HERBACEOUS PERENNIALS, GROUNDCOVERS, & SMALL SHRUBS

Lobster Claw, Parrot's beak. One of the most recognized and widely grown species, and one of the most beautiful. The inflorescence it produces is one of the most colorful you will ever encounter. The flowers last a long time and make an excellent cut flower. It is an easy grower in tropical areas but some room is required because the stalks can reach 7 feet in height. It can withstand temperatures in the high 20s. Can be grown in large pots

Wax Hearts, Sweetheart Hoya, Valentine Hoya, Heart leaf. Hoya kerrii - Sweetheart Plant - makes an ideal houseplant. It has become increasingly popular in recent years. Unusual and quirky "heart" shape leaves appeal to anyone looking for that special novelty gift for their plant enthusiast friend.

Variety with variegated leaves with neon-green center variegation of the leaf.
Wax Hearts, Sweetheart Hoya, Valentine Hoya, Heart leaf. Hoya kerrii - Sweetheart Plant - makes an ideal houseplant. It has become increasingly popular in recent years. Unusual and quirky "heart" shape leaves appeal to anyone looking for that special novelty gift for their plant enthusiast friend.

Variety with variegated leaves with white outline border or large white spots.
Wax Hearts, Sweetheart Hoya, Valentine Hoya, Heart leaf. Hoya kerrii - Sweetheart Plant - makes an ideal houseplant. It has become increasingly popular in recent years. Unusual and quirky "heart" shape leaves appeal to anyone looking for that special novelty gift for their plant enthusiast friend.

Purrple Haze, Ribbon Bush - very tough, cold hardy tropical perennial that survived in our garden two nights of 25F withut cold protection without any damage. Repotedly hardy to zone 8.
Purples and blues are colors that can be hard to obtain in the southern garden. Showy lavender flowers cover this plant abundantly, blooming from fall through winter, and then on and off during the rest of the year. The flowers have two lips; the upper lip is darker purple with white markings. Leaves are tough, succulent-like to touch, but wide and green. The plant looks very ornamental. Water occasionally. Great butterfly attractor! Does not require much watering, good border plant.

Impatiens repens - Balsam Busy Lizzie, is the cheerful little cousin of the well-known Impatiens! What sets this one apart? Its showy yellow flowers, very small leaves, and compact, dwarf growth habit make it perfect for hanging baskets or as a delightful houseplant. If you're a fan of Impatiens, you'll love how this unique species brightens up any space with its charming, sunny blooms. It's small, it's bold, and it's a must-have for plant lovers!

A remarkable Morning Glory native to arid regions of Argentina. Like other caudiciform species, it has swollen stems containing water-storage tissue, and can survive extended periods of drought. Give it a well-drained soil, keep it moist and keep it out of the full sun. The caudex will grow to more than 2 ft, the vines reach for more than 12 ft. The bell-shaped flowers are pink. The plant is very showy; it can be kept in a pot as a bonsai and is easy to control as a container specimen, just needs a little trellis, otr can be pruned. Fast growing.
See picture of plants with caudex

Tricolor variegated Bloodleaf hybrid, a great plant for both sun or shade. The variegated pink/crimson, green and white colored leaves compliment other plants. It needs to be pinched back often to keep from getting leggy. Tough, hardy and colorful, these showy plants with their brilliant leaves and soft stems can be a great addition to a planting. Brightest colors are generally obtained in stronger light. It makes a wonderful houseplant and a cute present.

Bloodleaf. Evergreen small perennial, up to 3 feet tall. Bright mauve, old fashioned puckered foliage popular among indoor gardeners. Great accent plant in wa

Crimson Star Ixora, very rare, from Thailand. Triple bright red flowers. The plant is very slow growing. Perfect container plant.
Learn more about ixora plants: Ixora - the Star of Southern Landscapes.

Fruit cocktail shrimp plant, golden lime colored bracts accented by bright red flowers crown. Very cold hardy tropical, like many of Acantheceae plants. It survived in our garden two nights of 25F hard freeze with no protection and no damage.

Bryophyllum proliferum, Kalanchoe prolifera - Blooming Boxes. A very interesting giant specie, inch thick jointed stems are waxy, as are the opposite pairs of fleshy, succulent leaves. Terminal inflorescence of yellow flowers from dangling four-sided box-like bracts yields a multitude of plantlets.

Aztec Sweet Herb, Sweetleaf - Mexican herb with an incredibly sweet leaf. Leaves can be eaten from the plant like candy or tossed into fruit salads for an unusual addition. It is used since the time of the Aztecs for coughs and colds.

Welcome to the world of the Medinilla var. Gregori Hambali from Papua New Guinea! Prepare to be enchanted by this botanical marvel that showcases vibrant pink flowers gracefully cascading down its stems. The lush foliage, with its deep green color and bright mauve undersides, adds an extra layer of visual appeal, making it a true standout.
Vibrant, pink flowers form along the upright stems... Its broad, deeply veined leaves with purple to reddish undersides protect the column of flowers clustered along the stems. As a semi-epiphytic plant, remember to dry out between watering and grow in a porous potting mixture. As the plant matures, the spectacular show of flowers becomes more wondrous.
What makes this plant truly remarkable is its resilience and versatility. It thrives in moderate light conditions and can adapt well to varying levels of humidity, making it an ideal choice for both indoor and outdoor settings. Whether you're a seasoned gardener or just starting your plant journey, the Medinilla var. Gregori Hambali is sure to flourish under your care.
See video: Medinilla Gregori Hambali - an Exquisite Natural Wonder.

