Get Outdoors During Hard Times

During these hard times it is best to get outdoors to nature. It helps you physically and mentally. With racial injustice, riots, chaos, destruction, and a global pandemic one would not be human to not be on the edge. While I can't feel completely better, I can be in one with God and the Earth by simply going for a hike or shopping for plants for my yard. Here are my pictures of recent nature hikes and nursery plants. Stay safe everyone!

Clusia (Autograph Tree)

Clusia rosea is a beautiful succulent shrub native to South Florida, the Caribbean, Northern South America, and parts of Mexico. Very popular landscaping shrub in South Florida and many areas in the Caribbean. I remember seeing them every where in the Tampa area as much as Boxwoods are used in the Northern states. The regular form has giant leaves and can reach 10'-15' tall and wide if not pruned. Though the dwarf form has tiny leaves and is more manageable as a small accent plant in a garden or houseplant. This plant is also a perfect alternative to the popular Jade succulent, especially when using the dwarf form (Clusia rosea 'Nana'). The dwarf form only grows a few feet tall and wide after many years. Clusia grows in full sun to part shade. Performs best in full sun and well draining soils. Though they do appreciate some moist soils, as they suffer in prolonged dry periods. In the wild they grow near/on the coasts where there are no trees to block sun, and sand easily drains. These plants are notorious for growing on other trees like an Orchid does. This plant is commonly called the autograph tree because you can scratch your name into the leaves and the engravement will stay forever on the leaf until it eventually dies. This plant is exotic in the Houseplant trade, and may be very difficult to obtain. If you do find one at a local graden shop, I highly recommend buying one before they sell out. I myself found the dwarf form and am growing it with my other succulents. The first picture in this post is of my own Clusia Nana I bought at my local nursery in Indianapolis. Clusia rosea are hardy in USDA Zones 10 and warmer. They are reported somewhat hardy in the warmer regions of zone 9, but should be planted in a protected site from frost. The Tampa area is solid zone 10a, and they are very common there. In that region temps can dip into the 30s, but rarely if ever below 30°F at the coldest point. I would also imagine, established specimens would simply sprout new growth if winter damage was severe. I have seen many mature specimens in the Tampa/Fort Myers area (USDA Zone 10a) that are very healthy as of March, 2020 while on a Florida vacation right before the Coronavirus got really bad. Whether you are in a region where it can be grown as a perennial, or want to grow it indoors, this succulent is a must for you avid plant growers out there!

 

My Dwarf Clusia

 

Grown as a small tree

 

Grown as a hedge 

Native Range and Native Range in Florida