HERBACEOUS PERENNIALS, GROUNDCOVERS, & SMALL SHRUBS

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.

Medinilla apoensis - Philippine Pink is a rare and exceptionally beautiful Medinilla from the Philippines with vivid bright pink flower clusters held gracefully above its heavily veined tropical foliage. Unlike many Medinillas that rely mainly on colorful bracts, this species produces large showy flowers in elegant pendant clusters, creating a dramatic cascading display. Its lush foliage and graceful growth habit make it one of the most striking collector plants for patios, greenhouses, or bright indoor spaces. Prefers warm temperatures, bright filtered light, good humidity, and fast-draining soil.

Medinilla has bright pink flowers and can be grown as a small shrub or a potted plant. Very tropical-looking exotic plant.

Brazilian plume, Brazilian red cloak - blooming size plants. This small to medium size shrub has large leathery leaves and spike of crimson to mauve flowers. It is amazingly hardy for such tropical looking plant and can survive light freeze without damage.

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

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.
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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.

Rare small ornamental foliage plant from Thailand with beautiful unusual foliage, dark green, variegated with gold. Can be grown in a pot and indoors. Relatively cold hardy for subtropical areas.

Yellow (Golden) Shrimp plant. Please be aware this plant doesn't take shipping well. It may drop some leaves, but normally it recovers soon.

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.

An easy to grow perfect houseplant with round waxy variegated leaves. Blooms with small greenish-white flowers on spikes. Need bright indirect light; let dry before watering.

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.

Lemon Vine, Tsunya, Perescia - beautiful ornamental low growing shrub with bright leaves - multi-colored with golden hues, may turn variegated with shades of yellow, orange, red, green and white, but the pattern is unpredictable. Drought tolerant. A unique cactus with leaves, climbing shrub with a tendency to vine, it bears spines in pairs or trios.

This is a terrestrial Orchid that can be grown in soil. It forms large clumps with inflorescences as tall as four feet bearing 10-20 fragrant flowers, opening up in succession. Sword shaped leaves develop as the tall inflorescens of white, rose and brown flowers reaches full bloom in the late spring. The species produces a new plant on a short bulb-like runner every year and flowers magnificently during March and April. It prefers shade and can take a long dry period before the flowering season.
See video about Ground Orchids.

Burle Marx is an easy to grow, prehistoric looking, low growing variety of Philodendron well suited for interiorscapes, containers and tropical landscape mass plantings. The jungle green, elliptical leaves are thick and leather-like and arranged in a upright formation. Burle Marx makes a wonderful border or ground cover plant. An Incredibly Easy Growing Ground Cover!
Can be grown indoors or out, and will be a lush and resilient addition to your garden. This plant has shiny, slender, bright green, heart-shaped leaves and reddish stems. Used as a ground cover, it will grow in a clump about 2 feet tall. If planted against a tree, it will climb vertically up the trunk. Prefers partial sun and moderate soil moisture, tolerates more sun than other philodendrons, and once established, tolerates mild drought.
Native to the tropical jungles of Brazil, this philodendron is named for the eminent Brazilian landscape architect Roberto Burle Marx who championed the use of native plants in modern landscape design.
Read the article about this plant.
See Article about Philodendrons.

The Philodendron Red Back is a unique, compact variety prized for its vibrant, glossy leaves that transition from burgundy to deep green as they mature, and its self-heading, non-trailing growth habit.
Large, glossy leaves that change color from burgundy to deep green. Bright red stems. Self-heading, meaning it grows upright rather than trailing or climbing.
The Red Back is different from many other philodendrons because it doesn't have a climbing habit. Growing instead in a 'self-heading' manner, extending both outward and upward. Philodendrons thrive in warm and well-lit positions with bright indirect light.
Close related to and sometimes labeled as Philodendron Congo Rojo Mini that have more cordate shape of the leaves while Red Back has ovate shape.

White Princess Philodendron is prized by growers for its stunning foliage and is one of the most striking philodendrons that you can add to your indoor garden. No one knows for sure where this hybrid first originated, but it has become one of the most sought-after philodendrons. Its glossy green leaves are generously patterned with white variegation to create a striking display. You may even get a splash of pink from time to time! Its gorgeous green leaves are generously splashed with white and will dazzle and delight. The slow growth and relatively compact size of the White Princess Philodendron plant make it a good choice for smaller indoor spaces. It also has the natural ability to help clear the air of unhealthy contaminants, so it's not just beautiful but also useful.
See Article about Philodendrons.

A spectacular philodendron with chartreuse foliage. Super easy to grow and adapts well to almost any light.
This spectacular vine discovered in Indonesia has a lot going for it: It's a member of the trendy philodendron family; it's a climber; and it sports eye-catching golden-yellow foliage. On top of that, Golden Goddess is easy to grow in a bright spot, and like most vines, it becomes more spectacular with age. Over time, the new leaves get bigger and bolder, creating a look you can't help but show off. This plant prefers bright light but avoid direct sunlight. The Golden Goddess is a moderate grower depending on its environment and is hardy in USDA Zone 9-11.
See Article about Philodendrons.