Plants
Santolina chamaecyparissus
Santolina chamaecyparissus, also known as cotton lavender, is an evergreen shrub with aromatic, silver-grey foliage and small yellow flowers that bloom in summer. Native to the Mediterranean, it grows up to 20 inches tall and wide, thriving in dry, poor soils with good drainage. This plant is often used for its fragrant leaves and as a tonic or fumigant.
Aristolochia debilis
Aristolochia debilis, commonly known as Dutchman's pipe, is a deciduous vine native to southern China and Japan. It features heart-shaped leaves and purple, trumpet-like flowers. This plant is used in traditional medicine and can grow up to 15 feet long.
Rudbeckia hirta 'Cherry Brandy'
Rudbeckia hirta 'Cherry Brandy' is a striking plant with maroon-red velvet petals and a dark chocolate center. It blooms from summer to fall, supporting pollinators and beneficial insects. This plant is hardy in USDA zones 5 to 8 and forms dense mounds of coarse green foliage. It is self-seeding, drought-tolerant once established, and requires well-drained soil, making it a resilient choice for gardens.
Hoya krohniana 'Super Silver'
Hoya krohniana 'Super Silver' is a plant with ovate leaves featuring prominent silver coloration. It thrives in bright, indirect light and has a trailing or twining growth habit.
Strobilanthes alternata
Strobilanthes alternata, also known as the purple waffle plant, is a non-aquatic species thriving in high humidity environments. Its leaves are green on top with a bright purple underside, featuring a ruffled and wrinkly texture. Originating from Southeast Asia, this plant grows 6-12 inches tall and prefers moderate to high light conditions. It is suitable for terrariums, vivariums, or as a bog plant, adding a splash of color with its unique foliage.
Begonia 'Reiger'
Begonia 'Reiger' is known for its glossy foliage and flowers that can be single or double-petaled. This plant is suitable for indoor environments, adding a touch of tropical elegance.
Selaginella pallescens
Selaginella pallescens is a highly variable species native to the high mountains of Sierra Madre Occidental, Mexico. It spreads to form a green, ferny carpet and is used as a house plant for indoor terrariums. This plant is deciduous below 15 degrees Fahrenheit and thrives in dry woodlands.
Begonia 'Steve's Leaves Extra Grande'
Begonia 'Steve's Leaves Extra Grande' is a cane-type hybrid with large, thick olive green leaves adorned with silver spots. It produces rosy pink flowers with a white center and can grow up to 6 feet tall, thriving in bright, indirect light.
Eucomis comosa
Eucomis comosa, a bulbous perennial from South Africa, features striking flower spikes that resemble small pineapples, topped with green bracts. Its leaves form a rosette and can grow up to 18 inches long, adding a tropical touch to gardens. The plant emits a pleasant coconut-like scent and is hardy in mild climates with some winter protection.
Chelone obliqua var. speciosa
Chelone obliqua var. speciosa, known as turtlehead, is a native plant with 3-foot tall stems and dark glossy green leaves. It produces mauvy-lavender flowers in September, attracting hummingbirds. This plant prefers rich, moist, slightly shaded spots but can tolerate full sun for best flowering. Its unique flowers and wildlife appeal make it a favorite in native plant gardens.
Peperomia velutina 'Bicolor'
Peperomia velutina 'Bicolor' is a small plant native to Columbia and Ecuador, featuring patterned variegation on its leaves. It grows to about 6 to 8 inches tall and prefers shade to partial shade. This plant requires its soil to dry out between waterings and is a fairly fast grower.
Peperomia argyreia
Peperomia argyreia, commonly known as the watermelon peperomia, is a tropical indoor plant native to northern South America. It features striking asymmetrical oval leaves with silver stripes and red stems, resembling a watermelon pattern. This compact, bushy plant grows up to 8 inches tall and thrives in bright, indirect light, preferring temperatures between 50 and 95 degrees Fahrenheit. Its thick, succulent leaves make it drought-tolerant, but it benefits from moist soil and moderate humidity. In summer, it produces tiny green flower spikes. Ideal for shaded areas, it is a popular choice for houseplant enthusiasts due to its unique foliage and easy care requirements.
Castanospermum 'Lucky Bean'
Castanospermum 'Lucky Bean' is a medium-sized tree native to Australia, featuring glossy green leaves and yellow and red flowers in spring. It is a tropical indoor plant that adds a vibrant touch to any space.
Monstera dubia
Monstera dubia is a tropical climbing plant native to Central and South America, known for its dramatic foliage transformation. In its juvenile stage, it has small, shingling leaves with silver patterns, which become larger and fenestrated as it matures. This plant thrives in high humidity and moderate light, making it ideal for indoor environments with a climbing medium.
