Pellaea–commonly known as cliff-brake fern or button fern–is a small, bushy upright or trailing fern. The fronds are compound and grow on wiry stalks; the fronds bear pairs of small rounded, bright green leaves along furry brown midribs. Pellaea are evergreen ferns that grow from rhizomes. They are erect and tufted when young and tend […] More
Pedilanthus–commonly called devil’s backbone–is an upright shrubby succulent with fleshy green stems that grow either straight or in a zigzag fashion. The leaves are oval and medium green and splashed with yellow or white. Pedilanthus is often referred to as a cactus, but it is a succulent shrub. The stems of Pedilanthus often angle left, […] More
Nertera–commonly called bead plant–is a tropical ground-hugging perennial covered with tiny oval or round leaves 1/4 inch in size. Nearly inconspicuous bell-shaped flowers appear in summer followed by fleshy, spherical orange-red berries. Nertera is usually grown as a houseplant for its decorative berries. Outdoors in tropical regions, Nertera can be grown as a groundcover or […] More
Nephrolepis–commonly called sword fern–is an erect tropical fern with arching, compound green fronds. The feathery, triangular fronds can grow to 6 feet (2m) long and 4 inches wide. Nephrolepis is one of the most often grown indoor ferns; they adapt well to indoor conditions. Nephrolepis fronds are composed of small leaflets with wavy edges. The […] More
Mangifera–commonly known as mango–is a tropical evergreen tree with an erect, woody trunk and leathery green leaves that may be oval or narrow and lance-shaped. Mangifera is a genus of about 70 species, more than 25 of those species produce edible, fleshy fruits. Mangifera indica is the common mango. It will fruit in tropical regions. […] More
Livistona–commonly called Chinese fan palm–is a tropical palm with fan-shaped leaves that are borne in dense, terminal heads. Livistona is grown as a specimen tree in tropical regions; in temperate regions, it is grown as a houseplant. Livistona has fan-shaped, glossy, rich green leaves with short spiny leaf stalks; the leaves are divided into pendent […] More
Leea–commonly called West Indian holly–is an open tropical shrub that becomes dense with age. It bears pinnate leaves 24 inches (60cm) long; each leaf consists of lance-shaped, slender-pointed toothed leaflets. Leea is grown mainly for its foliage, but it does bear small tubular flowers. Flower buds are rounded and scarlet red; the flowers open pink […] More
Howea–commonly called Kentia palm or sentry palm–is a dark green, feather-leaved palm with deeply cleft, arching fronds that grow from a single stem. It is often grown as a houseplant; indoors it usually grows to not more than 8 feet (2.4m) tall. Howea is a slow grower and easy to maintain indoors. It has a tolerance […] More
Fatshedera is a large-leaved evergreen shrub. It is a hybrid between Japanese aralia (Fatsia japonica) and English ivy (Hedera helix), with characteristics of both parents. Fatshedera has highly polished, 4 to 10-inch-wide leaves with three to five pointed lobes that look like giant ivy leaves. The plant sends out long, trailing, or climbing stems like […] More
Elettaria–commonly called cardamon–is a handsome leafy shrub with linear to lance-shaped bright green leaves. When grown in tropical regions, Ellettaria bears violet-veined white flowers which give way to aromatic seed capsules. The seed capsules are used as a spice called cardamon. In temperature regions and indoors, Elettaria makes an attractive foliage plant. In frost-free regions, […] More
Drosera–commonly known as the sundews–is a large genus of carnivorous plants, with at least 194 species. Droseraceae lure, capture, and digest insects using stalked mucilaginous glands covering their leaf surfaces. Drosera’s stalked glands secrete sweet mucilage to attract and ensnare insects. When insects land on the sticky glands they are unable to escape and eventually […] More
Dionaea is a sub-tropical perennial bog perennial plant that feeds on insects. It is commonly grown as a houseplant in terrariums. Dionea is rossette forming. It has rounded, yellow-green to red leaves with winged stalks. Each leaf has two hinged lobes, each with 15 to 20 stiff marginal spines and 3 or 4 sensitive hairs in […] More
Stephen Albert