Plants
Camellia sasanqua 'Pink Perplexion'
Camellia sasanqua 'Pink Perplexion' is an evergreen shrub with a semi-dwarf, rounded growth habit, reaching 4-5 feet in height and width. It features dark green, leathery leaves and produces pink double blooms. This camellia thrives in USDA zones 7-9, preferring full sun to partial shade and rich, acidic soil with good drainage. It is low-maintenance, requiring mulching to protect roots and fertilization in early spring. Its compact size and beautiful flowers make it a popular choice for ornamental gardens.
Dietes bicolor
Dietes bicolor is a clump-forming perennial from South Africa, known for its long, sword-like evergreen leaves and pale yellow flowers with dark purple spots. This plant is often used in public gardens and commercial landscapes due to its hardiness and ability to form large clumps if left undisturbed. It blooms in spring and summer and is very drought-tolerant, preferring dappled shade to full sun. Its striking flowers and robust nature make it a popular choice for gardeners seeking low-maintenance beauty.
Salvia glutinosa
Salvia glutinosa is a herbaceous perennial native to Central and East Europe and West Asia. It features bright green, hairy leaves and pale yellow flowers speckled with maroon, blooming from June to September. The plant grows in forested areas, preferring shade or partial shade, and forms a clump about 3-4 feet wide and 3 feet tall. Its sticky glandular hairs and unique flower coloration make it a distinctive addition to gardens.
Ficus lyrata 'Little Sunshine'
Ficus lyrata 'Little Sunshine' is a compact houseplant known for its violin-shaped, dark green waxy leaves. It grows tall like a tree and is moderately easy to care for, making it a popular choice for indoor greenery.
Hoya anulata
Hoya anulata, commonly known as the wax plant, is native to Southeast Asia and features elongated, narrow leaves with intricate veining. It produces star-shaped flowers with a sweet fragrance and thrives in bright, indirect light. This plant has a trailing or twining growth habit and requires partial drying of soil between waterings.
Diospyros kaki 'Maekawa Jiro'
Diospyros kaki 'Maekawa Jiro' is a non-astringent persimmon variety producing medium to large-sized, juicy, sweet fruits. The compact tree grows 12-15 feet tall and wide, preferring full sunlight and well-draining, slightly acidic soil. It is self-pollinating and tolerates a wide range of soils.
Caltha palustris
Caltha palustris, commonly known as marsh marigold, is a native bog plant found in temperate regions of the Northern Hemisphere. It thrives in marshes and wet woodlands, producing bright yellow flowers from April to August. This perennial herbaceous plant can grow up to 18 inches tall and wide, with round, textured green leaves. While its raw form is toxic, it becomes edible when cooked. Marsh marigold is often confused with invasive species but is a valuable addition to bog gardens and wetland areas.
Tillandsia brachycaulos
Tillandsia brachycaulos is an air plant with thick, pointed leaves that turn red when exposed to sunlight. It changes color at the flowering stage, adding a dynamic element to indoor plant collections.
Linum perenne
Linum perenne, known for its sky-blue flowers, is a tough perennial that withstands summer heat, humidity, and winter cold. It grows in part shade and is effective for erosion control, attracting both wild birds and pollinators.
Elatine hydropiper
Elatine hydropiper is a rare aquatic plant known for its thin, vertical growing stalks and small roots. It requires high lighting and CO2 injection for optimal growth and can be grown submerged or emersed. This plant is challenging to keep planted but can be anchored using the dry start method.
Eupatorium cannabinum
Eupatorium cannabinum, commonly known as hemp-agrimony, is a robust perennial native to Europe and parts of Asia. It features pink flowers that bloom in late summer and fall, attracting butterflies. The plant's foliage resembles cannabis leaves, and it thrives in moist, low-lying areas. Historically used in traditional medicine, it contains compounds with potential health risks.
Monstera adansonii 'Small Form'
Monstera adansonii 'Small Form' is a popular houseplant known for its interesting foliage with fenestrations. It thrives in bright, indirect light and well-draining soil, making it a favorite among indoor plant enthusiasts. This plant adds a tropical touch to any space and is easy to care for, making it suitable for both novice and experienced gardeners.
Asarum asperum
Asarum asperum, a species of wild ginger, is endemic to Japan and commonly found near Kyoto and Nara. This perennial features thick evergreen leaves with a central stripe of silver and produces ground-level maroon flowers in March. It forms tight clumps and prefers average to slightly moist soils, making it a suitable groundcover for shaded areas.
Sarracenia 'Barba Green'
Sarracenia 'Barba Green' is a compact, clumpy grower that thrives in sunny, boggy conditions. This naturally occurring hybrid features dark red fragrant flowers in early spring and is suitable for terraria, bog gardens, and indoor environments.
