(Venus flytrap)

Renowned for its insect-trapping leaves, Venus flytrap is a small, insectivorous perennial native to moist sandy habitats near the Carolina coast.

Each plant forms a neat rosette of leaves with broad winged stems and folding clam-like blades. The traps are yellowish to medium green on the outside and have reddish nectar glands on the inside edged with slender, hair-like snares. When disturbed by visiting insects, the traps snap shut and hairs fold over one another like bars. Trapped insects...

Named for its sawtooth-edged, insect-trapping leaves, 'Jaws' is a cultivar of Venus flytrap, a small, insectivorous perennial from moist sandy habitats near the Carolina coast.

Each plant forms a neat rosette of leaves with broad winged stems and folding clam-like blades. The jagged edges of the traps resemble shark jaws. The traps are yellowish to medium green with pale- to deep-red staining on their interiors. When disturbed by visiting insects, the traps snap shut. Trapped insects are slowly...

(Cycad, Virgin Palm)

Virgin palm is a very slow-growing cycad with stiff, fern-like leaves radiating outward from a central, trunk-like stem. A native of southeastern Mexico, this cone-bearing plant is not a real palm, but is more ancient: growing around the time of the dinosaurs. Its fronds are covered with stiff, haired or smooth bluish green or dark green leaflets held perpendicularly to the leaf stem, which is lighter green. As the plant gets older and grows a clump of taller trunk-stems, the leaf fronds are held...

(Chiapas Church Steeple Cycad, Cycad, Golden Dioon)

Pointy, plastic-like leaves stiff, sharp-tipped leaflets radiate outward and upward from a central, trunk-like stem on the golden dioon. Native to and endangered in the Mexican state of Chiapas, this cone-bearing plant is neither a fern nor palm, but is a more ancient cycad that existed around the time of the dinosaurs. It grows slowly, eventually developing an upright or leaning trunk-like stem.

New fronds emerge in the heat of summer. They arise from the growing tip on the stem, unfurling with...

(Gum Palm, Spiny Dioon)

The gum palm is a slow growing cycad with stiff, fern-like leaves radiating outwards from a central, trunk-like stem. A native of southern Mexico, this cone-bearing plant is not a real palm, but is more ancient: recorded in fossilized rock along with dinosaur bones. Its fronds are covered with smooth, stiff, dark green leaflets held almost perpendicular to the leaf stem, and have occasional little spines. The fronds are held upright but gracefully curve or droop to make a lovely silhouette. Male...

(Asian Persimmon, Japanese Persimmon, Kaki, Sharon Fruit)

The Asian persimmon is a deciduous tree widely grown for its flavorful peach-sized fruits. Native to China, this long cultivated plant has been much improved by selection and breeding.

The beautiful small tree has large, glossy, elliptical green leaves that turn lovely shades of orange, yellow and red in fall. The flowers appear in spring. Persimmons are commonly dioecious, which means that some trees only have male flowers while others only have female flowers, though some cultivars like...

(Asian Persimmon, Fuyu Persimmon, Japanese Persimmon, Kaki )

The large fruits of ‘Fuyu’ are sweet, non-astringent, deep orange and keep well. This relatively compact persimmon is the most popular sweet-fleshed cultivar in Japan.

The beautiful small tree has large, glossy, elliptical green leaves that turn lovely shades of orange, yellow and red in fall. The flowers appear in spring. Persimmons are commonly dioecious, which means that some trees only have male flowers while others only have female flowers, though some cultivars like have both. This is...

(Asian Persimmon, Hachiya Persimmon, Japanese Persimmon, Kaki )

The oblong fruits of ‘Hachiya' are sweet and astringent, glossy, deep orange and ripen late. This vigorous persimmon tree has an upright, spreading habit and is a very popular cultivar in California.

The beautiful small tree has large, glossy, elliptical green leaves that turn lovely shades of orange, yellow and red in fall. The flowers appear in spring. Persimmons are commonly dioecious, which means that some trees only have male flowers while others only have female flowers, though some cultivars...

(Asian Persimmon, Izu Persimmon, Japanese Persimmon, Kaki)

The burnt orange oblong fruits of 'Izu' are mellow, sweet, non-astringent and ripen earlier than most. They are medium-sized and borne in profusion. This vigorous persimmon tree is quite compact and has an upright habit.

The beautiful small tree has large, glossy, elliptical green leaves that turn lovely shades of orange, yellow and red in fall. The flowers appear in spring. Persimmons are commonly dioecious, which means that some trees only have male flowers while others only have female...

(Asian Persimmon, Japanese Persimmon, Jiro Persimmon, Kaki)

The deep orange, tomato-shaped fruits of 'Jiro' are sweet, non-astringent and borne in October on remarkably hardy trees. This vigorous persimmon tree is medium-sized and has an upright, spreading habit.

The beautiful small tree has large, glossy, elliptical green leaves that turn lovely shades of orange, yellow and red in fall. The flowers appear in spring. Persimmons are commonly dioecious, which means that some trees only have male flowers while others only have female flowers, though...