INEXPENSIVE PLANTS

Fast growing but rather compact shrub with velvety leaves and stems. Bright yellow flowers. Ethnomedical plant. Easy to grow and not picky about conditions. Full sun and regular water is all it needs.

Dwarf Cat Tails, Kitten's Tail, Trailing Acalypha. A spectacular plant for a hanging basket, container or ground cover. Foxtail-shaped bright red flowers year around!

Agave plant that is an important economic product of Jalisco, Mexico, due to its role as the base ingredient of tequila, a popular distilled beverage. The high production of sugars, mostly fructose, in the core of the plant is the main characteristic that makes it suitable for the preparation of alcoholic beverages. Great addition to cactus - rock gardens - ethno-botanical collections. Drought-tolerant; suitable for xeriscaping. Grows fairly fast in summer if provided with extra water.

A breathtaking beauty, this Alocasia hybrid is excellent for creating a lush tropical look to gardens. Resembling large Elephant ears, these plants are mainly valued for their gorgeous leaves, which are very large, heart-shaped, but they also produce small, calla-like fragrant flower spathes. Suitable for bogs and water gardens.

The Amaryllis Minerva is a striking beauty with large red flower that has a white star center and a lime green throat. It is an excellent choice for a houseplant due to its stunning and vibrant appearance, which adds a splash of color. It has large, striking red flowers, adorned with a white star at the center and a lime green throat. These beautiful blooms provide a festive touch and are large enough to be a centerpiece in any room. Additionally, Amaryllis is easy to care for; it thrives indoors with minimal maintenance, requiring only regular watering and bright, indirect light. This makes it not only a decorative asset but also a convenient option for those who appreciate plants that do not require extensive care.

Voodoo lily, Devils tongue, Snake Palm, Corpse flower. Amorphophallus bulbifer is one of the prettiest of the Voodoo Lilies and the inflorescence doesn't smell that bad compared to others of the genus. Amorphophallus only blooms when mature and even so it doesn't bloom every year. The unpleasant smell that the flower omits is only present for a few hours after the flower opens. If the flower is pollinated (normally by flies if the plant is outside) it will take 1 year for the plant to mature its seeds. The seed stalk is very pretty with the seeds changing colors from green to red. During this time the tuber will not produce a leaf.

Purple Prince is a medium grower with glossy green leaves with deep purple tubular flowers. It's an excellent ground cover that can be pruned into a low hedge. Very suitable as a container plant, or on top of a low wall, where its foliage and flowers can spill down. Prune and fertilize at regular intervals and keep well watered. The plant does best in filtered sun or light shade. Hardy to 28F in a protected location. Height 1 to 2 feet. Native to South Africa.

Bignay, Bugnay, Tassel berry. Clusters of 20 to 30 red to black fruits are produced from July through September. The acidic fruits, greatly enjoyed by birds, may be used to make jams, jellies, and vine.

Veld grape - unusual succulent vine with tendrils, fleshy 3-lobed leaves and quandrangular 4-winged stem and grape-shaped leaves, used medicinally to help fractures heal faster. Good for hanging baskets.
This plant is anything but ordinary! With its thick, four-winged stems that look almost sculpted, Cissus quadrangularis stands out from the crowd. The stems are square in shape, giving the plant a distinctive geometric look that makes people stop and ask what it is.
Native to Africa and India, veld grape is a succulent vine both tough and unusual. It grows fast, loves full sun, and thrives even with minimal care. The fleshy, jointed stems store water, making it drought-tolerant and perfect for warm, dry gardens or bright patios. It can be grown as a hanging plant, groundcover, or trained up a small trellis.
Traditionally known as the bone setter plant, veld grape has been valued for centuries in Ayurvedic and African medicine for helping bones heal. It's also completely ornamental, with small tendrils, occasional clusters of tiny leaves, and a striking structure that looks great in containers or hanging baskets. A true show-stopper for collectors and anyone who loves the strange and beautiful side of nature.
Growing tips:
Sun to partial shade
Moderate watering, well-drained soil
Great for hanging baskets or groundcover
Easy and fast-growing succulent vine

Cashmere bouquet, Glory Bower - ideal for the container grown patio plant, very fragrant and will attract butterflies to the large flower trusses. Hardy to zone 8. Enjoy clusters of sweetly scented, pink flowers that attract butterflies and other pollinators. They open in terminal panicles up to six inches across. Dark green leaves often tinged purple are up to 8 inches long. This plant can be grown as a compact shrub or allowed to spread. Can tolerate light freezes, rejuvenating each spring. It thrives in full sun to part shade and is drought-tolerant once established. Keep the soil moist during the growing season. Regular pruning helps maintain its shape and encourages more blooms.

