Kumquat

Blueberry

We carry a wide variety of fruit trees and shrubs that will keep you more in touch with your garden. It may seem that fruit trees take more care and attention than more common landscape plants, but the end result is having something fresh and delicious to enjoy. Growing fruit and citrus can quickly turn into a rewarding hobby and will having you wanting more. We often carry varieties that can be grown in a container, making it easy to grow fruit right on your patio! Whether it is a common fruit like lemon or lime, or a more exotic fruit like star-fruit or a lychee, we have what you are looking for.

Certain fruit trees and shrubs require more specific and regular maintenance. For example, citrus trees in general do better if they are in well-draining soil and in the full sun. They like to get a deep though soak when watered and then allowed to dry in between. Staying too wet or over-watering can lead to problems and a steady decline in health. However, not all fruit trees should be treated the same. Bananas for example like a little bit more water, but do not want to sit wet, and are not well suited to growing in containers. Most if not all fruit trees prefer slightly different conditions, so asking questions and doing research is best when planning a landscape.

All fruit and citrus trees benefit from regular monitoring for pests and diseases along with quarterly fertilization with an organic or extended-release granular fertilizer.

Mangos

Below is a short list of popular plants in this field:

*Selection may vary by location / time of year – list does not directly reflect current inventory*

• Citrus
  • Lemon (Meyer/Eureka/Bearss), Lime (Persian/Key), Orange (Blood/Red Navel/Mandarin/Valencia), Tangerine, Tangelo, Grapefruit, Kumquat, Cocktail Tree, Finger Lime.

• Tropical Fruits
  • Banana, Cherry, Papaya, Avocado, Mango, Carambola, Lychee, Mulberry, Grape, Passion Fruit, Miracle Fruit, Dragon Fruit, Loquat, Jackfruit, Sapote, Apple, Pineapple, Black Peppercorn, Pomegranate, Coffee, Raspberry, Guava, Soursop, Persimmon.

• Spices/Useful Foliage
  • Bay Leaf, Bay Rum, Sugar Cane, Allspice, Moringa.

Have other questions? Give us a call, or stop in at either of our locations and talk with one of our trained experts to give you the upper hand!

Banana

Hong Kong Orchid Tree

We carry a vast number of different trees at Driftwood. Trees in the landscape add scale and depth that many regular shrubs simply can’t do. There are a wide variety of trees available to us in southwest Florida but not all are the same. In fact, many “trees” are actually shrubs that are trained to develop a stalk when they are young, and encouraged through trimming and shaping to appear as if they are actually trees. This does not take away from some of the stunning topiaries and standardized (trained upwards as trees) shrubs that growers and gardeners are able to create.

Sesbania

Many trees are stunning for most of the year, but some don’t always look their best. Although we don’t normally get a very extreme winter, the plants in southwest Florida will still respond to the change in daylight and temperature. Crepe myrtles, for example, are deciduous and can drop their foliage in the winter, so don’t be upset when they start to decline as the days start to get shorter. Alternatively, Hong Kong orchid trees are one of the most beautiful winter bloomers with wide butterfly-shaped leaves and large fragrant purple blooms that last all season. Unfortunately, they do not always look as vibrant in the summer.

Having the right plant in the right place is the key when planning a landscape. Some trees are great for creating a shady area underneath the canopy, like a black olive or shady lady, whereas others are more of a specimen and can act as a large centerpiece, like a silver Bismark palm. There a number of different circumstances where certain trees will be better off and more beneficial to the design based on the situation, so it’s a good idea to ask questions when planning.

Watering plants thoroughly and then allowing time to dry out before the next watering is essential to many plants in southwest Florida, so it is best to use a well-draining soil when planting. Using the appropriate fertilizer is important for plants to thrive, so it is good practice to do it on a regular schedule to ensure good plant health. We recommend fertilizing quarterly with organic or granular extended-release fertilizer for best results.

