Meant primarily for gardeners in USDA zones 8–10,The Tropical Lookencompasses most of the southern U.S. and the West Coast. This groundbreaking encyclopedia of lush plants will also be useful to gardeners in other zones who are interested in growing tropical-looking plants (as opposed to strictly tropical plants, which cannot endure a frost) as half-hardy, annual, or conservatory plants.
This book is only available through print on demand. All interior art is black and white.
Robert Lee Riffle (1940–2006) was an internationally recognized authority on palms and tropical plants. His landmark book,The Tropical Look: An Encyclopedia of Dramatic Landscape Plants(1998), won an American Horticultural Society Book Award, as didAn Encyclopedia of Cultivated Palms(2003), which he co-wrote with Paul Craft. For 25 years Bob was a strong presence online, answering questions and encouraging gardeners in their endeavors via postings on garden and plant message boards. He generously shared his extensive knowledge gently and with wit as the moderator of the International Palm Society's active PalmTalk message board. Bob was an accomplished pianist, a gifted photographer, and an enthusiastic film buff. He had finished writing the manuscript for theTimber Press Pocket Guide to Palmswhen he passed away unexpectedly.
MEGASKEPASMA (meh-gas'-ke-PAZ-ma)
Acanthaceae: The Acanthus Family
BRAZILIAN RED-CLOAK
Large herbaceous shrub; immense ovate leaves; gigantic terminal red flower spikes
Zones 10b and 11 as a permanent perennial; zone 9b as a returning perennialSun to partial shade
Average but regular amounts of moisture
Average well-drained soil
Propagation by cuttings
A monotypic genus that occurs naturally in southern Venezuela.
Megaskepasma erythrochlamys
(e-rit'-ro-KLAY-mis) (synonymAdhatoda cydoniifolia) is a magnificent shrubl'
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