Abutilon, flowering maple, is a mostly shade-lowing outdoor plant and a handsome house plant. It is content to live indoors all year if the right light is given. Outdoors Abutilon grows best where there is little to no frost in winter. Abutilon has a multitude of flowers shaped like small hollyhocks. Flowers are pendulous, bell- […] More
Kalanchoe is one of the most popular flowering houseplants. It features light-green, glossy, succulent foliage and masses of miniature brightly colored blooms in shades of orange, pink, red, and yellow that bloom in winter. Give kalanchoe lots of bright light, and keep it on the warm side. It will withstand occasional dryness, but water thoroughly […] More
Anthurium–commonly called the Flamingo flower–gets its name from the graceful, arching protrusions of brightly colored bracts. It adds tropical flair to any bright, sunny spot indoors. The bracts or blooms can be bright red, orange, pink, even salmon. Anthurium is an upright many-stemmed plant that can grow 20 to 36 inches (50-91cm) tall. The lacquered-looking, […] More
The African violet features velvety-soft, round leaves, and flowers that range from the common purple to pink, white, and many colors in between, depending on the variety. Often grown under artificial light, African violets require bright light, particularly during winter. It must also stay warm, 65° to 75°F (18°-24°C), and humid to prosper. Ideally, place […] More
Monstera–commonly called Swiss-cheese plant–is a large vining plant with notched and perforated leaves. Monstera commonly requires support and plenty of room to roam. Monstera is a tropical plant. It is often grown as a houseplant in temperate regions. It will grow to about 6 feet tall indoors; in the tropics outdoors, it can grow to […] More
Schlumbergera–commonly known as Christmas cactus– is a popular holiday houseplant that features flat, sectioned branches that cascade down, and when in flower, terminate in tubular-shaped blooms in shades of pink, lavender, or white. Plants bought near Christmas have typically been “primed’ to flower then, hence the common name. Schlumbergera benefits from bright, indirect light, and […] More
Strelitzia–commonly called bird-of-paradise–is a subtropical perennial with large, erect leaves and bright flowers that emerge from a boatlike bract. The flowers resemble an exotic bird taking flight. Strelitzia has large, long-stalked oblong to lance-shaped leaves. The flowers are produced intermittently from the leaf axils. Flowers emerge from usually horizontal, waxy, stiff, boat-shaped spathes; the flowers […] More
Pachystachys is a tropical evergreen perennial that is grown for its tubular, 2-lipped flowers that are borne in erect terminal spikes with large, overlapping, usually brightly colored bracts. Pachystachys flowers can be scarlet or white; bracts can be pale green or bright golden yellow. Flower spikes are 4 to 6 inches (10-15cm) long. Leaves are […] More
Justicia is a tropical shrub that bears tubular, two-lipped flowers surrounded by bracts. Flowers appear in spikes or panicles. Justicia has lance- to oval-shaped leaves. Plants grow from 12 inches (30cm) t 5 feet (1.5m) tall depending on the variety. Justicia can be planted in mixed borders in tropical regions, Where temperatures are cool in […] More
Ixora is a tropical shrub grown for its vibrantly colored, scented flowers. Ixora has shiny, leathery green leaves and four-lobed tubular flowers that can be red, yellow, orange, pink, or white. Ixora grows best outdoors in a warm, humid climate. It can be planted in a shrub border or grown as a free-standing specimen. Where […] More
Heterocentron–commonly called Spanish shawl–is a tropical trailing perennial with slender, reddish stems. It grows to just 4 inches (10cm) tall and has small leaves with prominent veins and bears white, pink, or purple flowers. Heterocentron is grown as a groundcover in tropical regions. The slender stems of a single plant form a mat 18 inches […] More
Haemanthus–commonly called blood lily–is a perennial bulb that produces globe-shaped clusters of flowers that bloom at the top of a leafless stem. Some flower umbels have as any as 100 very small but long tubular flowers, usually blood red colored–thus the common name. Haemanthus flowers are borne above basal strap-shaped leaves that reach 12 to […] More
Stephen Albert