(Grecian Autumn Crocus, Pale Autumn Crocus)

Among the largest and most elegant of the fall-flowering crocuses, this native of southern Greece was introduced to gardens more than 100 years ago.

Growing from a small bulb-like storage organ known as a corm, this diminutive herbaceous perennial sends up one or two white or pale-lilac flowers in early to mid-autumn, just as the grassy, dark green leaves emerge. Held singly atop ankle-high, stalk-like floral tubes, the fragrant, goblet-shaped blooms have six "petals" (or segments) in two whorls....

(Saffron Crocus)

A modest flower is the source for the world's most expensive spice: saffron. Although its precise origin is obscure, saffron crocus is believed to be an ancient selection of the Greek native Crocus cartwrightianus.

A small herbaceous perennial that grows from a bulb-like storage organ known as a corm, saffron crocus sends up one to five pale to medium lilac-purple flowers in mid- to late fall. But it is mainly grown for the flavorful, three-branched, orange-red style that ornaments each...

(Brown Hemp, Indian Hemp, Madras Hemp, Sunn hemp)

Prized as an agricultural forage plant for livestock and a source of fiber stronger than jute, sunn hemp is also an attractive plant producing deep yellow flowers. This upright annual, most likely native to India and Pakistan, is widely cultivated across the tropics in both the wet and dry seasons. In temperate regions, it's sometimes planted as a bedding annual.

The fast-growing sunn hemp is large, shrubby and has elongated light green to gray-green leaves. Flowering is most prolific in the...

(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...

(African Horned Cucumber, Blowfish Fruit, Jelly Melon, Kiwano Melon)

If you've already had success growing melons and cucumbers, try growing the closely related African horned cucumber or jelly melon. This annual vine is native to sub-Saharan Africa where it thrives along river edges as well as open, rocky, upland locations. Its funny looking edible fruits may be bitter or non-bitter. Non-bitter types are edible and may be tart or have a mild, fruity flavor likened to a cross between a banana and pineapple. Bitter forms are absolutely inedible, so it's important to...

(Winter Pumpkin)

The sculptural quality of 'Triamble' compliments more brightly colored, curvaceous squash and gourds in decorative arrangements. Its three-lobed fruits have thick bluish gray skin and exceptional keeping abilities. Specimens can survive in a cool, dry location for well over a year without rotting. Its dark orange flesh is firm, dry and sweet. This cultivar is believed to have been bred in Australia because it was first documented in an Australian seed catalog from 1918 (Anderson & Company, Sydney,...

(China Fir)

A muscular evergreen conifer, China fir's needled branches are slightly drooping and bear greenish brown cones. Native to China, it has string-like corky bark that is sandy sienna-brown. The mature habit is an upright shape that is rounded to pyramid-like. It is a close relative of the giant redwood (Sequoia).

The dark green glossy needles are narrow and prickly, individually they are lance-shaped with white stripes on their undersides. On the branches the needles lay in a flattened,...

(Blue China Fir, China Fir)

A muscular evergreen conifer, blue China fir's needled branches are slightly drooping and bear greenish brown cones. Native to China, it has string-like corky bar that is sandy sienna-brown and an upright shape that is rounded to pyramid-like. It is a close relative of the giant redwood (Sequoia).

The blue-green glossy needles are narrow and prickly, individually they are lance-shaped with white stripes on their undersides. On the branches the needles lay in a flattened, horizontal plane...

(China Fir, Samurai China Fir)

A muscular evergreen conifer, China fir's needled branches are slightly drooping and bear greenish brown cones. Native to China, it has string-like corky bark that is sandy sienna-brown. The mature habit is an upright shape that is rounded to pyramid-like. It is a close relative of the giant redwood (Sequoia).

The dark green glossy needles are narrow and prickly, individually they are lance-shaped with white stripes on their undersides. On the branches the needles lay in a flattened,...

(Carrotwood Tree)

A widely adaptable evergreen tree, carrotwood produces copious amounts of orange-red fruits and seedlings. A spreading tree native to tropical northern Australia and New Guinea, it has become a noxious, invasive problem in regions such as Hawaii and the Florida peninsula.

The leaves are compound - made up of six to ten leathery, oval, green to yellow-green leaflets. If crushed, they smell like a fresh carrot, as do the branches. In spring, wiry clusters of tiny, white flowers appear and are pollinated...