Herself’s Houston Garden

Cabbage Palm is rated for zones 9b to 11 so should do well here in Houston. It prefers light to full shade, slightly dry soil ( for a fern ) and should reach 3′ in height and 1′ across. Water is not a problem can adapt to moist or wet soil.

It is usually grown in baskets and is a fast growing fern. It is grown for its unusual shaped fronds. It can also be found growing in the nooks of live oaks.

Like rabbit’s foot fern it has creepers which are thick, these are covered in brown scales. I’ll add in a photo once they can be seen on this fern.

Not cold tolerant, died back to the ground and as of early April has not yet re-appeared.

Scale can be a problem.

Propagation: Spreads by rhizomes.

Native to Florida, Caribbean, Mexico, Central and South America

Wavey cloak is a smaller fern reaching about 12″ in height and about 12″ across. It is hardy 7a-10b so should do just fine here in Houston.

Unusual for a fern it can take full sun to light shade.

More information to follow as I find it or figure it out.

The stamens of the flower are a dark purplish blue, the red petals are really striking. In time this plant should be covered with blooms. It’s only been in the ground a few weeks as I write this. Once settled it should bloom almost all year.

This shrub should reach about 6′ tall and 2′ across. It is only rated to zone 10a so I’m not sure it’ll winter over here on the north side of Houston.

Brazilian candles loves high humidity and filtered light.

It wilts in the summer sun and when dry, not drought tolerant.

Can’t handle temperatures below about 40′F.

Heavy feeder, fertilize often.