Plants in family acanthaceae
Ruellia 'Oh What A Feeling'
Ruellia 'Oh What A Feeling' is a hybrid plant with fuzzy green leaves and sparse blue flowers that bloom in the morning. It forms a clump about 2 feet wide and tall and is known for its unusual bracts. This sterile hybrid is ideal for sunny gardens and attracts butterflies.
Acanthus 'Morning Candle'
Acanthus 'Morning Candle' is a hybrid plant with deeply-scalloped green leaves and purple and white hooded flowers. It forms a 3-foot wide clump and is compact and deer-resistant. This plant performs well in high temperatures and is drought tolerant.
Ruellia humilis
Ruellia humilis is a perennial plant known for its classic purple petunia-like blooms and fuzzy leaves. It is drought-tolerant and attracts pollinators, making it a great choice for low-maintenance gardens. This plant thrives in dry or average well-draining soils and can grow in full sun or partial shade. Its low-growing nature makes it suitable for borders or as groundcover.
Hygrophila polysperma 'Variegatus'
Hygrophila polysperma 'Variegatus' is a robust aquarium plant known for its variegated leaves and broad foliage. It requires moderate to high light and nutrients to thrive, making it suitable for beginner aquarists. The plant can be grown emersed and is easily propagated by cutting and replanting. With a fast growth rate, it can quickly fill in aquarium spaces, providing a lush, green backdrop.
Acanthus mollis ssp. mollis
Acanthus mollis ssp. mollis is a hybrid plant suitable for light shade gardens, known for its deeply serrated, spiny black-green leaves. It produces dramatic flower stalks with purple and white blooms in late summer. This low-maintenance plant is drought-tolerant and can grow into late fall or winter in mild climates.
Acanthus hungaricus 'White Lips'
Acanthus hungaricus 'White Lips' is a striking perennial native to the Balkans, known for its dark green rosette of leaves and tall, spiny flower spikes. The flowers feature purple hoods with distinctive white lips, adding a unique touch to gardens. It thrives in dry, rocky environments but performs best in rich, well-drained soil. This plant is drought-tolerant and can attract insects, making it a valuable addition to a wildlife-friendly garden. Its ability to grow in part sun to light shade makes it versatile for various garden settings.
Hygrophila ringens var. ringens 'Araguaia'
Hygrophila ringens 'Araguaia' is an uncommon aquatic plant named after the Brazilian river Araguaia. It develops deep pink to reddish-brown coloration when submerged and can produce purple flowers when emersed. This plant grows in short bushes and is easy to care for, thriving in high light and CO2 conditions.
Dicliptera squarrosa
Dicliptera squarrosa is a plant native to Uruguay, known for its grey leaves and heat- and drought-tolerance. It produces orange tubular flowers that attract hummingbirds, making it a vibrant addition to gardens.
Acanthus mollis 'Tasmanian Angel'
Acanthus mollis 'Tasmanian Angel' is an evergreen perennial with bold-textured, dark green leaves that have an irregular border changing from creamy gold to white. It forms 3-foot wide clumps and produces 5-foot tall spikes of true pink flowers. This plant requires some sun and rich, moist soil, making it a striking choice for gardens.
Acanthus caroli-alexandri
Acanthus caroli-alexandri is a compact perennial with finely cut, glossy black-green foliage that is deer-resistant. It forms a small rosette about 18 inches tall and 2 feet wide, with flower spikes reaching 3 feet tall. The spikes bear hooded, spiny white-and-purple flowers in late spring. This plant is drought-tolerant but may go dormant during summer droughts.
Fittonia albivenis 'Red'
Fittonia albivenis 'Red' is a creeping, evergreen perennial with striking pink or red veins against dark green leaves, native to the tropical rainforests of South America. It thrives in high humidity and warm temperatures, making it ideal for terrariums and vivariums. This plant grows to a height of 3-6 inches and prefers partially shaded conditions.
Ruellia simplex
Ruellia simplex is a compact plant native to the southern US, known for its white saucer-shaped flowers and dark green, linear foliage. It blooms from July until frost and performs well in both moist and dry conditions. This plant is a great choice for summer bedding and attracts pollinators.
Strobilanthes oligantha
Strobilanthes oligantha is a Japanese woodland native that forms an upright arching clump up to 18 inches wide. It produces small, purple, cup-like flowers from midsummer until frost and thrives in moist to average garden soil. This plant naturalizes in its immediate area, making it a charming addition to shaded gardens.
Acanthus 'Summer Beauty'
Acanthus 'Summer Beauty' is a hybrid plant with giant, glossy dark green foliage and tall spikes of white flowers with purple calyces. It forms a 4-6 foot wide clump and is both deer-resistant and drought-tolerant. This bold plant thrives in part sun to bright shade, adding a lush, tropical look to gardens.
Hygrophila angustifolia 'Rubra'
Hygrophila angustifolia 'Rubra' is an aquatic plant with narrow leaves that exhibit a reddish-green hue, making it a striking addition to larger aquariums. It grows tall, reaching heights of 6 to 12 inches, and helps absorb excess nutrients in the water. This plant is easy to care for, propagates easily by cutting and replanting, and thrives in moderate to high light conditions.
Fittonia albivenis 'Skeleton'
Fittonia albivenis 'Skeleton' is a creeping, evergreen perennial with striking pink or red veins against dark green leaves. Native to South America's tropical rainforests, it thrives in high humidity and warm temperatures, making it ideal for terrarium setups.
Xantheranthemum igneum
Xantheranthemum igneum is a vibrant flowering plant native to tropical regions, known for its striking red-orange flowers that contrast with dark green foliage. This compact, low-growing plant attracts pollinators, making it a lively addition to any garden.