(Abutilon, Indian Mallow)

Indian mallow is an ever-blooming shrub that bears numerous small, gold, orange or salmon flowers with red veins. The hibiscus-like flowers are colorful and nod gracefully on the open branches of this evergreen to semi-evergreen Brazilian shrub. Its leaves are maple-like, with rounded lobes and soft medium green to dark green. When young, Indian mallow has an upright habit and becomes more rounded as it ages.

This easy to cultivate plant grows best in sites with partial sun and rich, well-drained...

(Indian Mallow, Thompson's Flowering Maple)

This is one of the most popular flowering maples in cultivation. It is best known for its green maple-like leaves that are speckled with yellow. This ever-blooming, evergreen shrub is commonly grown as a bedding plant in temperate zones and also boasts lovely hibiscus-like flowers of salmon orange. ‘Thompsonii’ attains a more upright form than the parent species, which hails from Brazil.

This easy to cultivate plant grows best in sites with partial sun and rich, well-drained soil with even moisture....

(Butter and Cheese, Sweet Forest Abutilon)

Abutilon, commonly called flowering maple, embodies approximately 150 species and many more cultivated varieties. These may be annuals, perennials or shrubs and naturally exist in sub-tropical to tropical regions globally. Many perennial species and shrubs are grown as a tender perennial for containers and annual flower beds. Common hybrid forms arise from crosses between the two parent species, Abutilon darwinii and Abutilon pictum.

While growing conditions are favorable abutilons...

(Butter-print, Indian Mallow, Indian-hemp)

Abutilon, commonly called flowering maple, embodies approximately 150 species and many more cultivated varieties. These may be annuals, perennials or shrubs and naturally exist in sub-tropical to tropical regions globally. Many perennial species and shrubs are grown as a tender perennial for containers and annual flower beds. Common hybrid forms arise from crosses between the two parent species, Abutilon darwinii and Abutilon pictum.

While growing conditions are favorable abutilons...

(Leatherleaf Acacia)

This unusual acacia is a small tree or large shrub with unique foliage and flowers. It is adapted to dry heat, so it’s perfect for dry southwestern gardens. Leatherleaf acacia is native to the interior of Australia where the seasons are long and dry. It is an upright grower with evergreen spatula-shaped leathery blue green leaves that are much larger than those of other acacias.

This tree blooms from winter into spring with unique flowers held at the ends of the outer twigs. Single stems are...

(Drummond's Wattle)

A delightful shade-tolerant acacia for small dryland gardens, this evergreen shrub from Southwest Australia offers delicate foliage and bright blooms. The upright to arching, head-high plants produce fuzzy cylindrical spikes of bright canary-yellow flowers from early to mid-spring. Dainty, pinnately divided, dark green leaves are borne in small tufted clusters along the branches. Pea-like seedpods follow the flowers, maturing to brown.

This frost-tender shrub likes well-drained soil, suffers...

(Blueleaf Wattle, Golden Wreath Wattle)

This fast-growing tree is ideal for arid climates where many others will not grow. Golden wreath wattle offers clusters of golden flowers in the spring and an informal but appealing look the rest of the season. It is native to southwestern Australia where it inhabits open plains and rugged lands.

When mature it develops a spreading crown with low branches. Its blue-green leaves are long and narrow, almost needle-like, and widely spaced on the branches. In spring it becomes covered with fragrant...

(Caterpillar Plant, Chenille Plant, Red-hot Cat's Tail)

Dramatically filled with long, drooping catkins of velvety red flowers during the warm months, chenille plant is one of the tropical world's prettiest plants. It is a heat-loving broadleaf evergreen shrub native to Malaysia and New Guinea. It is grown for its pendulous fluffy red flowers that look much like fuzzy caterpillars. Interestingly, the French word for caterpillar is "chenille", the reason for its common name. Plants are dioecious - either male or female in gender, and only the showier-blooming...

(Copperleaf, Copperplant, Wilkes' Acalypha)

An evergreen shrub native to the Pacific islands, copperleaf bears brightly colored foliage in shades or red, purple, bronze and green. It is a popular landscape plant in subtropical and tropical zones and planted as a houseplant or annual in cooler zones. The name, Acalypha wilkesiana, honors Rear Admiral Charles Wilkes, an American Naval Officer who explored the South Pacific during the mid-1800s.

Beautiful, mottled leaves are the reason copperleaf is so popular in the garden. They...

(Beyond Paradise Acalypha, Copperleaf, Wilkes' Acalypha)

Spectacular bold foliage makes ‘Beyond Paradise’ a must-have for the tropical garden. This Proven Winners'selection sports large leaves mottled with rich copper, olive, rose and dark green.

An evergreen shrub native to the Pacific islands, copperleaf bears bright foliage in many mixed colors. It is a popular landscape plant in subtropical and tropical zones and planted as a houseplant or annual in cooler zones. The name, Acalypha wilkesiana, honors Rear Admiral Charles Wilkes, an American...