as both a food and a symbol throughout human history in the Americas. Originally it evolved in Brazil and Paraguay and was spread by man to Central America and the Caribbean. Christopher Columbus was the first European to encounter the pineapple in November, 1493 on his second voyage. Taken back to Europe, it became the “treat of Kings”. As a symbol of affluence, the prickly fruits were transported by sailing ships from the Caribbean, and then colonial confectioners rented the fruits out to affluent householders by the day, and sold the same fruit later to more affluent clients to actually eat.

The Pineapple became a hospitality symbol in 16th century America and Europe and has remained so throughout the world until this day. This communal symbol of friendship and hospitality became a motif of architects, artisans, and craftsmen throughout the European colonies of the world. And today pineapple-themed products still abound. It is also known as the “Princess of Fruits”.

The average plant height is 25” and can be enjoyed as an indoor plant, patio plant or even an outdoor plant (in frost-free areas). Pineapples provide a tropical accent along with a delicious tropical taste. And it always tastes better if you grow it yourself. It thrives in full sun to 30% shade. It can be used outside year round in zones 10 and higher.

Phyllostachys nigra (Black Bamboo) originated in China and is admired everywhere for its striking black, glossy-colored culms (or stems). Culms emerge from the ground dark green in color and then turn a shiny jet black after 6 to 24 months. It is extremely popular because of its graceful growing habit and the sharp accent of its culm color and delicate evergreen leaves and is highly esteemed for Asian-style gardens. Under ideal conditions, it can grow to 20-30’ tall. But, depending on the growing conditions (soils, light, temperatures, water, growing area, etc.) mature plants could finish out at 8-10’. It is a runner that produces underground rhizomes; however it can be easily contained by growing in containers, planters or enclosed areas. It can tolerate cold temperatures down to 0°F and even lower with mulch. It thrives in part sun and can be successfully grown inside as well as outside. It looks great in atriums and enclosed courtyards that have high light.

Curcuma alismatifolia (Siam Tulip) is a truly magnificent ginger. This native ginger of northern Thailand was literally discovered about 15 years ago. Dutch, American and Japanese plants men saw the cut flowers of this ginger being sold in the native markets of Chaing Mai and Chaing Rai and immediately recognized the potential of this native ginger as an ornamental plant and as a cut flower. The Thai peasants, who cut the flowers during the rainy season (May to September) in the surrounding country savannah areas, and brought them to market to sell, were encouraged to cultivate the ginger on small plots of land and to dig and sell the dormant rhizomes in November and December (dry season). The Dutch and American growers proceeded to buy and grow millions and millions of rhizomes for ornamental plant and for cut flower production, which continues through today. The plant superficially resembles a tulip in leaf and flower, producing a beautiful dark, rose-pink inflorescence on a long stout stem that is held well above its tough tulip-looking leaves. It grows in high light to full sun up to 2-3’ tall and blooms all summer. It grows equally well in containers or in beds in well-drained soils. It returns when planted outside in Zones 9 and higher.

Plants go dormant from November to May. Rhizomes can be dug up and stored in November. For years we have supplied Americas’ premier botanical garden, Longwood Gardens, with Siam Tulip rhizomes, which every summer elicits more inquiries and comments than any other plant at the Gardens. It looks just like a pink tulip growing in the dead of summer, which just can’t be? Now the Siam Tulip comes in a variety of colors from pure white to ruby red.

Caladium sp. (Thai Beauty) is a caladium from Thailand that looks too good to be real. About 10 years ago, I was told by a Thai tropical plant nursery about a wonderful new caladium they had found. I ordered some bulbs and was pleasantly surprised and extremely pleased at the resulting plants.

There are hundreds of caladium varieties; however I haven’t seen any that I like better than the ‘Thai Beauty’, which I named. It has always reminded me of a thin, delicate sheet of living, stained glass that was put together by the great artist of nature. The pieces of “living glass” are mostly translucent pink with some white, while the solder frames are jade green and white. The leaf is wavy and heart shaped with a point. Like finger prints, no two leaves are alike—everyone is unique.

The ‘Thai Beauty’ is perfect for containers, planters, or beds. It works indoors or outdoors and grows best in bright indirect sunlight. Bulbs may be left in the ground (in well-drained soil) throughout the year in Zones 10 and 11. In Zone 9, digging is recommended, as bulbs may be damaged by cold and wet winters. In other areas of the country, bulbs must be dug up each year before frost. The ‘Thai Beauty’ can be used as a bedding plant for foliage, in planter boxes, edging, or pot plants. To be sure, the ‘Thai Beauty’ is a joy to behold.

Equisetum hyemale (Horsetail Fern or ‘Scouring Rush’) is a living fossil. It was abundant at the time of the dinosaurs. And it could have very well been dined on by the dinosaurs, particularly the herbivores that grazed along water margins. Horsetails belong to a class of their own and have no direct affinity with any other group of plants with their nearest ally being the ferns. Horsetails are exotic looking, easy to grow, attention getting, work great in containers, planters, beds, and compliment any water feature. They have a very distinctive jointed, almost “bamboo look”. They prefer afternoon sun but can grow in full sun.

Horsetails can grow in any kind of soil—even water. They don’t have leaves—only tiny scales at each node. Stems are tipped with tiny brown cones when mature and horsetails keep their green color all year. The ‘Scouring Rush’ name came from their use by the early American pioneers who reportedly used them to scour their pots and pans due to the abundance of silica in their stems. This is one tremendous plant—a survivor from the Age of the Dinosaurs. Everyone should have some horsetails just to marvel at and talk about. It’s very cold hardy down to -30°F. They grow to 2-3 feet high and multiply rapidly. GG

Glenn Stokes is a third generation nurseryman and his grandfather, Sam Stokes, started the first nursery in Louisiana in 1898. Glenn, is a graduate biologist and entomologist with degrees from the University of Louisiana at Lafayette, University of Nebraska, Harvard University, and advanced studies at University of Florida and L.S.U. He became a renowned medical entomologist, consulting on malaria control and mosquito control around the world—including 6 continents. In the process of these travels, which were mostly in subtropical and tropical areas, he became fascinated with tropical plants.

In 1995, he started Stokes Tropicals with a simple idea to mainstream to the gardeners of the world rare tropical plants at reasonable prices. Stokes Tropicals is now world renowned, having won awards for its print catalogs, website, and book on bananas. And Glenn Stokes remains as enthusiastic as ever about tropicals and as he says “anything else that is close to tropicals”.

Stokes Tropicals can be contacted by telephone 1-337-365-6998, fax 1-337-365-6991, internet www.stokestropicals.com , or by mail, P.O. Box 9868, New Iberia LA 70562

* Glenn Stokes’ favorite plants are not the same as the buyers choice favorites and will be the subject for a future article.