(Crested Philippine Violet)

Sandpapery leaves nestle around the trumpeting lavender-purple flowers of the crested Philippine violet in autumn. A semi-evergreen shrub native to India and Southeast Asia, it is upright in habit with a rounded silhouette. The leaves are oval, medium-green, roughly haired. Blooming most heavily in autumn, but a lesser degree in spring, it has lavender-purple or pinkish flowers at the tips of its stems. Each blossom is trumpet-like with a throat that is white-streaked. In a cool or droughty winter,...

(Ceylon Spinach, Indian Spinach, Malabar Spinach)

Pretty in flower and with edible, spinach-like foliage, Malabar spinach is a fast-growing vine that has both ornamental and culinary qualities. This heat-tolerant native of India is perennial and fully evergreen where hardy and has densely twining, rambling stems that can become thick and may require some management to keep them from overtaking supports.

The long, fleshy, green stems of Malabar spinach readily twine around anything upright and are lined with rounded, heart-shaped leaves of a...

(Ceylon Spinach, Malabar Spinach, Red Malabar Spinach)

Red-stemmed and pretty in flower, red Malabar spinach is a fast-growing vine that has both ornamental and culinary qualities. Its tender leaves can be eaten like spinach and colorful stems add season-long interest. A native of India, Malabar spinach is a fully evergreen tender perennial with densely twining, rambling stems that can become thick and often require management to keep them from overtaking supports.

The long, fleshy, reddish purple stems of red Malabar spinach readily twine around...

(Burningbush, Kochia)

A fast-growing annual with dense foliage on upright stems, Burning bush is showy in autumn as its leaves turn reddish purple. Native to Eurasia, this species is usually considered a weed elsewhere because it reseeds itself abundantly.

The leaves are thin and oblong or linear, ranging in color from light green to a light gray-green. The soft, fleshy stems are blushed salmon-red and can readily flop or break in a rain or wind downburst. Flowers occur in summer but are inconspicuous. In autumn the...

(Begonia)

Adored for beautiful blooms and wildly colorful foliage, Begonia is one of the largest genera of flowering plants. There are over 1,500 species and more than 10,000 cultivars and hybrids. They are found all over the world but most originate from sub-tropical and tropical regions.

The plants come in many different forms. They are fleshy, herbaceous and may be annual or perennial. In habit, they can be shrubby, climbing, or epiphytic (tree-dwelling). The leaves are simple or compound...

(Ambassador Pink Begonia, Fibrous Begonia, Wax Begonia)

Popular bedding plants, ambassador pink wax begonias are tender perennials of hybrid origin. These plants are evergreen in tropical to sub-tropical zones but grown as annuals in temperate zones. Ambassador pink wax begonias bloom continuously in summer displaying bright pink blooms on light green foliage. They prefer well drained soil in full sun to partial shade. As reliable bloomers they are often used as annuals in containers, hanging baskets and mass plantings.

(Ambassador Red Begonia, Fibrous Begonia, Wax Begonia)

Popular bedding plants, ambassador red wax begonias are tender perennials of hybrid origin. These plants are evergreen in tropical to sub-tropical zones but grown as annuals in temperate zones. Ambassador red wax begonias bloom continuously in summer displaying bright red blooms on light green foliage. They prefer well drained soil in full sun to partial shade. As reliable bloomers they are often used as annuals in containers, hanging baskets and mass plantings.

(Ambassador White Begonia, Fibrous Begonia, Wax Begonia)

Popular bedding plants, ambassador white wax begonias are tender perennials of hybrid origin. These plants are evergreen in tropical to sub-tropical zones but grown as annuals in temperate zones. Ambassador white wax begonias bloom continuously in summer displaying pure white blooms on light green foliage. They prefer well drained soil in full sun to partial shade. As reliable bloomers they are often used as annuals in containers, hanging baskets and mass plantings.

(Andrea Prado Rex Begonia, Rex Begonia)

This group, one of many in the begonia family, is prized for its astounding leaves, which amply earn the designation “Rex” (King). The leaves vary wildly in shape from whorled or curled like a snail to broad and much-divided. They vary even more wildly in color and patterning. These begonias produce sparse sprays of small pink or white flowers but the leaves upstage and conceal the blooms.

Modern Rex begonias are complex hybrids that derive from crosses between the Southeast Asian native Begonia...