Four oclock plant. Wonderfully Fragrant Flower! Frost-Hardy plant.

Monstera dubia is one of the most extraordinary Monsteras you can grow. As a juvenile, its silver-green leaves cling tightly to a board, plank, or tree trunk in a unique growth habit called shingling, creating a stunning living mosaic unlike any other houseplant. Native to the rainforests of Central and South America, it naturally climbs upward while hugging the bark to maximize light and withstand heavy tropical rains. Once it reaches the top of its support, the plant undergoes a spectacular transformation, producing enormous deep-green leaves with classic Monstera splits and holes that can exceed 2 feet long. Thick stems root easily at every node, making propagation simple. First described by German botanist Karl Koch in 1845, the species gets its name, dubia ("doubtful"), from the early uncertainty surrounding its classification. In its native habitat, mature plants produce an elongated edible fruit with a flavor reminiscent of other Monstera species, although flowering and fruiting indoors are exceptionally rare. A true collector's plant, Monstera dubia offers the rare experience of watching one plant transform into what looks like an entirely different species over time.

Rare collectible species from Columbia. It starts out with somewhat light green undivided leaves, then begins to split as the plant matures growing small splits along the leaf. Eventually, the plant will set up in a nook or a joint in a tree and begin growing as if nesting. This is where the plant becomes most interesting. The leaves become completely divided or pinnate.
The Monstera pinnatipartita is one such out-of-the-ordinary example. This evergreen climbs with epiphytic aerial roots and can grow up to 2 feet a year if growing conditions are optimal. Despite their show-stopping appearance, these plants are surprisingly easy-to-care-for.
While mature plants certainly have the wow factor, the smaller foliage on juvenile plants is solid rather than fenestrated. You'll need patience for the payoff if you buy this baby.
See Article about Philodendrons.

Iris Regina. This variety was discovered in Brazil near the ocean in shady sandy soil, introduced by Sid Gardino, and named after his wife, Regina.
The plant is salt tolerant. Plants mature to flowering size from seed in less than a year. Cold hardy only to about 30F.

Pitcher plant does well in both cooler or warmer conditions. Tubby pitchers may be constricted at the waist, pale green to red-infused, while the stems are compact. Passive pitfall traps produced at the tips of the leaves trap and digest small insects. Color of the pitchers light-green, often with light or dark-red or violet spots.
Nepenthes are extremely versatile and adaptable to many different growing conditions. The number one choice to try on a windowsill or tank, very easy, vigorous and attractive.
Do not fertilize these plants with dry fertilizer! They get all their food from "eating" insects! If you are growing the plant where it cannot catch insects for long periods, you can add an occasional small insect such as a fly, a cockroach or a few very small insects to mature pitchers. Many types benefit from very mild, diluted liquid orchid fertilizer such as SUNSHINE Orchidasm, and solution should be added only to the pitchers when they are 3/4 filled with water.
See Article about this plant.

Nephrolepis species are easily grown in mild areas from full shade to partial sun. They are widely cultivated as indoor plants.
A lush, tropical favorite, Sword Fern brings a burst of fresh green foliage with its long, arching fronds that look like nature's feathered swords. Perfect for shady spots, hanging baskets, or as a groundcover, it thrives in humidity and indirect light, but can also take some sun. Easy to grow, fast to fill in, and loved for its classic, jungle-like look, this fern is a great ground cover for Southern landscapes.
In cooler climates, if they are grown in heated indoor situations, ensure they receive plenty of bright filtered light and ample water.
It is also one of the best over all plants at removing gaseous toxins from the air, including formaldehyde.

Native to Brazil, this rare tropical plant has bright red flowers that uniquely emerge directly from the stem. Relatively cold hardy, it can be planted in-ground, preferring shade or filtered light. Also grows well in a container. This evergreen shrub is an attractive plant for shady areas, with unusual color and shape.

Devil's backbone, Zigzag plant, Jacob's ladder. Curious plant with showy growth habit - zig-zag stems, and interesting pink flowers. Drought tolerant, easy in cultivation, and as a houseplant.

Radiator plant, False Philodendron. This perfect houseplant has bright emerald leaves and is a very fast grower and requires minimum care. It has glossy elongated heart-shaped foliage evenly spaced along long stems. Leaves resemble those of Philodendron scandens, hence the common name. This plant makes a great hanging basket or cascade in a planter. Great for beginners!
Allow getting slightly dry between waterings.

A delightful philodendron with its dark green leaves that are highlighted by white stripes. As the leaves mature the pinstripes get even more intense making the leaves look like they are gleaming. This rare beauty makes an amazing houseplant and a colorful centerpiece of Aroid plant collection.
See Article about Philodendrons.