Plants
Aucuba japonica 'Variegata'
Aucuba japonica 'Variegata' is an evergreen shrub with glossy green leaves splattered with yellow. It produces inconspicuous burgundy flowers in early spring, followed by red berries on both male and female plants. This heat-loving shrub thrives in zones 7-10 and is tolerant of poor soils, making it a versatile addition to gardens.
Bacopa lanigera
Bacopa lanigera is an aquatic plant resembling Bacopa Caroliniana, developing a green color when submerged. It requires a high-tech aquarium setup with CO2, nutrients, and strong lighting. This plant grows well in garden ponds with damp soil and produces blue-violet blooms when emerged.
Scindapsus 'Pictus Exotica'
Scindapsus 'Pictus Exotica' is an easy-care, fast-growing vining plant with big heart-shaped green leaves and shimmery silver variegation. It prefers bright, indirect light and can grow over 8 feet long indoors. This plant is easily propagated, making it a popular choice for indoor gardening.
Drymonia hoppii
Drymonia hoppii is an epiphytic plant from the Gesneriaceae family, known for its large, velvety leaves with intricate patterns. It thrives in tropical rainforests, clinging to tree trunks and adapting to various light conditions. This plant's vibrant green coloration makes it a striking addition to any collection.
Hoya verticillata var. verticillata 'New Guinea Ghost'
Hoya verticillata var. verticillata 'New Guinea Ghost' is a natural sport with silver leaves, collected in Papua New Guinea. It thrives in bright, indirect light and prefers temperatures between 60 to 85 degrees with 50-60% humidity.
Allium cepa
The Allium cepa, known as an Italian heirloom onion, is a unique torpedo-type red onion with a sweet flavor, ideal for roasting and grilling. Its wine-colored, flattened globes measure about 1 inch high and 2 to 3 inches in diameter. This intermediate-day onion is best suited for latitudes 32-42 and is resistant to pink root. It produces large, easy-to-peel bulbs with white flesh and straw-colored skin, yielding up to a pound per bulb. The onion is not recommended for cold climates but thrives in southern states from fall to spring. It is a cross between a shallot and an onion, known in France as Cuisse de Poulet du Poitou, and is recognized for its sweet, mild flavor and resistance to bolting.
Iris unguicularis
Iris unguicularis is a winter-blooming plant native to regions like Greece and Turkey. It features pale lilac or purple flowers with a yellow central band and fragrant long perianth tubes. This evergreen plant thrives in dry, well-drained locations and is deer-resistant.
Elaeagnus submacrophylla
Elaeagnus submacrophylla is an evergreen shrub with olive to dark green foliage that has a silvery scale appearance. It produces fragrant white flowers in fall and edible berries with a tart and sweet flavor. This fast-growing plant is salt-tolerant and suitable for coastal areas.
Echinocereus sanpedroensis
Echinocereus sanpedroensis is a rapidly growing cactus that flowers in spring, with blooms that remain open most of the day and night. It requires good drainage and tolerates bright light but may suffer from sun scorch in direct sunlight.
Selenicereus grandiflorus
Selenicereus grandiflorus, also known as 'Queen of the Night', is a captivating cactus native to Mexico and Central America. This epiphytic plant is famous for its large, fragrant white flowers that bloom for just one night each year. It thrives in full sun and requires more frequent watering than typical desert cacti. The plant's stems can grow up to 33 feet long, and it prefers well-drained soil and a warm climate. Its unique night-blooming habit and vine-like appearance make it a fascinating addition to any collection.
Haworthia 'Concolor'
Haworthia 'Concolor' is a miniature succulent native to South Africa, known for its speckled green leaves with a bumpy texture. It forms loose rosettes up to 5 inches in diameter and produces tall bloom stalks with tiny white blossoms. This pet-safe plant thrives in low indoor light and requires great drainage and infrequent watering.
Sarracenia 'Red Sumatra'
This nearly all-red pitcher plant is a naturally occurring hybrid of S. flava and S. leucophylla, known for its prolific nectar glands that attract many insects. The red traps darken to deep red by mid-summer, and a second crop of maroon pitchers appears in the fall. It produces showy orange-red flowers that bloom from April to May and requires full sun for its red coloration. The plant grows well in bog gardens, greenhouses, and indoors if provided dormancy.
Pilea ovalis
A fast-growing species from Central and South America, this plant is known for its amazing leaf patterns. It prefers bright, indirect light and moderate humidity but tolerates lower light conditions and does not require much ventilation. Moist soil and sphagnum moss help with rooting, and it can be pruned to create plantlets, making it easy to propagate.
