(Fishtail Wine Palm, Solitary Fishtail Palm, Toddy Palm)

Named for the unusual shape of its leaf segments, this large, single-trunked palm from India and Southeast Asia is one of the most spectacular foliage plants for tropical gardens. A monocarpic palm, it dies after it flowers and fruits.

Borne on massive leaf stems ("petioles"), the enormous, arching, evergreen fronds are arranged spirally on the upper reaches of the stout trunk. Each frond comprises numerous long, triangular, bright green leaflets, borne in two ranks along a midrib (or "rachis")....

(American Chestnut)

A massive deciduous tree, the American chestnut has bristled leaves and sweet edible nuts. Native to the interior eastern United States, it is a slow-growing, broad and round-canopied tree that has gray to grayish-brown bark. It also occurs in Canada's southern Ontario, making it the nation's only native chestnut. Since the 1930s, this species has been devastated by chestnut blight (Cryphonectria parasitica), so severely that remaining plants resprout from their trunks to merely form large...

(Chinese Chestnut)

A spreading, deciduous tree, the Chinese chestnut has bristled leaves and starchy edible nuts. Native to Korea and northern China, it is a slow-growing, round-canopied tree that has spirally-furrowed, gray to grayish-brown bark. The leaves are simple (no lobes), oblong in shape with a tapered point and edges with teeth that end in very short bristles. The leaf undersides are lighter in color and softly fuzzy. In late spring or early summer, the branches are filled with flowers in fluffy white strings...

(Scarlet Indian Paintbrush)

Painting the eastern shortgrass prairie with orange and red plumes in summer, Indian paintbrush is an easily identifiable, hummingbird-attracting annual or biennial that’s wildly beautiful but rarely planted in the garden. That’s because it’s semi-parasitic and must live in union with specific prairie and meadow plant species to survive.

The lance-shaped leaves of this unlikely snapdragon relative are bright green and fine. Specimens may bloom in the first year or overwinter in a leafy state...

(Entireleaf Indian Paintbrush, Texas Paintbrush)

The fiery red plumes of Texas paintbrush cannot be missed when they bloom in spring. This native of the South Central United States and adjacent Mexico is an annual or biennial wildflower that favors prairies, grasslands and open woods where soils are well-drained and dry. Like other Castilleja it's a parasitic plant with roots that penetrate those of other plants to drain essential nutrients and moisture.

The leaves of this clump-forming wildflower are slender and green. As plants...

(Giant Red Indian Paintbrush)

Tall in stature, meadow paintbrush brings upright tufted clusters of orange-red to pinkish red flowers from spring to fall. A semi-evergreen perennial native to the wetlands of western North America (no further east than the Rocky Mountains), it is also called the giant red Indian paintbrush.

The lance-shaped leaves are medium to dark green and overall are fine in texture upon the tall, wispy stems. Beginning in late spring, the stem tips bear a cluster of showy bracts (modified leaves) that...

(Northern Catalpa)

Northern catalpa is a deciduous tree with an irregular to oval form. It is native to a small area in an interior south-central region of the United States. Leaves are medium to dark green and heart-shaped. This catalpa bears fragrant white flowers with yellow and purple markings in spring. These produce long, bean-like fruit pods.

Northern catalpa prefers moist, well-drained soils in full sun to partial shade but tolerates hot, dry conditions.

(Blue Cupids Dart, Cupid's Dart)

Cupid's dart is a short-lived perennial that originates from southwestern Europe. It forms clumps of grassy leaves which are accented by single blue to blue-lilac flowers with dark centers from midsummer to fall.

Cupid's dart is adaptable but best when grown in gritty, well drained soil and full sun. The plant will degrade and expire much more quickly in a heavy or overly wet soil. It is ideal for border plantings, cutflowers and dried flower arrangements.

(Cupid's Dart, White Cupid's Dart)

Cupid's dart is a short-lived perennial that originates from southwestern Europe. It forms clumps of grassy leaves which are accented by single blue to blue-lilac flowers with dark centers from midsummer to fall.

Cupid's dart is adaptable but best when grown in gritty, well drained soil and full sun. The plant will degrade and expire much more quickly in a heavy or overly wet soil. It is ideal for border plantings, cutflowers and dried flower arrangements.

(Catharanthus)

Approximately 200 genera and 2000 species of vines, shrubs, herbs, and trees make up the dogbane family. Most members of the Apocynaceae occur in the tropics and subtropics, but some are native to temperate regions. Among their distinctive features is the thick milky sap exuded by damaged leaves and stems. This latex is is often irritating to the skin, or toxic if ingested.

The dogbane family is home to many popular ornamental plants grown for their handsome foliage and their showy, often intensely...