On the first day the Twin Cities hit single-digit temperatures, the buying committee met to discuss tropical plants for the sale. Perhaps in an attempt to compensate, we may have gone a bit overboard in our selections…but you be the judge.

After all, we did sell all of the large tropical plant varieties we offered last year (especially the Jasmine). Here’s the list (and a few photos) of what you can expect to see in 2008.

Alocasia 'Hilo Beauty', Alocasia 'Purpley', Colocasia 'Black Ruffles', Banana 'Basjoo', Iron Butterfly, and Golden Trumpet Vine

White gardenia bloomUnfortunately, we couldn’t get the Jasmine again this year. But we’re hoping the sweet-smelling Gardenias we’ve ordered will strike your fancy instead. Also on order:

  • Elephant Ears (Alocasia) varieties Calidora, Purpley and Hilo Beauty
  • Taro (Colocasia) Black Ruffles
  • Hawaiian Ti (Cordyline) Red Sister
  • Banana (Musa) Mannii, Basjoo (said to be hardy to -20F when mulched), and red
  • Turtle Vine (Callisia repens)
  • Iron Butterfly (Christia subcordata ‘Iron Butterfly’)
  • Kava Kava (Piper methysticum)
  • Topiary Fig (Ficus eugenia myrtifolia)
  • Golden Trumpet Vine (Alamanda cathartica ‘Brown Bud’)
  • Tropical Hibiscus (Hibiscus)
  • Red Mandevilla (Mandevilla)