(Lace Aloe, Torch Plant)

A cute, cold-hardy, ground-hugging aloe from eastern South Africa and Lesotho, this little charmer is an excellent choice for container gardens indoors and out thanks to its tidy form and vivid flowers. Succulent, lance-shaped, evergreen leaves dotted with white warty protuberances and tipped with white tail-like bristles are densely packed into round, perfectly symmetrical rosettes that offset to form clumps. Loose conical clusters of tubular red flowers are borne atop calf-high stems in summer....

(Soap Aloe)

A small, stemless, suckering aloe from drylands of southern Africa, this succulent evergreen is valued for its ornamental leaves, compact dense habit, and showy flowers. Broadly lance shaped, light- to dark-green leaves with oblong white speckles and brown-toothed margins are borne in ground-hugging rosettes that spread to form large dense clumps. In late spring and summer they give rise to dense heads of drooping tubular flower on branched knee-high stems. Adapted for pollination by sunbirds, the...

(Fan Aloe)

The succulent, strap-shaped, evergreen leaves of this tree-like aloe are paired in opposite fan-like ranks, in dramatic contrast to the spiral rosettes of most other aloes. This native of the West Cape region of South Africa is also coveted for its tall, multi-stemmed habit and for its showy spikes of bright flowers in late winter. The numerous tall spires of tubular orange-red or yellow blooms lure hummingbirds in droves. In its native haunts it is pollinated by sunbirds.

This beautiful...

(Zanzibar Aloe)

This is a little jewel box aloe that is at home in frost free gardens, pots on the porch or indoors where there is bright light. As its name suggests, this ground hugging Aloe originates from the dry climates of Zanzibar, a small island off the coast of Tanzania.

Zanzibar aloe develops little upright rosettes that elongate over time and travel horizontally, rooting as they go. In addition, it produces lateral plantlets, or pups, over time to form colonies. Sometimes the original point...

(Meadow Foxtail)

Meadow foxtail is a perennial cool-season grass native to Eurasia. It is versatile and forms spreading clumps that can be used ornamentally, as a pasture grass or for silage in agriculture. In some locations it is considered an invasive weed.

Its clumps spread by rhizomes (underground stems). It has large upright blades that are flattened and rough to the touch. The tiny inconspicuous flowers are borne on tall cylindrical spikes held well above the foliage. Meadow foxtail grass grows best in moist...

(Meadow Foxtail, Variegated Golden Meadow Foxtail)

This variegated perennial grass has linear blades with attractive golden yellow and green stripes. It is a clump-forming grass that spreads more slowly than average meadow foxtail, so it is less apt to be weedy.

Meadow foxtail is a perennial cool-season grass native to Eurasia. It forms spreading clumps and has large upright variegated blades that are flattened and rough to the touch. The tiny inconspicuous flowers are borne on tall cylindrical spikes held well above the foliage. Meadow foxtail...

(Golden Meadow Foxtail, Meadow Foxtail)

This yellow-hued perennial grass has linear blades that are golden yellow to yellow green. It is a clump-forming grass that spreads more slowly than average meadow foxtail, so it is less apt to be weedy.

Meadow foxtail is a perennial cool-season grass native to Eurasia. It forms spreading clumps and has large upright yellow blades that are flattened and rough to the touch. The tiny inconspicuous flowers are borne on tall cylindrical spikes held well above the foliage. It grows best in moist locations...

(Shell Ginger)

Fragrant in all its parts, this large, clump-forming, evergreen perennial is native to tropical Asia and naturalized in other areas of the tropics. Pendulous clusters of waxy, pearly, pinkish white flowers resembling seashells appear atop tall, strong, large-leaved stems in spring and summer. The interior of each flower is yellow with a red throat. The lance-shaped leaves are variegated in some forms. The stems die to the ground in the colder part of its hardiness range, but regrow from thick rhizomes...

(Golden Lotus, Shell Ginger, Variegated Shell Ginger)

Fragrant in all its parts, variegated shell ginger is a large, clump-forming, evergreen perennial native to tropical Asia. Pendulous clusters of waxy, pearly, pinkish white flowers with yellow interiors appear atop tall, strong, large-leaved stems in spring and summer. The leaves of the cultivar 'Variegata' are strikingly marked with yellow and green stripes and blotches. The stems die to the ground in the colder part of its hardiness range, but regrow from thick rhizomes in spring.

Variegated...

(Lily-of-the-Incas, Mauve Majesty Alstroemeria)

Alstroemeria or lily-of-the-Incas is a bulbous perennial grown for its multicolored dainty flowers that bloom on tall stalks throughout the summer. Mauve Majesty alstoemeria produces clusters of rosy violet florets with hints of pink on petals and creamy yellow throats. Dark red or brown specks cover the petals as well. A hybrid developed in 2002 by Mark Bridgen of Cornell University, 'Mauve Majesty' is exceedingly winter hardy and produces extra sturdy stems with upward of 15 flowers per stem cluster....