Plants
Trifolium pratense
Trifolium pratense, commonly known as red clover, is a herbaceous perennial that grows up to 31 inches tall. It features trifoliate leaves and dark pink flowers, and is native to Europe, Western Asia, and northwest Africa. Widely used as a fodder crop, it improves soil fertility by fixing nitrogen and is also used in traditional medicine.
Asclepias viridis
Asclepias viridis, commonly known as green milkweed, is a US prairie native that forms a 2-foot tall clump with thick, outward-leaning stalks. It blooms in early May with green petals and purple stamens, attracting bees and monarch butterflies. This deer-resistant plant prefers average to dry soils and is a host plant for monarch butterflies, making it an important addition to wildlife gardens.
Nerine angustifolia
Nerine angustifolia is a unique plant native to Lesotho, Swaziland, and South Africa, thriving in dry berms. It features threadlike, winter-deciduous foliage and 18-inch stalks with clusters of medium pink flowers. This plant is suitable for zones 7b to 10b and can grow in sun to light shade.
Philodendron plowmanii
Philodendron plowmanii is a tropical plant with velvety, elongated green leaves featuring prominent silver veins. It thrives in moderate to bright indirect light and can be trained to climb or allowed to scramble terrestrially. Originating from Southeastern Ecuador to central Peru, this plant is well-suited to indoor growing conditions, requiring moderate watering and indirect light. Its large, heart-shaped leaves with hints of silver variegation make it a popular choice for ornamental purposes.
Peperomia acuminata
Peperomia acuminata is a versatile houseplant native to Central and South America and the West Indies. It features rich green waxy leaves and can grow upright or trail. This plant is used in folk medicine and foods and prefers well-draining soil, allowing it to dry out between waterings. Its adaptability makes it suitable for various indoor environments, and it can thrive in hanging baskets or as a climber.
Begonia quadrialata
Begonia quadrialata is a species of flowering plant in the Begoniaceae family, native to central Tropical Africa and Angola. It is closely related to B. potamophila and is known for its ornamental value.
Agapanthus 'Queen Mum'
Agapanthus 'Queen Mum' is a semi-dwarf variety known for its striking clusters of trumpet-shaped white blooms with blue throats. This semi-evergreen plant blooms from spring into summer and features thick, straplike foliage. It grows to a height and width of 1 to 1.5 feet and has a natural clumping habit. Hardy in USDA Zones 8-10, it can withstand temperatures down to 10°F when established. 'Queen Mum' prefers full sun to part shade and requires regular watering during its first growing season, with supplementary water in extreme heat.
Prunus persica 'O'henry'
Prunus persica 'O'henry' is a vigorous peach tree producing large, sweet, and juicy yellow freestone peaches with red skin. It blooms bright pink flowers in early spring and ripens from late August through September. This self-fertile tree thrives in full sun and slightly acidic, well-draining soil.
Osmunda spectabilis
Osmunda spectabilis is a distinctive fern native to the New World, ranging from eastern Canada to Argentina. Known for its light green, leathery leaves, this fern can grow up to 6 feet tall and 3 feet wide in moist conditions. It produces separate sterile and fertile fronds, with the fertile ones appearing as bronze spears in spring. This fern thrives in wet soils, such as those found in bogs and along streams, and is a spectacular addition to any garden.
Papaver somniferum 'Pandora'
Papaver somniferum 'Pandora' is a striking poppy with blooms that transition from deep burgundy to pinkish-red. This plant is drought-tolerant and deer-resistant, making it a resilient choice for gardens. Known for its vibrant color changes, it adds a dynamic element to any landscape.
Ilex crenata
Ilex crenata, commonly known as Japanese holly, is an evergreen shrub or small tree native to East Asia. It features glossy dark green leaves with a wavy margin and produces small white flowers that develop into ornamental black berries. This plant is popular among bonsai enthusiasts and is often compared to boxwood due to its similar appearance. It thrives in acidic soil and is drought-tolerant, making it suitable for USDA zones 5-9. Japanese holly is a slow-growing plant that reaches a height of 2-3 feet, forming a low, dome-shaped form. It is best grown in full to partial sun and is intolerant of alkaline soils. The plant's flexible branches and soft-textured foliage add to its appeal as an ornamental shrub.
Delphinium carolinianum
Delphinium carolinianum, or Carolina larkspur, is native to central and eastern North America. It produces blue to white flowers in spring and is found in prairies and rocky glades. This plant requires good drainage and disappears after flowering, re-emerging in winter.
Pseuderanthemum 'Purple Dazzler'
Pseuderanthemum 'Purple Dazzler' is a tropical plant with colorful foliage, featuring narrow leaves with pink, purple, gray, and white sections. It has an upright, bushy growth habit and thrives in light shade or sun.