Tecoma Stans

Below is a short list of popular plants in this field:

*Selection may vary by location / time of year – list does not directly reflect current inventory*

• Flowering
  • Standards (trained to be trees)
    • Ixora, Tibouchina, Hibiscus, Shrimp Plant, Rose, Duranta, Jatropha, Yesterday-Today-Tomorrow, Gardenia, Bougainvillea, Clerodendrum, Powderpuff, Dombeya, Oleander, Lantana, Tecoma Stans.
  • Weeping Hibiscus, Crepe Myrtle, Royal Poinciana, Dwarf Poinciana, Jacaranda, Hong Kong Orchid Tree, Royal Robe, Weeping Bottlebrush, Magnolia, Chinese Perfume Tree, Cassia, Verawood, Holly, Geiger Tree, Tabebuia, Sesbania.

Foxtail Palm

• Foliage
  • Standards (trained to be trees)
    • Croton, Clusia, Ficus, Podocarpus, Eugenia, Buttonwood / Silver Buttonwood.
  • Ylang Ylang Tree, Eucalyptus, Bamboo, Japanese Fern Tree, Japanese Blueberry, Slash Pine, Italian Cypress, Bald Cypress, Red Maple, Mahoe.

• Palms / Cycads
  • Pygmy Date Palm, Areca Palm, Chinese Fan Palm, European Fan Palm, Christmas Palm, King Sago Palm, Foxtail Palm, Traveler Palm, Ponytail Palm, Coconut Palm, Alexander Palm, Silver Bismark Palm, Thatch Palm, Windmill Palm, Fishtail Palm, Spindle Palm, Bottle Palm, Buccaneer Palm, Giant Dioon Cycad.

Have other questions? Give us a call, or stop in at either of our locations and talk with one of our trained experts to give you the upper hand!

Rose

Shrubs are plentiful here at Driftwood, with a large selection of different bushes that flower along with many others that boast decorative foliage. Most of the flowering shrubs prefer full sun to look their best, but many can be acclimated to different conditions. A little research and planning will ensure whatever shrub you choose will thrive.

Crotons

Crotons for example are known for their hardiness when it comes to watering (they prefer being on the dry-side) but also known for their ability to grow in a vast number of situations. Many can be seen out in full sun, but it is not uncommon to see them growing nicely in a mostly shady environment.

The majority of our shrubs can make excellent hedges for the landscape. Many can also be kept trimmed and separate, depending on the spacing and ability to trim-back the plant regularly. Some plants, like aboricola and eugenia, are much more commonly kept as a hedge due to their naturally dense look. On the other hand, asian snow is more difficult to keep as a true hedge since it typically stays smaller and more compact. That is why asking questions and doing research are key to planning a great landscape.

Watering plants thoroughly and then allowing time to dry out before the next watering is essential to many plants in southwest Florida, so it is best to use a well-draining soil when planting. Using the appropriate fertilizer is important for plants to thrive, so it is good practice to do it on a regular schedule to ensure good plant health. We recommend fertilizing quarterly with organic or granular extended-release fertilizer for best results.

Sweet Almond Bush with a friend

Below is a short list of popular plants in this field:

*Selection may vary by location / time of year – list does not directly reflect current inventory*

• Flowering
  • Asian Snow, Ixora, Plumbago, Tibouchina, Hibiscus, Mussaenda, Shrimp Plant, Firecracker, Rose, Duranta, Firebush, Thyrallis, Jasmine, Jatropha, Yesterday-Today-Tomorrow, Alamanda, Sweet Almond, Texas Sage, Gardenia, Bougainvillea, Heliconia, Clerodendrum, Powderpuff, Bottlebrush, Dombeya, Bird of Paradise, Oleander, Panama Rose, Shooting Star, Indian Hawthorne, Viburnum, Angel Trumpet, Devil Trumpet, Holly, Beautyberry, Plumeria/Frangipani.

• Foliage
  • Croton, Arboricola, Clusia, Cocoplum, Ficus, Copperleaf, Podocarpus, Coontie Palm, Cardboard Palm, Snowbush, Juniper, Carissa, Philodendron, Alocasia, Ligustrum, Cordyline-Ti, Dracaena, Pittosporum, Eugenia, Buttonwood / Silver Buttonwood, Seagrape, Agave.

Bottlebrush

Have other questions? Give us a call, or stop in at either of our locations and talk with one of our trained experts to give you the upper hand!