(Queen's Tears)

Queen's tears is a clump forming, epiphyte to semi-epiphyte with narrow, pendent, unusually colored flowers. The tubular blooms have reflexed green petals with narrow bands of purplish blue around their edges and are supported by showy reddish pink bracts. The plant resembles a fountain-shaped grass until the short red flower stalks and blooms appear. Native populations of this bromeliad exist from southern Brazil to Paraguay where they grow on both trees and the forest floor.

In warm climates,...

(Bismarck Palm)

What a grand silvery palm! Bismarck palm is an evergreen native to Madagascar. It has a single, stout trunk and a symmetrical crown consisting of large, waxy, silver to blue-green, fan-shaped palm fronds. Its flowers are yellow and occur in the crown of foliage.

Drought tolerant and heat-loving, Bismarck palm requires full sun and does well in a wide range of well drained soil types. Too much shade and the leaves are not as silvery. Its growth and habit will be much better if given ample water...

(Brazilian Treefern, Dwarf Treefern)

Dwarf tree fern is a perennial evergreen fern with bright green, lance-like fronds on a slender trunk-like rhizome. They appear in the center crown, unrolling upwards, resembling a fiddlehead. Over time, fronds can grow quite long and beautiful.

Plant dwarf tree fern in moist, fertile, acidic soil in shade and water frequently during the warmth of the growing season. Increased humidity aids in the best development of perfect fronds. Its formal appearance makes a striking accent in the shady tropical...

(Dwarf Treefern, Silver Lady Treefern)

'Silver Lady' is a perennial evergreen fern selection with mildly silvery-green, lance-like fronds on a slender trunk-like rhizome. Over time, fronds can grow quite long and beautiful.

Plant Silver Lady tree fern in moist, fertile, acidic soil in shade and water frequently during the warmth of the growing season. Increased humidity aids in the best development of perfect fronds. Its formal appearance makes a striking accent in the shady tropical garden. Also this fern would be pretty as a containerized...

(Deer Fern)

Growing in clumping tufts of glossy green fronds, deer fern is short in stature but spreads vigorously with its hairy, dark, fleshy roots. This is an evergreen perennial fern, native to western North America, northern and eastern Asia and Europe.

The fronds emerge from the plant center as a reddish-brown stem that unrolls as the leaves appear. Each frond is long and narrow due to relatively short leaflets. Since ferns do not flower but reproduce by spores, the undersides of the fronds will become...

(Bletia Orchid, Orchid)

Intrigue, murder and thievery have followed the orchid; world explorations have been launched and fortunes won all in the pursuit of these exotic flowers. Since the 19th century, when tropical orchids were first introduced to Europe, orchids have inspired human desire and greed because of their rarity, collectability and indescribable beauty.

In geologic time Orchidaceae is a relatively new plant family. Yet, it is one of the largest families among flowering plants with more than ~880 genera,...

(Candelaria, Pinepink, Purple Bletia Orchid, Sharp-petaled Bletia Orchid)

Forming massive clumps over time, pinepink bears triangular, rosy pink flowers from winter to spring. This semi-evergreen terrestrial orchid is moderately hardy. In the wild, it grows on tree trunk flares in swamps or on fallen logs across southernmost Florida, the Caribbean, and Central and tropical South America. It can also grow in coarse humus piled atop rocky limestone or along moist rocky cliffs. The pinepink flowers mainly from midwinter to late spring, but it is not uncommon for sporadic...

(Orchid, Urn Orchid)

Intrigue, murder and thievery have followed the orchid; world explorations have been launched and fortunes won all in the pursuit of these exotic flowers. Since the 19th century, when tropical orchids were first introduced to Europe, orchids have inspired human desire and greed because of their rarity, collectability and indescribable beauty.

In geologic time Orchidaceae is a relatively new plant family. Yet, it is one of the largest families among flowering plants with more than ~880 genera,...

(Hardy Urn Orchid)

Hardy urn orchid is a terrestrial (ground dwelling) orchid native to China, Japan and Taiwan. It is grown for its lush foliage and petite, cattleya-like blooms. This orchid grows from short tuberous rhizomes (rooting, underground, lateral, swollen stems). A few upright, lance-shaped, dark to medium green leaves that are deeply pleated grow directly from the rhizomes forming clumps. Beautiful flowers appear on leafless stalks held above the foliage, opening from the bottom upward. Each typical orchid...

(Hardy Urn Orchid, White Hardy Urn Orchid)

Clear white flowers distinguish this hardy urn orchid variety from its other kin. In all other respects, it is the same. Hardy urn orchid is a terrestrial (ground dwelling) orchid native to China, Japan and Taiwan. It is grown for its lush foliage and petite, cattleya-like blooms. This orchid grows from short tuberous rhizomes (rooting, underground, lateral, swollen stems). A few upright, lance-shaped, dark to medium green leaves that are deeply pleated grow directly from the rhizomes forming clumps....