Mimosa pudica
Mimosa pudica, commonly known as the sensitive plant, is a fascinating perennial native to the Caribbean and South America. It is renowned for its rapid leaf-folding response to touch, a defense mechanism that exposes its spines. This plant features forest green, compound leaflets and globe-shaped lilac-pink blooms. It thrives in tropical climates as a perennial but is often grown as an annual or houseplant elsewhere. Mimosa pudica prefers nutrient-poor soils and is not shade-tolerant. It is also known for its ability to extract heavy metals from polluted soils, making it useful for phytoremediation. Despite its beauty, it can become invasive in some regions.
Begonia 'Comte De Miribel'
Begonia 'Comte De Miribel' is a cane-like begonia with narrow green leaves and silver spots. It produces pink flowers and grows 12 to 18 inches tall, preferring bright, indirect light and moderate humidity.
Begonia 'Sally Savelle'
Begonia 'Sally Savelle' is a rhizomatous hybrid with medium-sized oval leaves that are silver with olive green veins. The leaf backs are red with tiny hairs, and the plant has a compact growth habit. It features bright pink flowers with short pink hairs.
Coreopsis pulchra
Coreopsis pulchra, native to the southeastern United States, is a perennial wildflower with bright yellow flowers and a black eye. It blooms from June through September and is known for its upright, non-spreading form.
Hoya 'Elle'
Hoya 'Elle' is a cultivar with small oval leaves and a trailing or twining growth habit. It prefers bright, indirect light and should be watered when the soil surface is dry.
Zea mays ssp. everta
Zea mays ssp. everta is a type of popcorn known for its 2-3 inch long ruby red, strawberry-shaped ears. The compact 4-foot stalks produce kernels that turn white when popped, making it a unique choice for fall decor and culinary use.
Scutellaria resinosa
Native from Kansas through Arizona, this plant is suitable for well-drained rock gardens. It has sprawling stems with tiny rounded leaves and dark purple snapdragon-like flowers in summer.
Rhododendron 'Formosa'
This evergreen shrub is known for its rich, red-pink blossoms with darker blotches, blooming from early spring to midseason and again in early fall. It is a fast-growing, spreading type plant that can be planted in dappled shade. The plant is hardy and provides vibrant color in the garden.
Hydrangea macrophylla 'Oak Hill'
Hydrangea macrophylla 'Oak Hill' is a charming shrub that blooms on both new and old wood, offering pastel-colored petals that transition to antique greens, reds, and pinks. The bloom color can vary depending on the soil pH, providing a unique and dynamic display. This hydrangea is well-suited for gardens in USDA zone 6, where it can add a touch of elegance with its ever-changing floral hues.
Rhodanthemum atlanticum
Rhodanthemum atlanticum is a perennial plant native to the Atlas Mountains of Morocco, ideal for rock gardens. It forms a slightly spreading patch with grey-green, bird-foot-like foliage and white, aster-like flowers from mid-April to mid-June. The plant thrives in gravelly soils and is known for its ability to seed around, making it a low-maintenance choice for gardeners.
Begonia formosana f. albomaculata
Begonia formosana f. albomaculata is a rhizomatous species native to Taiwan and the Ryukyus Islands. It features upright stems with lobed green leaves adorned with silver spots and light pink flowers. This perennial is very cold hardy and grows 12 to 15 inches tall, preferring bright, indirect light and moderate humidity. It requires watering when the top two inches of soil are dry.
Carya illinoinensis 'Kanza'
Carya illinoinensis 'Kanza' is a disease-resistant, cold-tolerant pecan tree known for its high yield of golden kernels. It is resistant to pecan scab and other pests and requires a Type-1 pollinator to produce nuts. This tree thrives in full sunlight with loamy, well-drained soil and is best suited for USDA growing zones 6-9.
Philodendron lupinum
Philodendron lupinum, native to northern Brazil, is known for its crimson undersides and velvety green topsides. The mature foliage is V-shaped, and the plant adheres well to driftwood and backgrounds. It prefers moderate, indirect light and requires well-draining soil with proper humidity levels.
Drimiopsis maculata
Drimiopsis maculata, also known as little white soldiers, is a bulbous plant from South Africa with fleshy green leaves covered in dark spots. It produces flower spikes of tiny off-white bells and prefers moderate to bright indirect light. This easy-to-grow plant requires a period of dormancy in winter.