Marantaceae - Botanical Family

This small plant, typically 2-5 feet in height, is native to Brazil, Honduras and Costa Rica. Its ornamental foliage and flowers add decoration to any home or garden area. The leaves are oval with metallic accents, and the undersides are often burgundy or purple in color. This plant flowers range from red and crimson to vinous, to yellow and orange.

Those seeking to grow this plant in colder regions must take great care and select a suitable pot. Stromanthe sp. is hardy to at least 30°F for a short time, making it suitable for USDA Zone 9-12. It should be placed in semi-shade, as full sun will cause the leaves to burn and the plant to become distressed. It's important to ensure that the soil surrounding the plant is kept moist, but not soggy, so water when the surface of the soil appears dry.

For best results, Stromanthe sp. should be fertilized regularly with a balanced liquid houseplant fertilizer. Regular pruning of dead or dying leaves is essential to keep the plant healthy and encourage flowering.

In order to ensure optimal growth, it is important to maintain a high level of humidity around Stromanthe sp.. The easiest way to do this is to keep the plant in a bathroom or kitchen, or alternatively, mist the foliage regularly. With proper care, your Stromanthe sp. will thrive as an ornamental addition to your home, with interesting foliage and beautiful flowers.

Powdery Alligator Flag is a robust, tropical, aquatic perennial. The large, broadly lance-shaped, long-petioled leaves are covered with a white powdery coating as are all parts of the plant. The blue and purple flowers are crowded in an open panicle. Alligator Flag can reach heights of 6 feet tall and leaves as wide as 20 inches.

Will grow in both wet or dry environments.

Thalia geniculata (Fire Flag) is a small shrub native to Central America, growing 2 to 5 feet in height. With its broad, lance-shaped leaves covered in a white powdery coating, this beauty gives off a vibrant blue, lavender and purple hue from its open panicle of flowers.

Due to its flood-tolerant nature, this plant not only works well in marshy bogs and water gardens, but also in more traditional garden settings. Its friendly nature and year-round color make it one of the most popular landscape and garden plants. It prefers full sun, but can also tolerate up to semi-shade. However, it should be noted that in areas with lower light intensity, the vibrant color of this shrub may dull slightly.

This plant requires moderate care, however, and should be grown in areas with a USDA Hardiness Zone of between 9 and 11. It also needs regular watering and may need to be trimmed in order to keep it from becoming overgrown and unruly. In colder regions, growing this plant in a pot is often recommended. If done correctly, it can add a splash of color and life to any outdoor space. In order to ensure your Thalia geniculata thrives all year round, it's important to use a soil that retains moisture and gives off optimal drainage. In addition, mulching will help keep the soil from becoming too dry and maintain the strong color of the foliage, making it an excellent addition to any garden.

Thaumatococcus daniellii is a rhizomatous, perennial herb, up to 3-3.5 m high. The ovate-elliptic leaves (up to 60 cm long and 40 cm wide) arise singly from each node of the rhizome. Thaumatococcus daniellii bears pale purple flowers and a soft fruit containing a few shiny black seeds. The fruit is covered in a fleshy red aril, which is the part that contains thaumatin. When the fleshy part of the fruit is eaten, this molecule binds to the tongue's taste buds, causing sour foods to taste sweet.

Common names for this species include Miracle Fruit (but the unrelated species Synsepalum dulcificum is better known by that name )