These flowering plants have been cultivated a long time but are rare in Central Florida

To celebrate the New Year, I’ll mention a few flowering plants that have been cultivated for a century or more but will be new to most local gardeners.

First up is Indian shot canna (C. indica) from Tropical America, Mexico and the West Indies. Also called arrowroot because of its edible rhizomes, this 2- to 7-foot-tall perennial bears loose clusters of red, orange, yellow or bicolored flowers nearly year-round.

The name "Indian shot" comes from the hard seeds that have been used by hunters instead of buckshot. This canna, which revels in sun and rich soil, tolerates drought but grows and spreads rapidly in shallow ponds. Propagate by seed and division. Plants and seeds are available online.

Also relatively rare locally is calabura, aka strawberry tree and Jamaican cherry tree. The species (Muntingia calabura), from Tropical America and the West Indies, is a small to medium evergreen that grows up to 30 feet tall in sun. During much of the year, calabura trees bear multitudes of small white blossoms followed by half-inch, sweet and juicy red fruit that contains numerous tiny seeds.

Don’t toss those holiday gift plants: Many are great in the garden or indoors

Growth is rapid on bright, well-drained sites that, combined with brittle limbs, mean planting sites should be chosen with extra care. Pruning lengthy limbs is recommended. Propagate with seeds and air layers. Calabura is cold sensitive but regrows rapidly following freeze damage.

The name "potato tree" sounds anything but compelling. But this cold-hardy shrub has large, lobed leaves and starry blossoms that open purple before fading to white. A true sun lover, the species (Solanum wrightii) grows up to 20 feet tall and wide, displaying its flowers nearly year-round.

Native to Bolivia and Brazil, potato tree is a true relative of potato plants, as is evident from both its foliage and flowers. Plants perform best on organically enriched, mulched sites irrigated during dry spells in spring and autumn. Propagate by cuttings.

Want flowers? Tecoma trees and shrubs produce spectacular blooms nearly all year

Among my all-time favorite plants is mountain thistle (Acanthus montanus), a 3- to 5-foot-tall perennial with a spreading growth habit. An ideal plant for bright, filtered light, mountain thistle is grown more for its gorgeous foliage than its mauve-and-white, warm-season flowers. The spiny-edged, deeply lobed leaves – up to one foot long – feature green, dark-green and silvery-green shades in delightful collaboration.

Native to high-elevation woodlands in western Africa, mountain thistle has proved hardy in Central Florida. Its relatively short inflorescences are charming rather than eye-catching.

Relatively rare in cultivation, the only specimens available online are variegated versions with silver streaks and attractive pink blossoms. Indeed, Acanthus montanus Variegata is a handsome perennial. Provide organically enriched, mulched sites in light-to-moderate shade. Propagate by cuttings.

This article originally appeared on The Ledger: Beautiful flowering plants that are uncommon in Central Florida