(Giant Red Indian Paintbrush)

Tall in stature, meadow paintbrush brings upright tufted clusters of orange-red to pinkish red flowers from spring to fall. A semi-evergreen perennial native to the wetlands of western North America (no further east than the Rocky Mountains), it is also called the giant red Indian paintbrush.

The lance-shaped leaves are medium to dark green and overall are fine in texture upon the tall, wispy stems. Beginning in late spring, the stem tips bear a cluster of showy bracts (modified leaves) that...

(Southern Catalpa)

Southern catalpa is a broad, spreading, deciduous tree native to the southeastern United States. Its leaves are light green and heart-shaped. Southern catalpa bears fragrant white flowers with brown and purple markings in summer. These produce long, bean-like fruit pods in autumn.

Southern catalpa does well in moist, well-drained soils in full sun to partial shade and makes an interesting specimen tree. Cultivar 'Aurea' has yellow leaves and is smaller at maturity; 'Nana' is a dwarfed shrub...

(Golden Southern Catalpa)

Southern catalpa is a broad, spreading, deciduous tree native to the southeastern United States. Its leaves are light green and heart-shaped. Southern catalpa bears fragrant white flowers with brown and purple markings in summer. These produce long, bean-like fruit pods in autumn.

Southern catalpa does well in moist, well-drained soils in full sun to partial shade and makes an interesting specimen tree. Cultivar 'Aurea' has yellow leaves and is smaller at maturity; 'Nana' is a dwarfed shrub...

(Dwarf Southern Catalpa)

Umbrella catalpa is a dense, rounded, globe form grafted high onto southern catalpa. (It is often sold as Catalpa bungei.) It does not bloom and remains small but requires shaping. Catalpas prefer moist, well-drained soils in full sun to partial shade. Umbrella catalpa is useful in restricted spaces such as formal gardens and narrow streets.

(Manchurian Catalpa)

Manchurian catalpa is a small, spreading, deciduous tree native to northern China. Leaves are triangular, toothed and dark green. Fragrant trumpet-shaped flowers produced in terminal cluster are rose-pink to white with yellow and purple markings. The flowers appear in summer. Manchurian catalpa produces long, bean-like fruit pods in the fall which can be somewhat messy.

Manchurian catalpa does well in moist, well-drained soils in full sun to partial shade. This species requires pruning while...

(Northern Catalpa)

Northern catalpa is a deciduous tree with an irregular to oval form. It is native to a small area in an interior south-central region of the United States. Leaves are medium to dark green and heart-shaped. This catalpa bears fragrant white flowers with yellow and purple markings in spring. These produce long, bean-like fruit pods.

Northern catalpa prefers moist, well-drained soils in full sun to partial shade but tolerates hot, dry conditions.

(Blue Cupids Dart, Cupid's Dart)

Cupid's dart is a short-lived perennial that originates from southwestern Europe. It forms clumps of grassy leaves which are accented by single blue to blue-lilac flowers with dark centers from midsummer to fall.

Cupid's dart is adaptable but best when grown in gritty, well drained soil and full sun. The plant will degrade and expire much more quickly in a heavy or overly wet soil. It is ideal for border plantings, cutflowers and dried flower arrangements.

(Cupid's Dart, White Cupid's Dart)

Cupid's dart is a short-lived perennial that originates from southwestern Europe. It forms clumps of grassy leaves which are accented by single blue to blue-lilac flowers with dark centers from midsummer to fall.

Cupid's dart is adaptable but best when grown in gritty, well drained soil and full sun. The plant will degrade and expire much more quickly in a heavy or overly wet soil. It is ideal for border plantings, cutflowers and dried flower arrangements.

(Catasetum Orchid, Orchid)

A tremendous array of flower colors and shapes occur in the Catasetum orchid genus. It contains roughly 100 species that are deciduous in the tropical winter dry season. Dozens more hybrids, called "grexes" have been created by plant breeders. These tropical herbaceous perennials hail from hot, sultry tropical Central America to northern South America.

"Catasetum" is a Greek compound word meaning "down bristle." This group of orchids is quite unique in having different gender flowers...

(Bearded Catasetum Orchid, Orchid)

A curious looking orchid that loses its leaves in winter, the bearded catasetum is renowned for its pleasingly fragrant, long-lasting green and white flowers. Unlike many other orchids, it is also surprisingly easy to grow, as long as the watering regime offers a mandatory winter dormancy. The bearded catasetum orchid is native to the rainforests of lowland northern South America, north of the Amazon River.

"Catasetum" is a Greek compound word meaning "down bristle." This orchid genus is unique...