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 […] More
Persea–commonly called avocado–is a tropical tree that grows to greater than 60 feet (18m) tall. It also is grown as a foliage plant indoors. Persea is a rapid grower in tropical and subtropical regions. It produces dense shade. Persea is an evergreen that drops leaves throughout the year. Persea terminal shoots can be trimmed or […] 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
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
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 […] 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
Cycas–commonly called sago palm–is a palm-like evergreen plant that belongs to the Cycadaceae family, or cycads. Cycads are neither ferns nor palms; they are cone-bearing relatives of conifers; they are ancient plants. Cycas bear a rosette of dark green, featherlike leaves that grow from a central point at the top of a single trunk, sometimes […] More
Stephen Albert