(Japanese Fairybells, Kinga Fairybells)

A native of East Asia, this spreading herbaceous perennial has glossy, lance-shaped leaves on smooth, compact, zig-zagging stems. Small clusters of pendent white or cream flowers dangle from the leaf axils in late spring and early summer. Black berries follow the flowers. Plants form an expanding clump via underground rhizomes. Many variegated cultivars have been selected, most of them lumped under the moniker 'Variegatum'.

Japanese fairybell grows and flowers best in partial shade and moist,...

(Japanese Fairybells, Tightwad Fairybells)

A native of East Asia, this spreading herbaceous perennial has glossy, lance-shaped leaves on smooth, compact, zig-zagging stems. Small clusters of pendent white or cream flowers dangle from the leaf axils in late spring and early summer. Black berries follow the flowers. Plants form an expanding clump via underground rhizomes. Many variegated cultivars have been selected, most of them lumped under the moniker 'Variegatum'.

Japanese fairybell grows and flowers best in partial shade and moist,...

(Variegated Fairybells)

A native of East Asia, this spreading herbaceous perennial has glossy, lance-shaped leaves on smooth, compact, zig-zagging stems. Selections grown under the name 'Variegatum' have variably white-streaked veins and margins. Small clusters of pendent white or cream flowers dangle from the leaf axils in late spring and early summer. Black berries follow the flowers. Plants form an expanding clump via underground rhizomes. Many variegated cultivars have been selected, most of them lumped under the moniker...

(Rivers Royal Trumpet Vine, Royal Trumpet Vine)

Royal trumpet vines are cold-tender broadleaf evergreen climbers grown for their lush foliage and spectacular displays of showy flowers. Bearing large lavender-purple trumpet-flowers with golden-yellow throats, 'Rivers' is the center of attention when in bloom, which is most of the year in tropical climates. The flowers are hummingbird magnets. Large seed pods follow the blossoms. Somewhat more vigorous and leafy than most others of its kind, this presumed hybrid has large rich green compound leaves...

(False Aralia)

One of the all-time favorite houseplants, false aralia is a small shrub to large tree in its native rainforest habitat of New Caledonia. The palmate leaves are grouped around the ends of the branches and look different when the plant is young. Its juvenile leaves are large, with deep, thin, finger-like lobes and toothed edges. Leaf color is dark green with brown tones on the top and pale brown-green underneath. When mature, the leaves become larger, brighter green and their lobes become very broad.

Flowers...

(Cleveland's Shooting Star, Padre's Shooting Star)

The cheerful pink or white flowers of this California native wildflower can't be beat. It can be found in lowland forests, grasslands and scrub from northern California to northwestern Mexico and blooms in spring, after the winter rains. Most commonly called Padre’s Shooting Star, it is rarely cultivated but is sometimes sold at plant nurseries specializing in regional natives.

Neat rosettes of spatula-shaped green leaves are produced in spring and give rise to long, slender stems topped with...

(Pride-of-Ohio, Shooting Star)

Native across most of eastern North America, shooting star is a truly distinctive early season wildflower. It's nodding, starry flowers may be pink or white and rise from long, leafless scapes above a neat rosette of foliage. Naturally found in both open forests and prairies, it grows best in well-drained, fertile soil.

Radial rosettes of green, oblong leaves are presented with long, slender flower stems in spring to early summer. Umbellate clusters of unusual flowers crown the tall stems....

(White Shooting Star)

Native across most of eastern North America, white shooting star is a truly distinctive early season wildflower. It's nodding, white, starry flowers rise from long, leafless scapes above a neat rosette of foliage. Naturally found in both open forests and prairies, it grows best in well-drained, fertile soil.

Radial rosettes of green, oblong leaves give rise to long, slender flower stems in spring to early summer. Umbellate clusters of nodding flowers crown the tall stems. Each shooting star...

(Darkthroat Shooting Star)

The variable and lovely darkthroat shooting star is native across a wide expanse of western North America from Alaska down to California and New Mexico. It even extends into northwestern Mexico. Different variants favor dissimilar growing conditions in the wild. Some forms thrive in moist, scrubby lowlands and wetlands while others can be found growing in seasonally arid meadows or at high elevations. Physical differences exist between plants growing in the different environments and most have been...

(Cusick's Shooting Star)

The variable and lovely darkthroat shooting star is native across a wide expanse of western North America from Alaska down to California and New Mexico. It even extends into northwestern Mexico. Different variants favor dissimilar growing conditions in the wild. Some forms thrive in moist, scrubby lowlands and wetlands while others can be found growing in seasonally arid meadows or at high elevations. Physical differences exist between plants growing in the different environments and most have been...