Aldrovanda vesiculosa
Aldrovanda vesiculosa is a unique carnivorous plant, the only extant species in its genus, known for capturing small aquatic invertebrates with its rapid-moving traps. These traps are arranged in whorls around a central, free-floating stem, resembling wide-mouth clams. This rootless aquatic plant thrives in warm, shallow, peaty waters and is considered a living fossil due to its monotypic status. It reproduces vegetatively and is intolerant of habitat degradation, making it a rare and fascinating species.
Alocasia sanderiana
Alocasia sanderiana, native to Northern Mindanao in the Philippines, is critically endangered in the wild. It features glossy dark green leaves with white veins, resembling a wavy sword blade. This plant requires high humidity and regular watering, thriving in warm, humid environments.
Aglaonema 'Jubilee'
Aglaonema 'Jubilee' is an easy-care indoor houseplant known for its tall growth and dark green and silver foliage. It thrives in low-light conditions and is effective at purifying the air, making it a popular choice for homes and offices.
Lepisorus pseudoussuriensis
Lepisorus pseudoussuriensis is a narrow-leaf, epiphytic fern introduced in 2021, originally collected from Taiwan. It grows in rock cracks near high-altitude waterfalls and forms an 18-inch wide clump. The dark green fronds are pencil-thin and 6 inches long, thriving in light shade to shade conditions.
Ilex vomitoria 'Schillings'
Native to southeastern North America, this dense rounded shrub has medium-sized dark green leaves and silvery gray bark. It produces small white flowers in spring and bright red berries on female plants. The plant is salt and drought-tolerant once established, growing 4-7 feet in height and 6-10 feet in width, thriving in USDA zones 6-9.
Lagerstroemia 'Black Diamond Shell Pink'
Lagerstroemia 'Black Diamond Shell Pink' is a crape myrtle with striking jet-black foliage and coral pink blooms. It flowers from early spring to the first frost and is drought-tolerant once established. This plant is mildew and pest-resistant, thriving in USDA zones 6-9.
Begonia 'Hugh Mclaughlin'
Begonia 'Hugh Mclaughlin' is a bushy plant with flowers in bright red, pink, yellow, or white. Its vibrant blooms and compact growth make it a colorful addition to gardens or containers.
Trigonella foenum-graecum
Trigonella foenum-graecum, commonly known as fenugreek, is a plant whose seeds are rich in essential vitamins such as A, B6, and C, as well as minerals like iron and potassium. It contains various health-promoting phytochemicals and its young, tender leaves can be used as greens in cooking. This plant is valued for its nutritional benefits and versatility in culinary applications.
Peperomia obtusifolia 'Variegatum'
Peperomia obtusifolia 'Variegatum' is a houseplant with glossy leaves marbled in green and cream. Native to Florida, Mexico, and the Caribbean, it is easy to care for and thrives in indoor environments. This plant is a great choice for those seeking a low-maintenance, decorative houseplant.
Fittonia albivenis 'Minima'
Fittonia albivenis 'Minima', known as the nerve plant, features white veins on green leaves. It prefers shade and temperatures between 55 to 95 degrees Fahrenheit, requiring moist but not wet conditions.
Anthurium croatii
Anthurium croatii, native to Ecuador, is known for its tri-lobed, finger-like leaves and showy pink bracts. It thrives in high humidity and moderate, indirect light.
Ficus natalensis
Ficus natalensis, or the natal fig, is a culturally significant plant in Uganda and Kenya, often used in bonsai cultivation. It can grow 10 to 30 meters tall and features glossy green leaves. This fast-growing epiphyte sends down aerial roots and thrives in well-drained potting mix.
Hedera helix 'Teardrop'
Hedera helix 'Teardrop' is a fast-growing, large-leafed evergreen vine with glossy, tear drop-shaped dark green leaves. It is known for its moderate to easy care requirements and ability to trail, climb, and cascade, making it ideal for use as a screen or ground cover. This ivy is suitable for both indoor and outdoor settings, thriving in low light conditions. Its attractive foliage and vigorous growth make it a popular choice for adding greenery to various spaces.
Begonia variabilis
Begonia variabilis is an uncommon, moderate-growing tuberous species native to Thailand and Peninsula Malaysia. It features leaves with green and white speckling and can go dormant, forming tubers. This begonia prefers moderate, indirect light and moderate to high humidity.
Perilla frutescens
Perilla frutescens, also known as Korean perilla, is an annual plant from the mint family, native to Southeast Asia and the Indian highlands. It is aromatic with a strong mint-like scent and attracts butterflies. This plant is used in traditional medicine and various Asian cuisines, but it is toxic to cattle and horses.