(Firecracker Flower, Tropic Flame Firecracker Flower)

Native to southern India and Sri Lanka, 'Tropic Flame' firecracker flower is a handsome moderate sized broad tender pernnial that produces clusters of fragrant moth-shaped flowers in shades of orange to apricot. The leaves of firecracker flower are thick and glossy and slightly resemble the leaves of the coffee plant. In its native environment it is a vigorous and enthsiastic grower and its flowers are harvested for decorating women's hair.

The cultivar 'Tropic Flame' produces flowers in a...

(Earth Star, Earthen Star)

As if painted, the variegated stripes on earths tar's foliage resembles an ackward starfish, adding visual texture to the floor of the tropical dappled shade garden. A tender terrestrial (growing in soil) bromeliad with a stemless rosette of leaves, it is from eastern Brazil.

There are from ten to twenty flattened strap-like leaves that have tiny teeth on their wavy edges and taper to a point. A medium green, they are striped in either ivory or pink tones, with colors changing across the growing...

(Earthen Star, Stripe Star)

Wavy foliage that resembles an ackward starfish, stripe star adds visual texture to the tropical dappled shade garden. A tender terrestrial (growing in soil) bromeliad with a stemless rosette of leaves, it is from Brazil.

There are from eight to fifteen flattened strap-like leaves that have tiny teethed edges and taper to a point. A medium green, they have waxy but matte finish with wavy edges and lighter green or ivory stripes; modern selections have more ornate tones of silver, bronze, red...

(Stripe Star, Tricolor Earthen Star)

With varigated wavy-edged foliage that resembles an ackward starfish with rosy center, Tricolor stripe star adds visual texture to the tropical dappled shade garden. A tender terrestrial (growing in soil) bromeliad with a stemless rosette of leaves, it's from Brazil.

There are many flattened strap-like leaves that have tiny teethed edges and taper to a point. A light green, they are waxy but matte finished with wavy edges and ivory stripes with hints of pink. At leaf bases, there is an intensified...

(Zebra Plant, Zebra Star)

The zigzag white stripes across zebra earth star's leaves add visual interest to shaded tropical gardens. This terrestrial (soil growing) bromeliad produces starry rosettes of leaves that hug the ground. The species is Brazilian in origin but wild populations are believed to be extinct. In fact wild Cryptanthus zonatus plants were last recorded in 1972 in Dois Irmãos State Park, Pernambuco, Brazil.

Each rosette produces eight to fifteen flattened, tapered, strap-like leaves with tiny...

(Dwarf Japanese Cedar, Japanese Cryptomeria)

Dwarf Japanese cedar is an evergreen tree growing in a densely spherical form. Needles are blue-green in the growing season turning rusty red in winter. It makes an interesting focal point or architectural specimen in the garden.

Dwarf Japanese cedar tolerates most well drained acidic soils in full sun or partial shade locations. Slightly alkaline soils must be amended with lots of organic matter. Use this dwarf conifer in a rock garden or foundation planting. It is an appropriately sized plant...

(Japanese Cryptomeria, Vilmoriniana Japanese Cryptomeria)

The dwarf Japanese cedar, 'Vilmoriniana', is a rounded evergreen shrub with needles that are grayish green in the growing season and bronze in winter's cold. Its reddish-brown, exfoliating bark is attractive but rarely viewed through its dense, cloud-like clumps of needles. Mature specimens form tidy mounds ideal for smaller, more formal landscapes.

The tall, regal Japanese cedar is a lovely needled evergreen tree native to the open forests of China and Japan. It is admired for its attractive...

(Palay Rubber Vine)

This glossy, succulent-looking vine was once grown for low quality rubber production but remains in gardens today as a tropical accent. It is native to tropical east Africa where the dry season is long and hot. Rubber vine is naturally drought resistant and offers an excellent choice for water conservation in frost-free, tropical climates. This is a twining vine that produces unique rope-like stems that are filled with white latex sap that can be bothersome to the skin. Leaves are large, oval and...

(Bamburanta)

Grown for its interesting foliage, bamburanta is a tropical, evergreen perennial native to southeastern Brazil. A popular houseplant, its main feature is its long, showy striped yellow leaves with green markings. On the leaf end there is a small nubbed "tail".

Indoors, plant in a soilless or soil-based potting mix near bright filtered light and feed regularly. Outdoors, use as an annual for accent in containers in partial shade. In tropical regions, give it a fertile soil with lots of water and...

(Never-never Plant)

Never-never plant is a vigorous, compact evergreen perennial native to southeastern Brazil. A popular houseplant, its main feature is its attractive long, leathery leaves with mixed creamy white, silver and dark green markings. Leaf undersides are purple or wine red.

It grows best in either soilless or soil-based potting mixes, filtered light and high humidity. The leaves will brown or curl in low humidity or cold temperatures indoors or out. Growth is most vigorous when air and soil temperatures...