(Zebra Plant, Zebra Star)

The zigzag white stripes across zebra earth star's leaves add visual interest to shaded tropical gardens. This terrestrial (soil growing) bromeliad produces starry rosettes of leaves that hug the ground. The species is Brazilian in origin but wild populations are believed to be extinct. In fact wild Cryptanthus zonatus plants were last recorded in 1972 in Dois Irmãos State Park, Pernambuco, Brazil.

Each rosette produces eight to fifteen flattened, tapered, strap-like leaves with tiny...

(Palay Rubber Vine)

This glossy, succulent-looking vine was once grown for low quality rubber production but remains in gardens today as a tropical accent. It is native to tropical east Africa where the dry season is long and hot. Rubber vine is naturally drought resistant and offers an excellent choice for water conservation in frost-free, tropical climates. This is a twining vine that produces unique rope-like stems that are filled with white latex sap that can be bothersome to the skin. Leaves are large, oval and...

(Bamburanta)

Grown for its interesting foliage, bamburanta is a tropical, evergreen perennial native to southeastern Brazil. A popular houseplant, its main feature is its long, showy striped yellow leaves with green markings. On the leaf end there is a small nubbed "tail".

Indoors, plant in a soilless or soil-based potting mix near bright filtered light and feed regularly. Outdoors, use as an annual for accent in containers in partial shade. In tropical regions, give it a fertile soil with lots of water and...

(Never-never Plant)

Never-never plant is a vigorous, compact evergreen perennial native to southeastern Brazil. A popular houseplant, its main feature is its attractive long, leathery leaves with mixed creamy white, silver and dark green markings. Leaf undersides are purple or wine red.

It grows best in either soilless or soil-based potting mixes, filtered light and high humidity. The leaves will brown or curl in low humidity or cold temperatures indoors or out. Growth is most vigorous when air and soil temperatures...

(Never-never Plant, Oppenheim's Bamburanta, Tricolor Bamburanta)

Never-never plant is a vigorous, compact evergreen perennial native to southeastern Brazil. A popular houseplant, its main feature is its attractive long, leathery leaves with mixed creamy white, silver and dark green markings. Leaf undersides are purple or wine red. 'Tricolor' leaves include creamy yellow streaks on the top side.

It grows best in either soilless or soil-based potting mixes, filtered light and high humidity. The leaves will brown or curl in low humidity or cold temperatures indoors...

(Cantaloupe, Casaba Melon, Honey Dew, Melon, Muskmelon)

Garden fresh melons are truly a summertime treat. Fragrant and delicious, these warm season fruits have been bred and revered by cultures worldwide and come in all shapes, sizes and colors. Muskmelons, cantaloupes and "late melons," like honeydew and casaba, are all Cucumis melo variants believed to have origins in Africa.

Melons are tropical annual vines with long, spreading stems that cling via springy tendrils. Their big lobed leaves are coarse, fuzzy and medium to deep green. Bright...

(Canary Melon)

This 2004 All-America Selections Winner boasts lovely compact melons with beautiful golden yellow skin, small seed cavities and sweet ivory flesh. The prolific vines of this canary melon are resilient and produce lots of 2 to 3 pound fruits that are ready for harvest around 70 days after planting. They are also more compact than average, making them well-suited to smaller garden spaces.

Melons are tropical annual vines with long, spreading stems that cling via springy tendrils. Their big lobed...

(Ananas d'Amerique A Chair Verte Melon, Melon)

The heirloom pineapple melon, 'Ananas d'Amerique A Chair Verte', translates to “pineapple of America with green flesh", so it has roots in both France and America. Its elongated oval fruits have greenish-tan netted skin and firm, ivory or pale green flesh that’s sweet, fragrant and somewhat like pineapple. The vines produce lots small to medium pound fruits that are ready for harvest around 75 to 80 days after planting. This cultivar may also be sold under the name “ananas.”

Melons are tropical...

(Cantaloupe)

Named for its heavenly flavor, ‘Angel’ is a vigorous melon that was recognized as a 2003 All-America Selections Winner. The 2 to 3 pound fruits have yellow and green netted skin, small seed cavities and fragrant, crisp, white flesh within. The fast-growing vines are relatively compact and produce melons only 60 days after planting.

Melons are tropical annual vines with long, spreading stems that cling via springy tendrils. Their big lobed leaves are coarse, fuzzy and medium to deep green. Bright...

The cucumber 'Armenian' ('Yard Long') is prized for its long, ribbed, spineless, non-bitter fruit. These slicing cucumbers have large, broadly lobed green leaves that are coarse to the touch. When mature, the vines produce yellow flowers. Pollen-bearing male flowers usually appear first, followed by the fruit-bearing female flowers, recognizable by the distinctive oval-shaped ovary at the base of the bloom. Ribbed fruits are light green, maturing to pale yellow. They are best harvested when young...