(Plume Cockscomb)

The colorful, very large broad plumes of Kimono plume cockscomb are commonly enjoyed in annual borders and containers. These dwarf, bushy annuals to short-lived perennials may have leaves of bright green, purple-red or bronze and large dense, bracted floral clusters of yellow, orange, salmon, red or ivory. Plant them in sites with full sun, and average, well drained soil.

(Plume Cockscomb)

The colorful pyramidal plumes of cockscomb in the popular New Look Series make beautiful additions to annual borders and containers. These dwarf, bushy, warm season annuals may occasionally survive for a year or more in southern regions where winters are mild. They grow quickly from seed and have large leaves that may be green, purple-red, or bronze, depending on the selection. Their long-lasting flowers are dense, plume-like and comprised of many small bracted flowers of bright yellow, orange, pink...

The colorful pyramidal plumes of plume cockscomb are commonly enjoyed in annual borders and containers, and tall cultivars make great cut flowers. These bushy annuals may occasionally survive for a year or more in southern regions where winters are mild. They grow quickly from seed and have foliage that may be bright green, purple-red or bronze, depending on the cultivar. Their long-lasting plumes are comprised of many small bracted flowers that come in shades of bright yellow, orange, pink, purple,...

(Dusty Miller)

Mounds of silvery white foliage, stunning in daylight glowing eerily in night gardens, make dusty miller a favorite of gardeners everywhere. This perennial is often grown as an annual and is native to southern Europe mostly Italy.

Botanically known as a sub-shrub, dusty miller will develop a woody base with age. The plants are evergreen and well branched. The leaves alternate each other on the stem. They are extremely variable, most are oblong to oval, much divided and often look like feathers...

(Colchester White Centaurea, Dusty Miller, Silver Centaurea)

Few silver-leaved ornamentals offer the cool, crisp color of ‘Colchester White.’ This favorite foliage plant produces tall mounds of frosty, ferny leaves that look cool in the daylight and glow eerily in the evening. Centaurea cineraria is native to southern Europe where it is adapted to heat and moderate drought. It is a short-lived, shrubby perennial that’s often grown as an annual.

Botanically known as a subshrub, dusty miller develops a woody base with age. ‘Colchester White’ is...

(Metallic Palm)

This small rainforest palm is near extinction in the region of southern Mexico where it’s native. It is a very popular interior specimen and or tropical landscape plant. Often known as metallica palm or dwarf fishtail palm, Chamaedorea metallica is a solitary plant with one slender dark green trunk ringed with leaf scars, though it is often planted in clusters.

Its unusual pinnate leaves look like a large, pleated fishtail and have an opalescent, metallic sheen. They are usually grouped...

(Spider Plant)

Probably the most popular houseplant of all time, spider plant produces a spreading clump of broad, arching, green blades. It is typically grown as a hanging basket specimen because it produces long, pendulous, wiry stems with lots of spidery plantlets at the tips, hence the common name. The most popular variety in commerce is the variegated form, ‘Variegatum.’ The species is native to South Africa where it exists in upland and lowland forests, so it naturally grows well in shade.

The long,...

(Spider Plant, Variegated Spider Plant)

The variegated spider plant is the most commonly grown form. It has attractive thin strap-like leaves of green edged with white. The plants are tender, but vigorous and prolific.

Chlorophytum cosmosum is indigenous to South Africa. It is a clump-forming tender perennial that’s primarily cultivated as an annual or houseplant. Spider plant spreads slowly by thick rhizomes (underground stems) that are easily divided. Its grassy strap-like leaves are delicate, green and white-edged....

(Spider Plant, Variegated Spider Plant)

Forming a clumping tuft of dark green and ivory leaves that often arch or curl backwards, 'Vittatum' is a showy selection of the common spider plant. Indigenous to South Africa this is a frost-tender, clump-forming perennial that is often used as a tropical groundcover or hanging basket houseplant. Spider plant spreads by rhizomes (underground stems) and by young plants borne on the sprawling or dangling stems.

Grass-like leaves are dark green but with a central band of ivory. Plants produce small,...

(Chrysanthemum)

Mums ring in fall. Their cheerful flowers and timeliness bring to mind fun fall days with bountiful leaf piles, Halloween trick or treats and Thanksgiving eats.

Chrysanthemum is a genus comprised of approximately 20 to 30 species of herbaceous perennials. These originate from regions in Europe to Asia and have been long cultivated for their beautiful flowers—particularly in China and Japan where they are most revered. Thousands of cultivars exist, new and old, most of which are hybrids....