Large, lush and blessed with gorgeous candles of golden yellow flowers, this tropical, evergreen shrub is also a desert garden favorite. It is native to well-drained soils of Tropical America, but has proven perfect for the Old World tropics, dry, or warm temperate climates that are frost-free or have mild but frosty winters. Large, compound, green leaves offer a lush background to the brilliant tropical flowers.
This is a useful midsummer bloomer that holds its color well into the fall where the climate is warm enough. The tall spikes of yellow flowers are held at the branch tips, so they remain highly visible and attract butterflies. This species has proven somewhat invasive where the climate favors germination of its seeds.
Grow the Empress candle plant in full sun and almost any well-drained soil It does not require highly fertile soil, but becomes quite lush and fast-growing with ample water and fertilizer. It is on the cusp between a large shrub and a small tree; in regions with light winter freezes it is killed to the ground and rejuvenates like a perennial in late spring or seedlings sprout to become new plants. Use it for a fast-growing screen or hedge. Otherwise, how it serves a landscape may be strictly defined by how it is trimmed
For live plants, we can't send them to Alaska and Hawaii. If the order has already been placed, we will cancel it.
Happy Gardening!
