(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...

(Butterfly Vine, Orange Bauhinia, Orange Butterfly Vine)

Attracting butterflies with its pretty clusters of yellow and orange springtime flowers, orange butterfly vine also has two-lobed leaves that resemble a pair of angel's wings. A frost-tender, rambling evergreen liana (woody vine), it is native to southeastern Asia from Thailand to Malaysia.

The unusual two-lobed leaves of orange butterfly vine are bright green when young and mature to a dull medium to dark green. Each leaf has five to seven prominent veins. In the warmth of spring and early summer,...

(Butterfly Tree, Nasturtium Bauhinia, Red Bauhinia)

When in bloom, the nasturium-bauhinia looks like a reddish-orange bougainvillea from a distance due to its habit and profuse flowers. A semi-deciduous tree native to southeastern Africa, it grows upright, but has drooping, spreading branches that flop to the ground or on to nearby plants.

The leaves are rounded and divided into two lobes like other Bauhinia. They are a light to medium green and shed during the cool or lightly frosty winter season. The five-petaled flowers bloom most...

(Butterfly Tree, Orchid Tree)

Extraordinary orchid-like blossoms make this tropical tree one of the most beautiful available. Orchid tree is native to Southeast Asia and is well adapted to hot tropical climates as well as more mild ones. It grows to a medium height and has an open canopy.

This semi-evergreen tree loses its leaves in early spring just before it blooms, which really helps the showy flowers stand out. The exotic blossoms are spidery and rich magenta to pink in color. They literally cloak the entire tree creating...

(St. Thomas Tree)

The St. Thomas tree produces delicate pale yellow flowers with dark throats from spring to fall. This large tropical shrub or small tree is native to much of the Old World Tropics, from eastern Africa to southeastern China.

The smooth, rounded, papery leaves of this subtly pretty tree are green with blue-green tones. During the warm months, when moisture is available, the branches become filled with bell-shaped flowers that resemble hibiscus blossoms. In high heat flowering may cease. 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.