I don't have a clue what the taller one with the magenta/burgundy leaves is.

The short one with the orange flowers is Ixora coccinea, a tropical blooming plant. It can only take minimal frost, so unless you're in Zone 10 or possibly Zone 9a, it is grown either as an annual, or taken indoors as a houseplant for the winter. It needs partial shade and rich, acidic soil to do its best. I tried them a couple of times and found they didn't do much here as a potted summer plant, just mostly sat and sulked, probably needs a consistent hot, humid climate with sticky warm nights, since it's native to the jungles of Sri Lanka and S. India.

That's perfect, I live in Miami which is in zone 10. I was thinking that the taller one was dogwood but I'm sure I'm way off. Thanks for the comment!

Well it does have opposite leaves and a dogwood does too.

Could the one shrub be Prunus Cistena?

Prunus has alternate leaves.

Well, definitely Ixora on the smaller one with flowers--sold everywhere in and around Miami. As for the taller one haven't a clue. reminds me of Red Tip Photinia a bit (I don't believe is is). Can we assume it's a tropical?

Hey guys! So I went back to the nursery and the guy told me that the flowery one was indeed an Ixora but that he didn't remember the name of the "reddish" one. I got the plant for 5 bucks, it added color to my small and humble balcony garden so I appreciated it. Maybe we can get more opinions, this is proving to be tricky. Thanks for you input guys, I really do appreciate it.

If you can take a close up picture of the leaf it might help.

Okay guys, I took a couple more pictures. I would also love to know if it is maybe pruned correctly, I bought it like this but I would love to know what I can do to it for its health.

Here they go.

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It looks a lot like a purple leaf sandcherry to me (I thought that was another name for a cistina plum, so I don't know though...)

Looks very pretty!

Michelle

Photinia?

Definitely not Photinia. I thought so at first from the initial pics but the close up of the leaves are very different. I would post your pic on the tropicals and/or Florida forums as well.

Maybe post on the Florida or Southern or Tropicalesque forums? Never seen it here in 9b California!

Just occurred to me, looks like it could be an Iresine. Not sure of species.

It's a tropical, more on the order of something like a Pentas.

njoasis - it sure looks like the Iresine that I remember from my days working in my Mom's florist shop in NJ, where it was sold as a houseplant. JMO can you Google Iresine or ask a local?

njoasis - it sure looks like the Iresine that I remember from my days working in my Mom's florist shop in NJ, where it was sold as a houseplant. JMO can you Google Iresine or ask a local?

It has the right opposite leaves.

Here is a link that might be useful: Iresine herbstii - Bloodleaf

I asked a couple people around and no one knew the name. I'm going to take that it is in fact an Iresine, it looks exactly like the pictures. I did some research and I read that I should "pinch the new growing tips to encourage bushiness". Can someone explain to me how this is done. I am new to gardening, I am a 20 year old aspiring veterinarian who loves biking and my dog. I want to definitely do what's best for all my plants.

Thanks guys, you have been of great help.

When you remove the tip of a growing plant (i.e., that is pinching), it responds often by sending out 2-3 new tips. That creates a bushier form.

Here is a link that might be useful: Pinching