Plants
Hemerocallis citrina
Hemerocallis citrina, also known as the citron daylily, is a tall plant producing 5-foot flower spikes with large, fragrant golden-yellow flowers. The blooms open in the afternoon and attract hummingbirds. This low-maintenance plant is drought-tolerant and thrives in full sun to partial shade. It is native to East Asia and is cultivated for its edible flowers.
Syngonium 'Pink Speck'
Syngonium 'Pink Speck' is an easy-to-care-for indoor plant with stunning pink, arrow-shaped leaves. It can also grow outdoors in mild light conditions, making it a versatile addition to any plant collection.
Pearcea sprucei
This gesneriad is native to Bolivia, Ecuador, and Peru and features tiny trichomes on its leaves. It blooms year-round and is adaptable to vivarium life. The plant requires moist but not wet conditions, high light, and high humidity for cuttings.
Croton 'Gold Dust'
Croton 'Gold Dust' is a popular tropical indoor plant known for its deep green leaves speckled with bright yellow spots. This vibrant foliage adds a splash of color to any room, thriving in high humidity and ample light conditions. Its striking appearance makes it a favorite for brightening indoor spaces, while its easy care requirements suit a variety of home environments.
Coniogramme emeiensis 'Golden Zebra Bamboo Fern'
Coniogramme emeiensis 'Golden Zebra Bamboo Fern' is distinguished by its golden-yellow stripes on lime-green foliage. This easy-care fern features broad, undivided deep green pinnae and arching, ribbon-like fronds. Its striking appearance and low maintenance requirements make it an attractive choice for both novice and experienced gardeners.
Dracaena surculosa 'Florida Beauty'
Dracaena surculosa 'Florida Beauty' features oval-shaped leaves adorned with creamy yellow spots. It is tolerant of low light and dry air, making it a versatile houseplant. This plant is also known as Dracaena godseffiana and adds a touch of elegance to indoor spaces.
Hydrangea macrophylla 'Dear Dolores'
Hydrangea macrophylla 'Dear Dolores' is a deciduous or semi-evergreen shrub with mop-head blooms that last from spring into fall. The flowers change color based on soil pH, appearing pink in alkaline soils and blue in acidic ones. This fast-growing plant reaches up to 5 feet tall and wide, providing long-lasting beauty in the garden.
Alocasia 'Tigrina Superba'
Alocasia 'Tigrina Superba' is a striking plant with large arrow-headed green leaves and zebra-like stems. It thrives in high humidity and prefers bright, indirect light. This plant is known for its unique foliage and is a favorite among collectors of rare and exotic plants.
Kalanchoe fedtschenkoi 'Marginata'
Kalanchoe fedtschenkoi 'Marginata' is a small shrubby succulent native to Madagascar, known for its lavender gray-green leaves with cream-colored variegation. It grows 1 to 2 feet tall and thrives in sun to partial sun, requiring a temperature range of 45 to 95 degrees Fahrenheit. This plant is drought-tolerant and adds a unique touch to succulent collections.
Boltonia diffusa
Boltonia diffusa is a perennial native to the United States, particularly the Gulf of Mexico states and the lower Mississippi Valley. It forms an airy clump of green stems and linear leaves, topped with daisy-like flowers in late summer. The plant rarely grows more than 8 inches high and spreads by stolons, providing textural contrast in gardens. Its white or lavender ray florets with yellow disc florets attract butterflies.
Chamaedorea cataractarum
Chamaedorea cataractarum, also known as the cat palm, is an elegant, tropical palm with long, lush green fronds. It grows to about 3-6 feet tall indoors and thrives in bright indirect sunlight. This low-maintenance plant is non-toxic to humans and pets, making it a safe and attractive choice for indoor spaces.
Arisaema tortuosum
Arisaema tortuosum is a hardy aroid found in the Himalayas, western China, southern India, and Myanmar. It features a purple or green whip-like spadix and green Jack-in-the-pulpit flowers. This plant grows in large clumps up to 2 meters and is suitable for part sun to light shade, adding an exotic touch to garden settings.
Hoya pubicalyx 'Bangkok Black Beauty'
Hoya pubicalyx 'Bangkok Black Beauty' is a tropical succulent with long, shiny green leaves speckled with white. It produces fragrant, star-shaped flowers in hemispherical clusters, making it a delightful addition to any indoor plant collection. This plant thrives in bright, indirect light and prefers temperatures between 60 to 85 degrees. Its trailing or twining growth habit makes it ideal for hanging baskets or climbing structures.
Cardiocrinum giganteum
Cardiocrinum giganteum is the largest species of lily, native to the Himalayas, China, and Myanmar. It produces a towering 8-foot spike of fragrant, trumpet-shaped white flowers with a purple flush. The plant thrives in light shade or morning sun and prefers slightly moist soils.
Sanchezia oblonga
Sanchezia oblonga is a tropical foliage plant with deep green leaves accented by bright yellow stripes, resembling a small shrub. It can grow up to 4 feet tall and is popular in Caribbean landscapes. This plant thrives as a houseplant with adequate light and requires slightly moist conditions. It is a member of the Acanthaceae family and is known for its striking appearance.