Very popular collectible hybrid, this is one plant that truly lives up to its cool name! Purple and green camouflaged leaves with a lime green stem. Each leaf of this Elephant Ear is like an artists canvas, no two are exactly alike. Splashed, splattered, sprayed, marbled, splotched - take your pick of adjectives to describe the unique pattern of lime green, chartreuse, purple, and near-black colors on each huge, arrow shaped leaf. Even its stout stems are colorful: light pink with dark rattlesnake-like stripes. The colors tend to be most vivid when sited in partial shade.
This plant will grow well in large containers or in the ground as long as consistent moisture is available. In the ground, the leaves can grow a whopping 2ft long by 18in wide and the plant can reach 6ft tall. This plant will also grow in shallow water.

Introduced at the 2000 International Aroid Society meeting in Florida, this dazzling elephant ear became the most wanted plant at the meeting. Emerging solid green, the 25" wide light green leaves begin turning butter cream-yellow along the center. The color then pours down into the main vein creating a huge bold Y-pattern in the center of the leaf. Color then bursts into the lateral (side) veins and begins its march to the margins. Coloring starts in spring, shortly after the first leaves mature. It sends out lots of side stolons which will root into the soil where moisture is adequate. The more moisture the larger the plant will grow.
Colocasia White Lava is similar to Colocasia Nancys Revenge but White Lava produces glossy red petioles whereas Nancys Revenge has green petioles.

Anthonys Rick-Rack. This curious epiphyte is grown for the strange leaves which lend it the common name Ric-Rac Cactus, Zig-Zag or Fishbone Cactus. In the wild it attaches itself to trees, clinging by little aerial root filaments along the zigzagging succulent leaves, but is adaptable to terrestrial habits. It loves strong yet indirect lighting. It does not need a lot of water and should be permitted to dry out entirely between waterings. It is nightblooming and its flowers last only a single night in spring.

Spice Turmeric, Longevity Spice, Indian Saffron, Tumeric. Turmeric powder might well be the healthiest spice on Earth. Made by grinding the dried root of the Curcuma longa plant, this ancient superfood and key ingredient in curry powder has been used by Indian Ayurvedic healers for centuries. In recent years, also the scientific community has begun to show interest in the potential health benefits of the turmeric root. Turmeric can be consumed in its original powdered form through culinary additions to other foods.
This plant is deciduous through winter-spring.

This is a very cute and unique plant from the Philippines and SE Asia that belongs to Hoya and Dischidia family. It's a vigorous growing vine with boat shaped leaves. Very easy to grow and it is a really good bloomer! A lot of Dischidias don't have the most showy flowers, but this plant has very cute fuchsia colored flowers, and the buds never fully open up! They look like little bulbs or dildos. Great as a house plant that doesn't need much maintenance. Grows well in hanging baskets in shade/filtered light and doesn't need a lot of water. The potting soil should be very well drained and porous.

Dorstenia bahiensis is an interesting plant with strange looking receptacles. At maturity, seeds shoot ballistically from the mature flower/fruit heads, and they germinate readily whenever the land on soil or other moist substrate.
A quirky, shade-loving plant with glossy leaves and button-like flower discs. When ripe, those button heads pop their seeds like tiny popcorn, launching them across the yard. Compact at just 6-12 inches, it makes a playful groundcover or a fun conversation piece in a pot.

David Bowie Dragon Fruit (Pitaya) - red skin, white flesh - is one of the most popular types of dragon fruit and produces some of the largest fruit among white-fleshed varieties. This highly sought-after, self-pollinating cultivar is a slender white variety that bears medium to large fruit, often weighing up to one pound. The vibrant red skin is accented by numerous green-tipped fins, giving the fruit a striking appearance.
Its flavor is mildly sweet and refreshing, often compared to a kiwi crossed with a pear, with a pleasant tangy character and a subtle lemony finish. The fruit is excellent eaten fresh and also works well for juicing, fruit salads, and garnishes.
The plant itself is a vigorous climbing cactus that produces large, fragrant white flowers that open at night, adding ornamental beauty to its edible harvest. Well suited to warm subtropical and tropical climates (USDA Zones 9a-11), David Bowie is a productive and rewarding dragon fruit variety prized by collectors and home gardeners alike.
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Pitaya page
What to do with a Dragon fruit?

