Plants
Cleome houtteana
Cleome houtteana, also known as spider flower, is a striking plant with large flower clusters and palm-like leaves that attract butterflies and hummingbirds. It produces fragrant flowers in shades of white, pink, rose, and violet, and is known for its interesting seed pods. This plant is heat and drought-tolerant, often reseeding itself to return year after year with minimal care.
Xanthosoma sagittifolium
Xanthosoma sagittifolium, commonly known as Cocoyam, is a tropical plant from the Araceae family. It produces edible corms and leaves, serving as a staple food for millions. This plant is shade-tolerant and thrives in warm, humid conditions.
Begonia angularis
Begonia angularis is a shrub-like species from Brazil, notable for its grey-green leaves with distinctive white veins. The plant is named for its angular stems, which add an interesting architectural element to gardens or indoor plant collections.
Zinnia elegans 'Queeny Lime Orange'
Zinnia elegans 'Queeny Lime Orange' is a tall plant with an extraordinary color combination, attracting pollinators with its long-lasting blooms. Its edible flowers have earned it accolades, including the 2018 All-America Selections and Fleuroselect Gold Medal awards.
Haworthia cymbiformis var. cymbiformis
Haworthia cymbiformis is a succulent native to South Africa, known for its star-like rosettes with translucent windows. This compact plant grows up to 4 inches tall and thrives in bright, indirect light with minimal water. It prefers well-draining soil and is summer-dormant, making it ideal for hardiness zones 9 to 11. The plant features fleshy green leaves and blooms bright white star flowers with a yellow spot in June. It is frost-tolerant down to 30°F and can be propagated through offsets or seeds.
Begonia 'Copper Sunset'
Begonia 'Copper Sunset' is a small-leaved, rhizomatous begonia with leaves that transition from red to orange to green with dark striations. It has a compact growth habit and thrives in moderate, indirect light and high humidity.
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.
Episcia 'Pink Smoke'
Episcia 'Pink Smoke' is a striking plant with light smoky green leaves, light green veins, and bright pink margins. It produces bright pink flowers and requires high humidity, making it less demanding than other pink varieties.
Cymbopogon citratus
Cymbopogon citratus, commonly known as lemongrass, features long, slender blades with a rich green color and a distinct lemony scent when crushed. Native to Maritime Southeast Asia, it grows 2-3 feet tall and wide, thriving in USDA zones 9-11 with 6-8 hours of direct sunlight daily. This tropical grass is widely used in Asian cuisine and traditional medicine.
Cussonia spicata
Cussonia spicata, native to Sub-Saharan Africa, is an evergreen tree favored by wild elephants. It can grow up to 40 feet tall with a rounded canopy and brilliant green leaves. The tree blooms in spring and summer with green and white flowers and is used in traditional African medicine. It prefers well-drained soil and full sun to partial shade.
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.
Stanhopea tricornis
Stanhopea tricornis, known as 'the upside-down orchids', is native to Central and South America. Its flowers hang downward, requiring bright, indirect light and high humidity. This orchid is endemic to western South America, particularly Colombia, and is appreciated for its unique floral display.
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.
Stanhopea annulata
Stanhopea annulata is an orchid species native to southern Colombia and Ecuador. Known for its unique pendant inflorescences that resemble Medusa's snaky hair, this orchid features small, greenish flowers. It thrives in humid, warm environments and prefers bright, filtered light.
Coriandrum sativum
Coriandrum sativum, commonly known as cilantro, is a fast-growing herb that produces flavorful leaves and edible white flowers. It is known for its aromatic seed pods and is easy to grow, making it a versatile addition to culinary gardens.
Anthurium cutucuense
Anthurium cutucuense is an epiphyte endemic to Ecuador, known for its three-lobed leaves with a bullate texture. This endangered species thrives in cool forest habitats and is valued for its decorative foliage.
Euphorbia ferox
Euphorbia ferox, or pincushion euphorbia, is a spiny succulent shrublet from South Africa. It prefers a very draining mineral potting substrate and requires moderate watering, except in the coldest winter month. This plant thrives in full sun to light shade and is known for its bright yellow flowers.
Begonia 'Honeysuckle'
Begonia 'Honeysuckle' is a fast-growing cane plant with light green oval leaves and large clusters of bright pink flowers. It has a spreading growth habit, making it excellent for hanging baskets. The female flowers have a mild sweet fragrance, and the plant thrives in bright, indirect light with moderate humidity.
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.
Goeppertia insignis 'Rattlesnake'
Goeppertia insignis 'Rattlesnake', also known as Rattlesnake, is a tropical plant with dark green leaves featuring unique ripples and deep purple undersides. The leaves adjust position with the sun, curling up at night and unfurling in the morning. It thrives in bright, indirect sunlight, moist soil, and high humidity environments, and is known for its air-purifying qualities.
Kohleria tubiflora
Kohleria tubiflora is a vibrant plant native to Central America, Ecuador, and Venezuela, known for its adaptability to vivarium life. It features foliage that ranges from green to deep purple, depending on the lighting conditions. This plant prefers moist environments and thrives under high light, making it a striking addition to any collection. It is easily propagated in sphagnum moss, adding to its appeal for plant enthusiasts.
Nothotsuga longibracteata
Nothotsuga longibracteata is an endangered Chinese conifer that thrives in hot, humid summers with high rainfall. It can grow up to 15 feet tall in 9 years and matures at 90 feet. This plant features brown fissured bark and reddish-purple cones, making it a unique addition to gardens.
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 'Jovian'
Begonia 'Jovian' is a rhizomatous hybrid with large, leathery leaves that begin deep burgundy red and turn nearly black. This plant is a striking addition to shaded garden areas, adding a touch of drama with its bold foliage.
Peperomia blanda
Peperomia blanda is a versatile perennial herb with a pan-tropical distribution, often found in damp rock crevices and stream banks. It features small oval leaves with a velvety texture and red stems, growing up to 8 inches tall. This plant thrives in shade to partial shade and is suitable for terrariums, preferring to dry out between waterings.
Austrocylindropuntia cylindrica
Austrocylindropuntia cylindrica is a slow-growing cactus native to Colombia, Ecuador, and Peru. It features a labyrinth undulated crested stem covered with creamy white wool on short spines. This plant is not frost-hardy and requires minimal watering, thriving in sandy, free-draining soil with ample light.