(Floralee Mother Fern, Mother Fern)

This bright green fern is identical to its parent species except that it’s more cold hardy, and may be grown at the low end of its zone rating. The parent is native to New Zealand and Australia and is called mother fern because young plantlets form along the fronds, detach over time (or early if disturbed), fall to the ground and root, eventually forming colonies. Plantlets are genetically identical to the mother plant. This is a symmetrical open center fern with long fronds that become weighted...

(Mother Fern)

Mother fern is an evergreen or semi-evergreen in its native Australia and New Zealand habitats. It has long, finely divided fronds slightly over an arm's length-long. Young plantlets form along its midrib that drop off and can be easily transplanted. It can form large colonies from these either in the ground, upon fallen logs, inbetween stones or on large tree roots.

Mother fern needs a moist and friable soil with organic matter. Bright indirect light and an acidic soil is ideal for this plant....

(Bird's Nest Fern)

This tender evergreen fern from the Old World tropics is a classic houseplant. In its native habitat it is usually epiphytic, growing in trees. In cultivation, however, it also takes well to containers or garden beds. The long linear simple leaves are glossy-green with dark midribs and pointed, often furled tips. The leaves form circular rosettes which accumulate organic debris in their hair-lined centers. The spores are borne in rib-like rows on the underside of the leaf. Numerous cultivars and...

(Sand Dollar Cactus, Sea Urchin Cactus, Star Cactus, Star Peyote)

These tiny round hemispheres make exceptional windowsill cactus due to their unique markings and spinelessness. The species is native to thorn shrub vegetation of southern Texas and northern Mexico. It is often found in the filtered shade beneath shrubs, which act as nurse plants for protection from the brutally hot sun. This proves a tolerance for indoor conditions. Sadly, unscrupulous collectors have gathered so many old wild specimens that it is now listed as endangered in the U.S. Endangered...

(Bishop's Cap, Star Cactus)

Bishop’s cap is an ideal windowsill cactus because it is thankfully spineless or nearly so. This tiny, rock hard gem of a plant does not demand high intensity light and will thrive in any south facing exposure as a house plant. It is native to the Chihuahuan Desert of central Mexico, but has been in cultivation so long there are numerous horticultural varieties. What makes it so unique is that each plant is a perfect five pointed star divided into as many identical segments. Bishop’s cap protects...

(Monk's Hood, Star Cactus)

Monk’s hood is a beautiful windowsill cactus with unique coloring and strong geometric form. This cactus does not demand high intensity light and will thrive in any south facing exposure as a house plant. It is native to the deserts of central Mexico in gravelly dry washes or nooks and crannies in cliff faces. Each plant is technically a stem divided into an average of 8 segments that may twist somewhat as plants age. Widely spaced tubercles line the segment ridges, each one producing several short,...

(Ganges Primrose)

Successful in many warm soils, the spreading foliage of Ganges primrose is a lovely backdrop for the white or yellow blossoms that flush purple with maturity. An exact nativity is uncertain, but believed to hail from eastern Africa, and India eastward into Malaysia. This is a tender perennial or subshrub that sprawls out and is reminiscent of a large petunia plant. It is usually regarded as a pretty weed in the tropics (in lawns), often invasive along the beaches.

The medium green leaves are...

(Ganges Primrose, Variegated Primrose)

Successful in many warm soils, the spreading green and yellow foliage of variegated Ganges primrose is a lovely backdrop for the white or yellow blossoms that flush purple with maturity. An exact nativity is uncertain, but believed to hail from eastern Africa, and India eastward into Malaysia. This is a tender perennial or subshrub that sprawls out and is reminiscent of a large petunia plant. It is usually regarded as a pretty weed in the tropics (in lawns), often invasive along the beaches.

The...

(Japanese Aucuba)

Japanese laurel is a tall, bushy, broadleaf evergreen shrub that, as its name suggests, is native to Japan and eastern Asia. Its most ornamental features are its thick, glossy, dark green leaves and bright red fruits that appear in fall and remain throughout winter. One particularly popular selection is ‘Crotonifolia’, which has beautiful gold-spotted foliage. This shrub tolerates moist well drained soil and prefers partial shade. To avoid sunscald and leaf desiccation, protect Japanese laurel from...

(Japanese Aucuba)

Crotonifolia Japanese aucuba is an evergreen shrub with glossy, leathery green leaves mottled with yellow spots; it is a female flowering plant and will not form the typical red fruits unless a male plant is nearby.

Aucuba tolerates most well drained soil and prefers partial shade locations protected from hot afternoon sun and winter winds. Aucuba is excellent for hedges or massing and may be grown as a large houseplant.