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…
Carissa–commonly called Natal plum–is a genus of tropical evergreen trees and shrubs, one species Carissa grandiflora is grown as a houseplant. Carissa has spiny stems and leathery leaves. It is cultivated most often for its white or pinkish fragrant flowers which bloom in clusters. Five-petaled star shape flowers are fragrant, especially at night. Flowers are…
Pisonia is a genus of tropical shrubs and small trees cultivared for their simple leaves. Oblong, leathery green leaves grow to 15 inches (38cm) long. They grow in whorled pairs along the stems. One species, Pisonia umbellifera, commonly called bird-catcher tree, is grown as a houseplant. Pisonia grows best in warm temperatures and bright filtered or…
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…
Graptophyllum–commonly called caricature plant–is an erect evergreen tropical shrub commonly grown as a foliage houseplant in temperate regions. It grows to several feet tall in its native habitat Australasia and Southwest Pacific. Only one species is grown as a houseplant. Graptophyllum has glossy green leaves spotted, mottle, or banded with various colors, often yellow. Indoors it…
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…
Subscribe today to get our weekly recipe newsletter! You don’t want to miss out!
