(Carpetgrass, Carpetweed, Fogfruit, Lippia)

Carpeting the ground around rocks in the sunshine, the lush green foliage of carpetgrass is accented in summer's warmth with flattened clusters of pale pink flowers that attract bees and butterflies. An evergreen, mat-forming perennial that can tolerate heat and humidity as well as chilly winters, it is native to the southwestern United States southward into South America as far as Chile and Argentina.

The sprawling stems have tufts of oval-shaped leaves that have tiny teeth on their edges. The...

(Fogfruit, Frogfruit, Lippia, Turkey Tangle Frogfruit)

Carpeting the ground around rocks in the sunshine, the lush green foliage of fogfruit is accented in summer's warmth with tiny clusters of pale pink flowers that attract bees and butterflies. An evergreen, mat-forming perennial that can tolerate heat and humidity as well as chilly winters, it is native to the southern half of the United States southward into South America.

The sprawling stems have tufts of lance-shaped leaves that have tiny teeth on their edges. Begin medium to light gray-green...

(Golden Bamboo, Running Bamboo)

This lovely bamboo offers elegance to Asian inspired landscapes and gardens. It is native to China, primarily north of the Yangtze Valley, where summers are very hot. The name "aurea" means "yellow" and refers to the yellow-green coloring of the foliage and golden canes that offer a bright look in the garden.

Golden bamboo spreads by woody rhizomes that can travel both under and above ground. A single plant will quickly form dense stands of upright, jointed, woody stems, or culms. The stands...

(Groundcherry, Yellow Groundcherry)

Pretty yellow, bell-shaped flowers among gray leaves, followed by papery lanterns are hallmarks of the yellow groundcherry. This short-lived perennial or annual is native to the arid rockeries and mountains of the southwestern United States and northwestern Mexico. The plant is variable in habit: sometimes a rounded mound while other times more erect or low and sprawling.

The fleshy succulent leaves are light green to pale gray-green. When touched they feel sticky because of thousands of tiny...

(Cape Gooseberry, Peruvian Groundcherry)

Believed native to the coastal highlands of Peru and northern Chile, the cape gooseberry was widely grown in southern Africa and Australia in the 19th century as a fruit to make tasty deserts and jams. This tender perennial - often grown as a summer annual in temperate climates - becomes a bushy herb about waist high. Both winter frosts and extreme summertime droughts kill the plant. It now grows as a naturalized weed across Hawaii, southern Asia, central Africa and the Caribbean.

The haired,...

(Green Tomato, Mexican Groundcherry, Tomatillo)

The easy-to-grow tomato relative, the tomatillo, defines Mexican and Central American cuisine on par with the more famous tomato and pepper. Also called the green tomato ("tomate verde" in Spanish), Physalis philadelphica is naturally distributed across Mexico, Central America and the Caribbean. This bushy, heat-loving annual is believed to have been cultivated since pre-Columbian times.

The large, broadly-branched, bushy tomatillo may require staking. Its stems are lined with thin,...

(Mexican Groundcherry, Verde Tomatillo)

The easy-to-grow tomato relative, the tomatillo, defines Mexican and Central American cuisine on par with the more famous tomato and pepper. Also called the green tomato ("tomate verde" in Spanish), Physalis philadelphica is naturally distributed across Mexico, Central America and the Caribbean. This bushy, heat-loving annual is believed to have been cultivated since pre-Columbian times.

The large, broadly-branched, bushy tomatillo may require staking. Its stems are lined with thin,...

(Groundcherry, Hairy Nightshade, Strawberry Groundcherry)

The peculiar name of "strawberry" groundcherry is perplexing, as the small fruits taste like bittersweet tomatoes with a pineapple flavor. This annual - grown any time of year frosts don't occur - bears five-pointed, nearly white blossoms that may be reminiscent of strawberry blooms. It's native to eastern North America, from Minnesota to New York, south to the Gulf Coast. It's found in somewhat dry, open woodlands or fields and wastelands, growing upright but with spreading branches.

The light...

(Cossack Pineapple Groundcherry, Strawberry Groundcherry)

A heirloom selection of strawberry groundcherry that ripens fruit even in cooler summer areas, 'Cossack Pineapple' originates from Poland. This annual - grown any time of year frosts don't occur - bears five-pointed, nearly white blossoms that may be reminiscent of strawberry blooms. It's native to eastern North America, from Minnesota to New York, south to the Gulf Coast. It's found in somewhat dry, open woodlands or fields and wastelands.

The light to medium green leaves are shaped like pointy...

(Atlanta Ninebark, Ninebark)

Ninebark is a hardy deciduous shrub with long-lasting flowers and fruits and exfoliating bark. This native of the eastern United States suckers and has an irregular habit and informal look but tough constitution. In the wild it exists along the fields and forest margins of uplands and lowlands.

The small lobed leaves of ninebark are typically dark green and turn shades of yellow and bronze in fall. In late spring or early summer it bears conspicuous clusters of small white or pale pink flowers,...