Jatropha sp.

This is a decorative small specimen tree or shrub with sparse branches that grows up to 10 ft. The light green leaves , the flowers small but bright red or pink and appearing in considerable numbers on red stems. Makes a good potted plant but can also be used in a small garden and as border plant. Partial sun and a well-drained soil are preferred.

Species and varieties:

Jatropha berlandieri

Jatropha cinerea

Jatropha curcas

Jatropha gossypiifolia

Jatropha integerrima

Jatropha mahafalensis

Jatropha multifida

Jatropha podagrica

Jatropha standleyi

Jatropha unicostata

Jatropha unicostata

Jatropha unicostata is endemic to Socotra island Yemen.

Lablab purpureus, Dolichos lablab

Flowers of Lablab purpureus range from pink, blue, lavender, or purple in color. It attracts butterflies, hummingbirds, and other beneficial insects. It should be grown in full sun or semi-shade and needs regular water. Thereafter good culture is important. It needs nitrogen fertilization to thrive. The plant's pods will reach 6-9 inches in length when fully matured. Usually its seeds are black, brown or tan in color when matured.

Lablab purpureus, or Hyacinth bean, is a twining vine that is native to Madagascar and is widely grown in Southern Asia and Africa. The plant is similar to the Southern pea, however the vines are longer and tougher, with the potential to grow 20-25 feet long when supported. The leaves are broad, oval, and pointed, while the flowers vary from pink, blue, lavender, or purple. It attracts butterflies, hummingbirds, and other beneficial insects to the garden, making it both a practical and attractive choice.

Grown in USDA Zone 9-11, Hyacinth bean needs full sun or semi-shade, as well as regular water and nitrogen-rich fertilization to thrive. The pods of the plant are 6-9 inches in length when mature, usually with black, brown, or tan seeds. The ripe seeds and immature green pods of the plant are edible when thoroughly boiled, however it is toxic when consumed in large quantities.

Not only is Hyacinth bean a beautiful, hardy vine, but its ripe seeds and immature green pods are also part of many healthy diets. The pods have a high fiber content, while the seeds are a good source of protein, calcium, and iron. It also contains potassium, phosphorus, thiamin, and niacin. Each pod can bear up to three to six seeds, making this plant capable of producing a good amount of food with proper care in the garden. In regions with colder climates, the plant can still thrive in pots, especially when provided with the right amount of sunlight, water and nutrition.

Lasia spinosa, Dracontium spinosum

Leaf blade sagittate, entire or pinnatifid, with aculei long veins on lower surface. Spathe greenish brown to purplish, to 55 cm long and slightly twisted.

The plant is harvested from the wild for its edible leaves and various medicinal uses. It is also sometimes cultivated as a vegetable crop along the margins of ponds.

Although no specific mention has been seen for this species, it belongs to a family where most of the members contain calcium oxalate crystals.

Lysichiton americanus

USDA Plant Hardiness Zone Map

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Lysichiton americanus, also known as the Yellow Skunk Cabbage, is a small shrub native to western North America, usually growing between two and five feet in height. This unusual plant is one of few that can thrive in the full sun or in semi-shade, making it ideal to brighten up those harder-to-reach areas of the garden. It can also be grown as a bog or aquatic plant, and will require regular waterings to ensure its best performance.

The plant is highly recognisable by its large green leaves, and by its characteristic yellow or orange flowers that are often seen from late spring to midsummer. Its flowers give off a strong, unpleasant smell and have earned the Yellow Skunk Cabbage the nickname 'skunk cabbage'.

The Yellow Skunk Cabbage has a long and well-established history in ethnobotanical medicine. It has been used to treat a variety of ails, from stomach upset to body aches and pains. However, due to its high level of calcium oxylate it can be irritating when ingested, and so must be used with caution.

The Yellow Skunk Cabbage is surprisingly hardy, and can survive in USDA Zone 5 to 10. It can also be grown in colder climates, as long as it is planted in a pot so that it can be brought indoors during the winter. It also has a natural flood tolerance, with its thick rhizome network helping it to survive periods of flooding.

Care of the plant is relatively simple. Ensure it is watered regularly during the growing season, and protect it during colder temperatures by bringing it indoors. An established Yellow Skunk Cabbage should require minimal care to keep it looking at its best.