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Dig This: 4 Tropicals To Try

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The Tampa Tribune

Published: August 14, 2008

Mini pineapple

Is it a fruit or a faux? This itty-bitty pineapple, a member of the bromeliad family, is actually edible, according to Nature's Pride, a Dutch company that imports and distributes exotic fruits. The mini pineapple plant likes filtered light and will grow to about 2 feet tall. Its tiny fruit gets about 4 inches tall, and has a sweet, tender core.

Desert rose

As the name suggests, Adenium obesum basks in the sunshine and doesn't like a lot of water. Let it dry between waterings; its bulbous base stores what little it gets in its native Africa. It generally blooms during warm months. Help it along by making sure it gets plenty of sun and some bloom fertilizer.

Duranta

Also called golden dewdrop because of the clusters of rust-colored berries it produces, Duranta erecta can grow as a shrub or be pruned to a small tree. It's a hardy evergreen that blooms nearly year-round. Plant in sun or light shade, in the ground or in a container. It attracts butterflies and is easy to grow, requiring little care.

White

shrimp plant

Most people are familiar with golden shrimp plant and salmon shrimp. But white? Shrimp plants like fertile, well-drained soil and full to partial sun. Despite their lack of bright color, the white shrimps are said to attract butterflies and hummingbirds. They grow 3 to 4 feet tall. This may be the perfect addition to a moon garden - one designed for night viewing.

Penny Carnathan

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