Plants for a Plant Zoo: Elephant Ear (Alocasia macrorrhiza)
Karen For gorgeous foliage and a tropical look even in USDA Zone 4, try growing the tender perennial elephant ear. The gigantic upward pointing leaves are 3-6 feet long and carried…
Plant Profile: Polka Dot Plant (Hypoestes phyllostachya)
Native to the tropics of Madagascar, this tender herbaceous perennial or evergreen subshrub is a member of the acanthus family, Acanthaceaea, that also includes bear’s breeches, shrimp plant, and Thunbergia.…
Plants for a Plant Zoo: Ponytail Grass (Stipa tenuissima aka Nasellela tenuissima)
Also known as Mexican feathergrass, finestem needle grass, fineleaved nassella and Argentine needle-grass this perennial grass adds beauty and charm to the garden with its delicate silvery green thread like…
Plant Profle: Blue Passionflower (Passiflora caeruleae)
Also known as bluecrown passionflower and common passion flower, this vigorous vine is native to South America from Bolivia to Brazil and northern Argentina. It is a member of the…
Plant Profile: Giraffe’s Knee (Gonatopus boivinii aka Zamioculcas boivinii)
Native to sand forests and deciduous forests of eastern and southeastern Africa, this herbaceous perennial is a member of the arum family, Araceae, that also includes peace lily, jack-in-the-pulpit, and…
Plant Profile: Common Passionflower (Passiflora incarnata)
Also known as maypop, wild apricot, and wild passion vine this perennial deciduous flowering vine is native to Southeastern US where it grows near riverbanks and in thickets and disturbed…
Plant Profile: Chicken Gizzard Plant (Iresine herbstii)
Native to Central and northern South America, this short-lived tender perennial is also known as beefsteak plant, blood leaf and Joseph’s coat. It is a member of the Amaranth family,…
Plant Profile: Snail Vine ( Cochliasanthus caracalla aka Vigna caracalla)
Native to southern Mexico, Central America and tropical South America this tender perennial, twining vine is also known as corkscrew vine, snail creeper, snailflower and snail bean. It is a…
Plant Profile: Common Hyacinth (Hyacinthus orientalis)
Native to rocky regions of southwestern Asia, including parts of Turkey, northwestern Syria, Lebanon and northern Israel, the common hyacinth become known as the Dutch hyacinth when it was introduced…
Plant Profile: Pine Muhly Grass (Muhlenbergia dubia)
This evergreen, clump-forming, perennial grass is native to higher elevations of eastern Arizona, New Mexico, west Texas, and northern Mexico, and belongs to the grass family, Poaceae, that also includes…