Common Name
and Description

Nelumbo nucifera

Sacred Water Lily, Blue Lotus - The elegantly flowered and unmistakable Sacred Water Lily delights not only for its visual beauty, but its religious signifgance and edibility. The flowers, seeds, young leaves and rhizomes are all edible and used extensively in some Asian cusine. Grows in standing water. Hardy to Zone 5. Huge flowers are generally some shade of pink and white. Large leaves (lily pads) float atop the water. Large seeds. #1070

Nicotiana glauca

Tree Tobacco - Small tree to 20ft having year-round blooms (in warm climates) of pretty tubular yellow flower. Extremely easy to grow, need little care, hardy to 25-30F. #266 more info

Ochroma pyramidale

Balsa - An extremely fast growing tropical tree grown for its very soft, light, but durable hardwood. Grows to 90ft and can grow many feet in a single season. Has pretty, triangular leaves and yellow, trumpet-like flowers. #1024

Oroxylum indicum

Midnight Horror, Sword of Damocles - A strange tree named for its sickle-shaped fruits which dangle from the tree in an ominous and foreboding manner! Similar to some of the trumpet trees, this India native has large, very ornamental pinkish trumpet-like flowers. An odd and quite uncommon ornamental. Hardy to at least 32F, possibly lower. #1057

Phormium cookianum

Mountain Flax - A beautiful and hardy flax native to the mountains of New Zealand. The long leaves that grow up to 15ft clump at the base and spread out several feet. While it is usually planted as an ornamental, the plant nectar is edible and has a sweet flavor once used in native New Zealand cuisine. Hardy to 10-15F. #1018

Phormium tenax variegata

Variegated New Zealand Flax, N.Z. Hemp - Beautiful agave relative often grown as a landscape shrub for its long-stranded, variegated green-yellow. Seeds are from the spectacular and rare variegated form. The fronds can grow up to 10-15ft, but more commonly the shrub stays at 2-6ft. The fibrous fronds are very strong and used for clothing, baskets, and rope. Hardy to 10-15F. #1089 more info

Pinus patula

Mexican Weeping Pine - A beautiful and distinctive pine with long, fine, gracefully weeping needles. It is mildly tender to frost and can grow to 150ft. While generally grown as an ornamental, the tree has a few medicinal uses and a flavoring can be obtained from the wood. The timber is valued and the tree is sometimes grown in warm or tropical climates commercially. #1042

Plumeria rubra

Plumeria, Frangipani - Seeds are mixed color varieties of mostly P. rubra but also P. obtusa. A stunning and instantly recognizable tropical flower that comes in many colors! The beautiful plumeria has a warm, sweet scent and is a popular decoration in tropical regions. Hardy to the upper 20's, great in arid and wet regions. Great in containers. 5 seeds, mixed varieties. #1050

Pogostemon cablin

Patchouli - Low-medium height perennial best known for its fragrant oil used in perfumes and aromatherapy. Grows to about 6ft, hardy into the 20's (F). Forms a compact, bush appearance. #1007

Protea cynaroides

King Protea - Part of the ancient Protea family, King Protea has the largest flowers of any Protea. The beautiful and distinctive flowers bloom for much of the year and can reach 12" across! Colors mix from pink to red and white and the flowers last on (and off of) the plant for quite a long time. The flower nectar is edible. Hardy to brief frosts. Bushy plant grows to 4-6ft. more info... #1065

Protea eximia

Broad-Leaved Protea - A versatile and beautiful protea having radiant red-yellow-orange flowers. This particular species is tolerant of a wide variety of soils and climates, making it popular for home cultivation. Small bushy tree to 4-12ft. Hardy to some frost. #1081

Protea lepidocarpodendron

Black Bearded Protea - One of the bearded protea group, this salmon-orange beauty is highlighted by its black beard, coloring the tops of the flowers. Large flowers grow to a few inches and open upright. Small bushy tree to 4-12ft. Hardy to some frost. #1086

Psychotria carthaginensis

Sameruca - Pretty, compact bushy shrub from South America. Hardy to the upper 20's (F). Red-purple ripening fruits cover the bush in season making for a pretty ornamental. This species is sometimes used in traditional medicine along with other Psychotria species, but extract tests on the leaves and fruit have found no traces of alkaloids in this plant. #840 more info

Puya alpestris

Sapphire Tower - Bizarre bromeliad with several foot long flower spikes having gorgeous electric sapphire-blue colored flowers. Adapted to dry, cooler climates, hardy to 25F. #284 more info

Puya berteroniana

Aqua Sapphire Tower - Strange bromeliad with several foot long flower spikes having gorgeous electric sapphire-blue colored flowers. Adapted to dry, cooler climates, hardy to 25F. This species is closely related to the sapphire tower, but has flowers that tend to be more aquamarine in color. #853 more info

Puya chilensis

Sapphire Tower - Strange bromeliad with several foot long flower spikes having gorgeous electric sapphire-blue colored flowers. Adapted to dry, cooler climates, hardy to 25F. This species is closely related to the sapphire tower, but has flowers that tend to be lighter and greener in color. #868

Puya mirabilis

Green Puya - A beautiful cloud forest puya with large, green-yellow flowers. Flowers are born on spikes that can grow to a few feet in length. Foliage has a delicate appearance, almost like a grass. Great in containers and hardy to the low 20's and even high teens. #1088

Puya venusta

Neon Puya - Striking bromeliad with large neon blue-red flower spikes. Bears similarities to P. coerulea. Silver fronded, grows to 2-6ft with 2-3ft flower spikes. Cloud forest bromeliad, but will survive droughts, and cold temperatures to 24-25F. #1080

Puya sp.

