Top pic is an adenium, aka desert rose.

Thanks Mark! I am so bad at names :)
Rhonda

The first pic is an adenium and my guess is that the second pic is some type of Cassia, maybe a red Cassia. It's a beautiful plant.

Regina

Thanks Regine! I think you're right based on the leaves. I shall have to research to see what type of cassia.

Thanks again Mark and Regine...I knew I could count on GW members :)

There are 2 pink cultivars of Caesalpinia pulcherrima, 'Compton' and 'Rosea'. They are almost identical and probably the same.

Eric - I believe I've got both pinks, side by side, in my garden. Neither one is in bloom right now, so no pictures, but when they do pop, I'll post some here. One is like the photo above - pink with white - the other is pink with yellow. Both came from seed I brought back from Jamaica. There's no question in my mind that they are two different varieties.

Eric, RC and Fawn,

Thanks for the additional info. I wish I could grow one of the poincianas here, but I think 9a would be very iffy.

Rhonda

Despite the look they are actually really hardy. I gave some seeds to my mom in Texas. In her zone 8 garden, they die back to the roots protected by mulch but since they grow so fast they are up and blooming by midsummer.

If you still have access to the plant see if you can get a mature seed pod. They turn dark brown and hang onto the stem for awhile. I've found its best to scratch the hard seed coat and soak for 24 hours before sowing.

All,

My son sent me these pics since he knows I love gardening. I assumed (silly me) and didn't ask otherwise, that they were taken in Daytona where he lives and works in landscaping (trimming, planting, clearing, etc..) and is always sending me photos of plants on his jobs.

When I asked him if he could ask the owner if he could collect a few seed pods after reading RC's response above, my son said that his girlfriend had taken them at Busch Gardens. So, no chance of getting seed pods LOL

Oh well, if I ever see a tree in person, I am not too shy to walk up to a total stranger to ask for seeds. I'll just have to keep on the watch out.

Rhonda

I regularly go to Busch, at least this year. Reading the many placards they have for their plants, I have noticed that most plants they have showcased there are supposed to be fairly hardy (both in terms of temps and water use) in Florida. Some might push boundaries, but should survive with minimal care. I have yet to see the Poinciana in bloom, but I will look for it next week. If I see seed pods on it, I will snag some and see if I can get some sent to you. After my first trip there and my wife acquiring some seeds for Senna alata, I started up a email conversation with one of the Busch Gardens horticulturalists and he assured me that collecting seeds was fine.

(Edit: Mind you, any seed collecting at Busch or any public space should be done discreetly and considerately. If every gardener who went to Busch filled their pockets with seeds, the plants could look rather ragged and could lead to the places not being quite so generous.)

Michael,
That would be awesome, thanks for the offer. It's nice that Busch Gardens allows seed collecting. I agree with you that we shouldn't be greedy and should be considerate. Please email me if you find them and I'll give you my mailing address and reimburse you for the postage. I'll send you an email shortly.

Thanks!
Rhonda

Rivr, on the off chance you get this before I leave, do you know where the picture of the Dwarf Poinciana was taken? I have yet to see them. Perhaps they are done blooming, which would make it hard to find them. Lots of trees here have similar leaves.

Edit: I finally saw some, but they were 60ft up. I don't think I could have "discretely" reached them.

Michael,

Thanks so much for trying! I would hate to have you fall out of that tree or get arrested lol

Hope you enjoyed your trip.

Rhonda

Found another shorter one and managed to get some pods.

That's awesome! Would you be willing to share one with me? I'd be more than happy to pay you or share some seeds or plants if I have anything you'd like.

Off topic, but have you ever grown clustered mountain mint? UF's butterfly plant sale has it listed this week and thought I would give it a try.

Thanks!

Rhonda

I will contact you tomorrow. I have never heard of the mint, but if UF has it for sale, you can be fairly sure it will grow here. And they should be able to give you the particulars.