(Coelogyne, Orchid)

An epiphytic (tree-dwelling) orchid from hot moist lowland forests of Southeast Asia, Coelogyne rochusseni is grown for its handsome evergreen foliage and for its long draping clusters of fragrant, pale lemon-yellow blooms.

This frost-tender orchid forms clumps of banana-shaped, yellow-green, conspicuously ribbed pseudobulbs. Two pleated, lance-shaped, bright-green leaves arise from the apex of each pseudobulb. New leaves and pseudobulbs develop in spring. Clusters of 20 to 40 buff-yellow...

(Arabian Coffee, Coffee)

Arabian or Arabica coffee is a lovely upright evergreen shrub with graceful gray-barked branches, fragrant white flowers and fruits (drupes) that yield some of the best coffee for drinking. Native to Ethiopia but now cultivated in wooded, high-altitude plantations throughout the tropics, Arabica coffee is by far the most economically important of all coffees, accounting for as much as 80 percent of all coffee grown worldwide.

Coffea arabica has been long cultivated and enjoyed by a variety...

(Robusta Coffee)

Robusta coffee is an attractive upright evergreen shrub native from the western sub-Saharan African coast to the Congo River Basin. It yields coffee considered inferior in flavor and quality to the more renowned Coffea arabica, though it is much easier to grow than its more picky cousin as it can withstand higher growing temperatures and poorer soils.

This species blooms in springtime with clusters of pretty white flowers at the base of the leaves. Bees pollinate the blooms and green...

(Liberian Coffee)

Accounting for only one percent of the world's commercial coffee bean production, Liberian coffee plants hail from western sub-Saharan Africa. The red fruits (drupes) bear a tough skin, making it difficult to obtain the inner beans for brewing. Liberian beans have a harsher, less flavorful taste than those of close relatives, Arabica and Robusta coffee.

The large, wide, oval, dark green leaves of Liberian coffee plants are arguably the most ornamental of all Coffea species. And there...

(White Breath-of-Heaven)

This South African native is a tender evergreen shrub with upright stems that bear white flowers.It has short, narrow leaves densely spaced on the stems, making the plant look soft and feathery. In late spring to summer, the many small white flowers in tight clusters appear along the tips of the stems.

White breath-of-heaven should be given a neutral to acidic, moist yet well-drained soil. Provide as much sun as possible for best growth and full flowering. Average watering is sufficient in the...

(Breath-of-Heaven)

Breath-of-heaven is a tender evergreen shrub native to South Africa that resembles a large heath, having many upright stems clothed with short, narrow leavesand tipped by tight clusters of small flowers in red or pink from late spring to summer. The leaves, when crushed, smell of camphor.

Breath-of-heaven should be given a neutral to acidic, moist yet well-drained soil. Provide as much sun as possible for best growth and widespread flowering across the branches. Average watering is sufficient...

(Breath-of-Heaven, Sunset Gold Breath-of-Heaven)

A selection of the evergreen South African shrub Breath-of-heaven, 'Sunset Gold' (or 'Golden Sunset') is white-flowering and chartreuse-leaved, a handsome combination. Like its South African parent, it has short, narrow leaves covering upright stems, making the plant look soft and feathery like a large heath. In late spring to summer, the many small white flowers in tight clusters appear on the tips of the stems.

This breath-of-heaven should be given a neutral to acidic, moist yet well-drained...

(Elephant Ear, Taro)

Colocasia is a small genus of about 7 species of large-leaved tropical plants that inhabit the warm moist areas of southern Asia. The most widely grown species is Colocasia esculenta, otherwise known as elephant ear or taro, which is used worldwide as a dietary staple.

Elephant ears are usually perennial, evergreen or deciduous, and have large tuberous roots and rhizomes (underground lateral stems) that grow at or just below the ground surface. The leaves are roughly arrow-shaped...

(Elephant Ear, Heart of the Jungle Taro, Taro)

Colocasia is a small genus of about 7 species of large-leaved tropical plants that inhabit the warm moist areas of southern Asia. The most widely grown species is Colocasia esculenta, otherwise known as elephant ear or taro, which is used worldwide as a dietary staple.

Elephant ears are usually perennial, evergreen or deciduous, and have large tuberous roots and rhizomes (underground lateral stems) that grow at or just below the ground surface. The leaves are roughly arrow-shaped...

(Elephant Ear, Jet Black Wonder Taro, Taro)

Grown by gardeners solely for the exotic look and huge size of its leaves, taro is a tropical perennial. This selection, ‘Jet Black Wonder,’ has leaves that are quilted, slightly ruffled and so dark that naming their color is tricky. They are not black but a shade of deep, smoky purple. The plant grows from a large tuber-like corm (an energy-storing underground stem). The leaves rise directly from the tuber on tall, thick, arching petioles (leaf stems) that are dark purple too. The leaves pose with...