Black Sapphire Tower - Another unknown Puya species, this one closely related to P. alpestris. Flowers are born on large 3-4ft stalks, and are a bold black-sapphire color. Foliage is sliver-grey. Hardy to the mid 20's (F). Adapted to dry, cooler climates, much like the sapphire tower. #854

Puya sp.

Neon Green Puya - Bromeliad related to the beautiful sapphire tower. Sadly no picture is yet available, but blooms are large, with individual flowers the size of Puya alpestris. Flowers are born in groups of 6-12, are bright-neon green, and very pretty. Hardy to at least 32F, probably lower. Adapted to dry, cooler climates, much like the sapphire tower. #832

Radermachera frondosa

China Doll - Lesser known species of China Doll. Beautiful tropical flowering shrub commonly grown as a houseplant. Easily container grown, but if allowed, can grow to 20-25ft. Produces exquisitely fragrant, long tubular white flowers. May be grown outdoors where frosts are seldom. #879

Ravenala madagascariensis

Traveller's Palm - One of the most remarkable plants in the world, the Traveller's Palm is an unmistakable sight at maturity. It is not a true palm, and has some of the look of a banana plant. Its huge leaves grow up to 10ft long by 1 ft wide and spread from its top in a 180 degree fan. Truly a stunning tree, it is hardy to short bouts of frost, and enjoys moist climates as well. #1019

Salvia coccinea

Scarlet Sage - A beautiful perennial (in warm climates) or annual bearing scarlet flowers whorls. The plant grows to 2-3ft and flowers throughout spring until frost. This pretty ornamental is a great butterfly and hummingbird plant and will reseed. Also a good plant for drought areas. #1026

Samanea saman

Monkey Pod - A famous tropical tree known for its tall, spreading canopy and its uniform and easily identifiable crown. The tree is a popular ornamental street tree in Hawaii and other tropical regions. The wood is quite pretty and used for a number of woodworking purposes. #1038

Senecio petasitis

Velvet Groundsel - Low-growing, large leaved shrub known for its beautiful velvety leaves and profuse yellow flower blooms. Makes an attractive garden specimen, hardy to about 25-28F. #889

Senna alata

Candle Bush - Short subtropical bush producing yellow flower tufts for most months of the year. Flowers are brightly colored, attract butterflies. #245 more info...

Senna multiglandulosa

Buttercup Bush, Downy Senna- Small, subtropical shrub producing large blooms of bright yellow flowers throughout winter. Very pretty ornamental, hardy to the 20's (F). #216 more info...

Solanum mammosum

Nipple Fruit, Apple of Sodom, Titty Fruit - Bizarre tomato relative producing 3-5", bright yellow-orange fruits the shape of a cow's udder. Fruits are poisonous, but the shrub is often grown for its strange ornamental appearance. Grow as an annual or perennial. #275 more info

Solanum pseudocapsicum Joker

Christmas Cherry, Jerusalum Cherry - A pretty and popular dwarf ornamental, usually grown in small pots for its attractive fruits. The small round fruits ripen to orange and red, with the appearance of cherries. Fruits are not edible. Bushy growth to 12", great indoors and in small containers. Annual or perennial. #1092

Strelitzia nicolai

White Bird of Paradise - Striking hardy tropical recognized around the world for its exotic flowers and graceful tropical foliage. This species bears white flowers with pink and blue. Plants are very adaptable to soil and climate variations and are hardy to about 25F. 7 seeds per pack. #1056

Strelitzia reginae

Bird of Paradise - Striking hardy tropical recognized around the world for its exotic orange-blue-pink flowers and graceful tropical foliage. Plants are very adaptable to soil and climate variations and are hardy to about 25F. #1010

Swietenia mahogani

West Indies Mahogany - A source of the gorgeous hardwood mahogany, this species is native to a small range in the Caribbean, including the Bahamas and north to the Florida Everglades. It is a majestic hammock tree, growing to 70+ft, but more often to 30ft. It is a popular landscape tree and is planted as a street tree in parts of South Florida. Hardy to short, mild frosts. #1063

Tabebuia impetiginosa

Pink Trumpet Tree, Pau d'Arco - Gorgeous ornamental tree blooms profuse pink flowers in large clumps throughout the spring. Grows well in subtropical and tropical climates. The tree also has an extensive list of alledged medicinal benefits and uses. Needs only light water during cold months, consistant water during warm months. Tree to 15-50ft. more info... #1013

Tacca integrifolia

Bat Flower - A tropical flower like no other, it has to be seen to be believed! Beautiful large tropical green foliage accents the stunning flowers which are incomparable to any other. The ornate and elaborate flowers might resemble some type of orchid, with multiple petal parts and long whiskers that can reach a foot long! To 4ft, hardy to the low 30's. #1043

Tectona grandis

Teak - A beautiful deciduous tropical tree whose gorgeous red heartwood is used in fine furniture and woodworking. Teak grows extremely fast, unlike most hardwood trees and succeeds well in humid, tropical climates. #1016

Tipuana tipu

Rosewood, Pride of Bolivia - Large subtropical-tropical tree grown for its valuable and beautiful wood, used in furniture and woodworking. The rosewood tree is hardy to the upper 20's (F), a fast-grower, and fairly tolerant or a variety of climate conditions. #819

Wrightia tinctoria

Indrajao - A shrubby, short tree native to India. Known for its medicinal uses in treating a variety of skin ailments as well as toothaches. The wood is smooth and carved much like ivory. The tree is also a source of a type of indigo dye. #1091