Watering: Regular - Plant Encyclopedia Results

A semi-evergreen trailing perennial. It is useful as a ground cover and for bed edges, hanging baskets and pots.

Ornamental, strawberry-like red fruits are dry and unpalatable.

Medinilla magnifica, otherwise known as Showy Melastome, is a beautiful large shrub native to the Philippines. Growing upright in a lightly vase-shaped form, this evergreen epiphyte reaches 5 to 10-feet tall in its native environment. In colder climates, it can be grown as a smaller plant, typically 2-5 feet tall.

This large shrub requires well-drained soil in semi-shade or partial shade. It prefers moist, humus-rich conditions and a regular watering in the growing season. It produces beautiful, fragrant pink flowers on panicles that attract butterflies and hummingbirds.

Medinilla magnifica is hardy in USDA zones 10-11, and though it can be difficult to grow in cold climates, it is possible with the right care. When grown in cold regions, the plant should be placed in a pot and kept in an area where it will receive indirect sunlight. It needs to stay warm, and must be kept in a bright spot on cooler days. Water when the top 2 inches of soil dry out, and fertilize in spring and summer. Protect the plant from the cold, and ensure it stays above 40 degrees Fahrenheit in winter.

Overall, Medinilla magnifica is an attractive tropical plant with lush foliage and stunning pink flowers. When given the right amount of light, water, and fertilizer, it can thrive in both warm and cool climates. With proper care, this stunning shrub can bring color and beauty to any garden!

Fleshy stems and leaves, they are one of the very few annual succulents. They tolerate heat and drought, which is a characteristic of their more "native" relative, Portulaca oleracea. The leaves are cylindrical, about an inch long, and pointed on the tips. The roselike flowers are about an inch across and come in bright colors like rose pink, red, yellow, white, and orange. Some are striped or spotted with contrasting colors. Moss rose grows well in poor, sandy or gravelly soils. The soil must be very well-drained. Drought tolerant, but flowers best with regular watering. Don't water with overhead irrigation, which can damage the flowers. The seeds are very tiny, so mix them with sand before sowing to make them easier to scatter. Seeds can be sown directly outside where they are to grow in the spring after all danger of frost has passed.

Podalyria is a genus of 25 species, endemic to southern Africa.

Species:

Podalyria sericea (Silky Podalyria)- a small shrub up to 1 m, with silky, silvery foliage and small pink and white flowers.

Podalyria calyptrata - a rare and beautiful evergreen shrub or small tree native to the Cape area of South Africa. The lovely, dark green leaves are as much a feature as the masses of pink flowers in Spring.

A bushy Australian rainforest tree or shrub with clusters of fragrant white flowers. The flowers look like Jasmine while the fruits are red like berries.

In some sources Saraca pierreana is indicated as synonim of Saraca indica.

The plant is harvested from the wild for its edible fruit, wood and medicinal uses. Edible milky fruit. Leaves very variable in shape.

Psilotum nudum (Whisk Fern) can be placed in a shady location and grown in USDA Hardiness Zones 8-10. It should be grown in moist soil in semi-shade and watered regularly to keep the roots moist and the air humid. Soil should be well-draining, but should be kept evenly moist in Spring and Summer, and dry in winter. Overwatering can lead to root rot. Re-potting this fern should be done in Spring.

This species of Psilotum can also be grown in a pot and brought indoors for colder regions. The pot should have drainage holes and should be filled with a combination of potting soil, orchid bark, and sphagnum moss. Water regularly, but keep the soil lightly moist and never soggy. To prevent root rot, do not let the plant sit in a pool of water. If grown outside, the pot should be brought indoors if the temperature drops below freezing.

Lemon grass, also known as Cymbopogon citratus, is a small plant native to India. It grows to be 2-5 ft tall and requires full sun and regular watering. It is hardy in USDA zones 9-11 and can be grown in containers. The leaves are bluish-green, 0.5-1 inch wide, and approximately 3 ft long, with gracefully drooping tips. They release strong citrus aroma when crushed and the plant rarely produces flowers. Lemon grass is valued for its flavor and health benefits, including its rich nutrient content, antibacterial and antifungal properties, and ability to produce fruit that can be eaten or juiced.

In gardens, lemon grass can be used as an ornamental plant, releasing a pleasant citrus aroma when brushed against to repel mosquitoes and other pests. It is also an excellent tonic for dogs. Lemon grass is widely used in Thai and Vietnamese cooking, giving Tom Yum soup its famous taste, and has become popular in the United States, with most commercial crops grown in California and Florida.

In addition to its culinary uses, lemon grass is also used medicinally. The leaves are steam distilled to extract lemongrass oil, which is commonly used in perfumery and flavorings.

It is a perennial plant that may go dormant in the winter, depending on the climate. Also, it can be enjoyed as an annual in frosty areas or potted and brought inside during the winter. Lemon grass is a versatile plant that can be used in the kitchen to flavor teas, soups, and other dishes, as well as in the garden as an ornamental plant and natural pest repellent.