Eureka Red Dragon Fruit is a large, self-pollinating variety originally from Nicaragua. Its bright pink skin hides a stunning deep red flesh with rich, sweet flavor and berry-like notes. The fruit are large, juicy, and excellent for fresh eating, smoothies, and desserts. This vigorous climbing cactus produces spectacular night-blooming white flowers and thrives in warm climates with good drainage. A favorite among collectors, Eureka Red is prized for its beautiful color, dependable production, and outstanding flavor.
It is most similar to Natural Mystic.

Hana Dragon Fruit is a rare Hawaiian variety discovered along Maui's famous Hana Highway. Known for its rapid growth, Hana can grow more than six feet per year and may begin fruiting in as little as 14 months from a cutting. This self-fertile variety produces pink fruit with white flesh and a sweet flavor often described as melon-like with subtle floral and rosy notes. The plant features slender stems with distinctive long thorns and produces large, fragrant night-blooming flowers with a delicate pink blush. An excellent pollen producer and reliable fruiter, Hana is a favorite among dragon fruit collectors looking for something unique.

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Pitaya page
What to do with a Dragon fruit?

Purple Haze Dragon Fruit is a hybrid variety that comes from Hylocereus guatemalensis and Hylocereus polyrhizus. It is a variety with purple flesh and bright pink exterior having green fins. The fruit has a refreshing sweet grape type flavor with few small eatable seeds. Fruits are large and can range from 1.0 to 2.0 pounds. For even larger fruit bud thinning is recommended. This variety typically has three fruiting cycles per the calendar year. It is also a very high producer of fruit.
The purple color on the purple dragon fruit indicates that the pigment content level of betalain is so high that it is purple like a beetroot. It has the most health benefits of all pitayas.

Sweet Red Dragon Fruit is a vigorous, self-fruiting variety prized for its brilliant red skin, deep red flesh, and outstanding flavor. Often considered one of the best-tasting dragon fruits, it offers a sweet, juicy flavor with hints of kiwi and pear, balanced by subtle earthy notes. The flesh is refreshing and mildly crunchy from the tiny edible seeds. Fast-growing and highly productive, Sweet Red produces spectacular night-blooming flowers followed by colorful fruit that make a dramatic addition to any tropical garden. A favorite among collectors and home growers alike.
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Pitaya page
What to do with a Dragon fruit?

Tricia Dragon Fruit is a unique hybrid developed by California breeder Edgar Valdivia and named after his daughter. This vigorous variety produces distinctive grayish-green stems, spectacular flowers up to 15 inches across, and attractive egg-shaped fruit averaging about one pound. The magenta flesh is sweet and flavorful with no acidic aftertaste. Tricia is not self-fertile and requires pollen from another dragon fruit variety, but collectors prize it for its giant blooms, unusual appearance, and excellent fruit quality.

Vietnamese Jaina White Dragon Fruit is the classic pink-skinned, white-fleshed pitaya loved around the world for its refreshing flavor and vigorous growth. The fruit are mildly sweet with hints of strawberry, melon, and kiwi, making them excellent eaten fresh or chilled. This fast-growing climbing cactus produces spectacular night-blooming white flowers up to 14 inches long, followed by brightly colored fruit. Easy to grow and highly ornamental, Vietnamese Jaina White is a must-have for dragon fruit enthusiasts and collectors of unusual tropical plants. Vigorous fleshy stems can reach 30 feet or more, attaching themselves to supports with aerial roots as they climb.
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Pitaya page
What to do with a Dragon fruit?

This crazy little cactus makes a wonderful hanging basket specimen and quite the conversation piece with its twisted, arching limbs. A night bloom epiphytic cactus with curly twisting leaves, Epiphyllum curly locks is an example of a cactus that uses its stems to capture more moisture and light. The plant has curly, curved stems which are the result of a mutation of a plant called Epiphyllum guatemalense. The name for this mutated cactus is Epiphyllum monstrosa - a jungle cactus native to Guatemala and will attach itself to a tree and live off of the composting debris that collects in the crook of the tree. Commonly called Orchid Cactus due to the blooms resembling orchid blossoms. The flowers are fragrant and usually open at night. Oval, bright pink seedy fruits form once blooms are pollinated. These fruits are juicy and edible. The plant is also self-pollinating and fruits can form even without the intervention of insects and mammals.
Epiphyllum are sensitive to being moved so choosing spot in bright, indirect light would work best. Epiphyllum will also only bloom when root bound, so take this into consideration when repotting.