Philodendron 'Red Heart'
Philodendron 'Red Heart' is a striking tropical plant known for its vibrant red heart-shaped leaves that transition to green as they mature. It can climb or trail, making it versatile for indoor spaces. This plant prefers bright, indirect light and requires well-draining soil kept moist but not waterlogged. Its unique foliage with red streaks adds a bold touch to any collection.
Cercestis mirabilis
Cercestis mirabilis is a unique perennial herb native to tropical Africa, known for its striking arrowhead-shaped leaves with white markings. This obligate climber can reach up to 11 feet in height and requires support as it climbs, rooting along the way. It thrives in low to medium light conditions with fast-draining soil and high humidity. As the plant matures, its leaves develop slits and holes, adding to its visual appeal. It is one of the few aroids native to Africa and is considered rare and slow-growing. Propagation is typically done through stolons on older plants.
Dioscorea elephantipes
Dioscorea elephantipes, also known as the elephant's foot, is a deciduous climber native to South Africa. It features a large, tuberous stem with thick, corky plates and slender, leafy shoots. This plant is a winter grower and requires well-drained soil and sparse watering.
Tecomaria capensis
Tecomaria capensis, also known as Cape Honeysuckle, is an erect, scrambling shrub native to southern and central Africa. It features tubular flowers in shades of orange to apricot that bloom from autumn to spring, attracting hummingbirds, bees, and butterflies. This plant can grow up to 2-3 meters tall and is used for hedging. It is adaptable to various climates, being evergreen in warmer areas and deciduous in colder ones.
Callisia repens 'Pink Lady'
Callisia repens 'Pink Lady' is a fast-growing plant native to Bolivia, known for its very small, tricolored pink leaves. It thrives in high humidity and sunny areas, requiring porous, well-draining soil. This drought-tolerant plant is popular for smaller terrariums and can withstand short dry periods.
Gynura aurantiaca
Gynura aurantiaca, or the 'Purple Velvet Plant', is an evergreen perennial native to Southeast Asia. It features dark green leaves with soft purple hairs, giving it a fuzzy texture. This plant grows up to 30 cm tall and prefers moist conditions with high light, making it adaptable to vivarium life.
Tylecodon paniculatus
Tylecodon paniculatus is a robust succulent dwarf tree native to the winter rainfall regions of Namibia and southwestern South Africa. It features thick, fat stems with a rounded crown and mustard-yellow to olive-green bark that peels in papery sheets. This deciduous plant grows up to 8-10 feet tall and is known for its slender inflorescences with bright crimson-red stalks and orange-yellow to red urn-shaped flowers. It thrives on rocky slopes in the Succulent Karoo and contains a toxic cardiac glycoside called cotyledoside.
Drosera spatulata 'Gold Coast'
Drosera spatulata 'Gold Coast' is a tropical sundew known for its vivid cherry red color and sticky dew that traps flying pests. This carnivorous plant does not require dormancy and thrives in full sun. It has special water needs, requiring rainwater, distilled, or reverse osmosis water, and should sit in a shallow tray of water to maintain its moisture levels.
Uvularia perfoliata
Uvularia perfoliata, native to eastern North America, is a perennial plant producing pale yellow flowers in spring. It features smooth, slender stems and obovate leaves that are perfoliate. This plant is often found in floodplain forests and is related to Solomon's seal. It is endangered in some states and typically goes dormant by late summer.
Lepanthes hexapus
Lepanthes hexapus is an epiphytic orchid species found in the cloud forests of Central and South America. Known for its unique flower shape resembling a six-legged creature, it thrives in high-altitude, cool environments. This miniature orchid is a fascinating addition to collections, offering a glimpse into the diverse world of tropical orchids.
Phalaenopsis pulcherrima
Phalaenopsis pulcherrima is an orchid species found from Hainan Island to western Malesia. It employs a deceptive pollination strategy, attracting bees and other diurnal insects without providing rewards. This unique approach to pollination makes it an interesting study in plant-insect interactions.
Aquilegia caerulea
Aquilegia caerulea, the state flower of Colorado, is an heirloom perennial known for its large, pale violet and white blossoms. This North American native wildflower thrives in part shade to full sun and is ideal for rock gardens, borders, and cut flower arrangements. Its blue-green foliage and long graceful spurs add to its ornamental appeal.
Alpinia japonica
Alpinia japonica, or hardy ginger lily, is a compact plant with arching stalks and fragrant green leaves. It produces white flowers with red striping in late spring, adding a tropical touch to gardens. This plant is well-suited for part sun to light shade conditions.
Begonia 'Florida Hybrid'
Begonia 'Florida Hybrid' is a striking plant with dark, deeply toothed foliage and spiraled leaves. New leaves emerge with a bronzy hue, darkening to nearly black, adding dramatic contrast to its appearance. This begonia thrives in bright, indirect light and prefers to dry out between waterings, making it a captivating choice for indoor plant enthusiasts.