Peperomia verticillata 'Red Ecuador'
Peperomia verticillata 'Red Ecuador' is an interesting Peperomia species with an upright growth habit and red coloration. It grows to about 4 inches tall and prefers shade to part-shade conditions, making it a suitable choice for indoor plant collections.
Crassula barbata
Crassula barbata is a flowering plant endemic to the Cape Provinces of South Africa. It is drought-tolerant and thrives in sunny areas with well-draining soil. This plant requires minimal watering and benefits from dry periods to prevent waterlogging.
Anubias barteri 'Striped'
Anubias barteri 'Striped' is a versatile aquatic plant known for its sharp, ruffled leaves. It thrives in both aquariums and terrariums, with leaves reaching up to 3 inches long. This flowering plant prefers its rhizome attached to a hard surface and can grow in low to medium light without the need for CO2. It is easy to care for and can be propagated by cutting or dividing the rhizomes. The plant is robust, adapting well to various water environments, and can be attached to driftwood or rocks.
Arum italicum
Arum italicum is a unique perennial plant known for its striking silvery leaves with green borders and its ability to produce heat through its inflorescence. Native to regions including the British Isles and the Mediterranean, it grows up to 18 inches tall and blooms in spring with white flowers that turn into red fruit. This plant is cultivated for ornamental purposes but can be invasive in some areas like the Pacific Northwest USA. It is important to note that all parts of the plant are toxic if ingested. Arum italicum has several subspecies and cultivars, with 'Marmoratum' being recognized for its garden merit. It is often used in shaded garden areas and can hybridize with other Arum species.
Oxalis violacea
Oxalis violacea is a US native plant with leaves that vary from solid green to purple-patterned. It forms tight clumps and blooms with light lavender flowers in April. This perennial thrives in full sun rock gardens and moist woodland settings, spreading rapidly by runners and bulbs.
Ilex crenata 'Helleri'
Ilex crenata 'Helleri' is a dwarf evergreen shrub with a naturally rounded shape, ideal for privacy hedges, low borders, and mass plantings. It features dark green foliage, springtime white flowers, and small black berries in fall, attracting birds and wildlife. This low-maintenance, drought-tolerant plant grows 3-4 feet tall and 4-5 feet wide, thriving in USDA zones 6-9.
Aquarius cordifolius
Aquarius cordifolius is an aquatic plant found in marshes and ponds, known for its large, heart-shaped leaves and white flowers. It can grow submerged or emerged and thrives in tropical to sub-tropical temperatures with a rich substrate and good light.
Neoregelia punctatissima
Neoregelia punctatissima is a small bromeliad from Brazil, known for its greenish-red leaves with dark red banding under high light. This epiphytic plant holds water in its leaves and forms pups from the mature plant, creating a clumping effect.
Arisaema galeatum
Arisaema galeatum is a striking Himalayan plant that can grow over 4 feet tall, featuring a tripartite green leaf often edged in purple. Its flower resembles that of Arisaema ringens, with a lime-green helmet that emerges in early spring alongside the foliage. This plant requires good drainage and protection from summer rains, making it suitable for well-drained garden beds. Its unique appearance and large size make it a standout addition to any garden.
Pogostemon helferi 'White Albino'
Pogostemon helferi 'White Albino' is a compact aquatic plant with silvery-white leaves due to a lack of green pigment. It requires moderate to high lighting and benefits from a nutrient-rich environment with ample CO2. This plant thrives in a pH range of 6.0 to 7.5 and prefers temperatures between 68°F and 77°F. It is best planted in the foreground or middleground of aquariums and requires regular maintenance and trimming to maintain its shape.
Nepenthes vogelii
Nepenthes vogelii is a tropical pitcher plant endemic to Borneo, known for its cylindrical lower pitchers and funnel-shaped upper pitchers with iridescent striping. It grows as an epiphyte in submontane forests and is part of the 'N. maxima complex'. This fast-growing carnivorous plant is suitable for outdoor cultivation in warm climates.
Epipremnum pinnatum 'Skeleton Key'
Epipremnum pinnatum 'Skeleton Key' is a vining plant with unique key-shaped leaves that develop when allowed to climb. Suitable as a houseplant, it thrives in bright, indirect light and requires drying out between waterings. This easy-to-care-for plant can trail up to 6 feet and appreciates moderate to high humidity, making it ideal for indoor environments.
Begonia bowerae
Begonia bowerae is a small plant with chocolate to bronze-red leaves featuring bright green, paw-like markings. The leaf edges are adorned with white eyelash-like hairs, adding a unique texture. This plant is ideal for those seeking a distinctive foliage plant with ornamental qualities.