Ipomoea tricolor
Ipomoea tricolor is a tropical plant native to the Americas, known for its twining liana growth and trumpet-shaped flowers. The blooms are most commonly blue with a white to golden yellow center, adding a vibrant touch to gardens. This plant prefers warm, sheltered, sunny positions and is grown as an annual in temperate regions. It is used as a cover plant in Mexico and has numerous cultivars with different flower colors.
Masdevallia caesia
Masdevallia caesia is an orchid native to South America's cloud forests and high-altitude regions. It requires cooler temperatures, high humidity, and filtered light to thrive.
Penstemon murrayanus
Penstemon murrayanus is a perennial native to the southern US, growing in dry sandy soils. It features 6-foot tall spikes with bright orange tubular flowers that attract hummingbirds. This plant is endemic to Texas, Louisiana, Oklahoma, and Arkansas.
Bucephalandra 'Brownie Purple'
Bucephalandra 'Brownie Purple' is an epiphytic aquarium plant from Borneo, known for its small purple and brownish leaves. It grows slowly and is best attached to rocks or driftwood, thriving in medium to high light with optional CO2 supplementation.
Hosta 'Sunhosta'
Hosta 'Sunhosta' is a medium-sized variegated hosta with trumpet-shaped pale pink blooms that attract hummingbirds. It performs best in full sun and is hardy from USDA Zone 4 to Zone 10. The plant features bright green leaves with wide, creamy yellow-white margins and is known for its low cold requirements and tolerance to disease and drought.
Tradescantia zebrina 'Deep Purple'
Tradescantia zebrina 'Deep Purple' is a fast-growing vine with nearly black leaves and purple variegation. It can trail up to 5 feet and prefers shade to partial shade. This plant is easy to care for, requiring only occasional watering and indirect light.
Alocasia 'Pink Dragon'
Alocasia 'Pink Dragon' is a tropical plant with striking oval-shaped leaves and deep veins. It features green leaves with white venation and pink petioles, thriving in bright indoor light and part sun-shade outdoors. This plant requires high moisture and is sensitive to temperatures below 55°F, making it suitable for indoor environments or outdoor areas near water.
Trillium sulcatum
Trillium sulcatum is a robust perennial native to the southeastern United States, particularly abundant on the Cumberland Plateau. It features wine-red flowers with upturned sepals that bloom in early May. This plant is more heat-tolerant than Trillium erectum.
Tillandsia bandensis
Tillandsia bandensis is an air plant with light green, pointed foliage that forms a uniform bush. It produces a purple flower when blooming and is native to Bolivia. This plant is part of the Bromeliaceae family and is easy to care for, requiring minimal maintenance.
Epiphyllum oxypetalum
Epiphyllum oxypetalum, native from Mexico to Nicaragua, is known for its large, fragrant nocturnal blooms that wilt before dawn. This plant grows 2 to 4 feet across and prefers shade to partial sun, with temperatures between 40 to 95 degrees. It should be allowed to dry between waterings.
Aristolochia watsonii
Aristolochia watsonii, a North American native, is a vine known for its bronze-purple foliage that turns green in the shade. It produces small, bronze, bong-shaped flowers that attract pipevine swallowtails. This drought-tolerant plant grows on dry, rocky slopes and is toxic to humans. Its leaves are arrowhead-shaped and change color in response to sun and drought conditions. The plant blooms from April to October and has been used medicinally by Native Americans. It is found from Arizona to western Texas and is a favorite among rock gardeners.
Agave multifilifera
Agave multifilifera is a Mexican agave native to high elevations in Durango, Chihuahua, and Sinaloa. It is closely related to Agave filifera and is notable for its variable amounts of hair-like filifers, making it a unique addition to xeriscaping gardens.
Cyanotis ciliata
Cyanotis ciliata is a rare plant species with rich green leaves that have a purple tint when new. The leaves are approximately 2 inches long and have small white hairs along the edges. This plant has a sprawling habit, making it ideal for hanging baskets. It grows quickly and prefers shade to partial shade, with a temperature tolerance ranging from 45 to 95 degrees Fahrenheit.
Tradescantia mundula 'Laekenensis Rainbow'
Tradescantia mundula 'Laekenensis Rainbow' is a fast-growing plant native to South America, including Argentina and Brazil. It is popular for its beautiful coloration and is often chosen by beginners for its ease of care.
Hydrangea serrata 'Hallasan'
Hydrangea serrata 'Hallasan' is a rare, dwarf hydrangea native to Hallasan National Park in South Korea. It is known for its compact, spreading nature and richly pigmented blooms. The plant features dark green foliage and is suitable for gardens that require a smaller, yet striking, hydrangea variety.
Begonia cathayana 'White Flower'
Begonia cathayana 'White Flower' is a rhizomatous species from China, featuring dark bluish-green leaves with a turquoise/green ring and small red trichomes. It thrives in indirect light and high humidity, making it ideal for terrarium culture. This moderately growing plant prefers moist soil and sphagnum moss for rooting.