Creamy yellow new leaves form showy ruffs atop the relatively compact stems of this cultivar of Joseph's coat. A large annual grown in flower gardens for its brilliant plumage, Joseph's coat originated in tropical Asia, where it is widely cultivated as a leaf vegetable.

This fast-growing, heat-loving plant bears large, elliptic or oval leaves on erect stems. The leaves are creamy yellow when young, aging to mint green. Insignificant clusters of green or reddish flowers appear at the stem tips...

Clusters of brilliant rose-pink new leaves crown the tall stems of this cultivar of Joseph's coat. A large annual grown in flower gardens for its colorful plumage, Joseph's coat originated in tropical Asia, where it is widely cultivated as a leaf vegetable.

This fast-growing, heat-loving plant bears large, elliptic or oval leaves on erect stems. The brightly hued new leaves fade gradually to deep maroon. This relatively early cultivar is spectacular from early summer to frost. Insignificant...

Showy clusters of crimson, gold-suffused leaves crown the tall stems of this cultivar of Joseph's coat. A large annual grown in flower gardens for its colorful plumage, Joseph's coat originated in tropical Asia, where it is widely cultivated as a leaf vegetable.

This fast-growing, heat-loving plant bears large, elliptic or oval leaves on erect stems. The brilliant orange-red new leaves are brushed and blotched with golden yellow. The leaves age to rich green with deep maroon markings. Insignificant...

(Joseph's Coat)

Clusters of scarlet new leaves with yellow and green tips crown the tall stems of this cultivar of Joseph's coat. A large annual grown in flower gardens for its colorful plumage, Joseph's coat originated in tropical Asia, where it is widely cultivated as a leaf vegetable.

This fast-growing, heat-loving plant bears large, elliptic or oval leaves on erect stems. The brightly hued new leaves fade gradually to medium green with deep maroon markngs. This cultivar is spectacular from summer to frost....

(Flaming Fountain, Joseph's Coat, Summer Poinsettia)

Clusters of scarlet new leaves with yellow and green tips crown the tall stems of this cultivar of Joseph's coat. A large annual grown in flower gardens for its colorful plumage, Joseph's coat originated in tropical Asia, where it is widely cultivated as a leaf vegetable.

This fast-growing, heat-loving plant bears large, elliptic or oval leaves on erect stems. The brightly hued new leaves fade gradually to medium green with deep maroon markngs. This cultivar is spectacular from summer to frost....

(August Lily, Belladonna Lily, Naked Lady)

Bringing an exotic, naked-stemmed floral display to the doldrums of summer, belladonna lily's pink blossoms bring an air of spring. Not to be confused with the common florists' amaryllis, Hippeastrum, belladonna lily is a deciduous, perennial bulb native to South Africa. Clusters of large, showy, fragrant pink flowers bloom on tall sturdy stems in summer when the strap-like basal foliage is absent. The leaves appear in late fall or winter and persist into mid-spring. Forms and hybrids of...

(Voodoo Lily)

A bizarre, summer-growing plant with malodorous flowers, this tuberous perennial is native from northern India eastward to Myanmar (Burma). Considered not as bad smelling as others, this species is among the most striking in bloom, with upright, pinkish spathes on mottled stalks in spring. A large compound leaf arises on a mottled stem in late spring and persists until fall, when it collapses almost literally overnight. In autumn, small bulbils which can grow into plants form on the leaf margins.

This...

(Devil's Tongue, Elephant Yam, Konjac)

A bizarre, summer-growing plant with with a large smelly inflorescence and an immense, waxy and fleshy leaf and stalk, this tuberous perennial is native from China to Indonesia. The maroon, funnel-shaped spathe emerges in spring on a tall wrist-thick stem that bears snakeskin-like marbling. The spear-shaped purple spadix protrudes from the spathe. The highly dissected dark green leaf arises on a mottled stem after the flowers collapse.

Plant devil's tongue in a fertile, well drained soil in partial...

(Titan Arum)

This gigantic, summer-growing plant from Sumatra has perhaps the largest inflorescence and tuber in the plant kingdom. In late spring, if the female plant is old enough, a thick, tall flower stalk emerges and unfurls a multicolored spathe and spadix with a rotting, foetid stench. It is pollinated by flies and carrion beetles. In summer, an immense leaf stalk reaches skyward with a huge, umbrella-like leaf that is very lobed and attractive.

This singular plant needs a warm, alkaline, well drained...

(Flaxleaf Pimpernel)

Flaxleaf pimpernel is a low-growing, often short-lived, bushy perennial native to the Mediterranean. This plant displays striking deep blue saucer-shaped flowers, sometimes with red centers, throughout summer. Popular cultivars include the vibrantly-colored 'Pacific Blue' and compact 'Phillipsii'.

Plant in areas with full to part sun and average soil. Its compact, spreading habit makes flaxleaf pimpernel a great plant for rock gardens or border edges. In colder climates it may be grown as an...