(Garden Yellowrocket)

Looking like wild mustard or wild radish, the garden yellowrocket bears small cross-shaped yellow flowers from early spring to early summer. This biennial or very short-lived perennial typically grows in the cooler months, from autumn to spring, becoming dormant in the heat of summer.

The long taproot supports a rosette of medium green leaves that are elongated with lobes. The flower stem arises from the center of this rosettes and branches many times to support scores of tiny lemon yellow blossoms...

(Golden Barleria, Primrose Barleria)

Pleasantly rounded in habit with deep green foliage, primrose barleria bears upright green spikes that have delicate light yellow blossoms from fall to spring. This tender tropical shrub is native from southern Mexico to Colombia. It is the only Barleria native to the New World and has commonly been mistakenly labeled in the nursery trade as Barleria micans, which is from Africa.

The many upright branches on this shrub creates a rounded clump. Leaves are slightly hairy or fuzzy...

(Ceylon Spinach, Indian Spinach, Malabar Spinach)

Pretty in flower and with edible, spinach-like foliage, Malabar spinach is a fast-growing vine that has both ornamental and culinary qualities. This heat-tolerant native of India is perennial and fully evergreen where hardy and has densely twining, rambling stems that can become thick and may require some management to keep them from overtaking supports.

The long, fleshy, green stems of Malabar spinach readily twine around anything upright and are lined with rounded, heart-shaped leaves of a...

(Ceylon Spinach, Malabar Spinach, Red Malabar Spinach)

Red-stemmed and pretty in flower, red Malabar spinach is a fast-growing vine that has both ornamental and culinary qualities. Its tender leaves can be eaten like spinach and colorful stems add season-long interest. A native of India, Malabar spinach is a fully evergreen tender perennial with densely twining, rambling stems that can become thick and often require management to keep them from overtaking supports.

The long, fleshy, reddish purple stems of red Malabar spinach readily twine around...

(Burningbush, Kochia)

A fast-growing annual with dense foliage on upright stems, Burning bush is showy in autumn as its leaves turn reddish purple. Native to Eurasia, this species is usually considered a weed elsewhere because it reseeds itself abundantly.

The leaves are thin and oblong or linear, ranging in color from light green to a light gray-green. The soft, fleshy stems are blushed salmon-red and can readily flop or break in a rain or wind downburst. Flowers occur in summer but are inconspicuous. In autumn the...

(Butterfly Tree, Nasturtium Bauhinia, Red Bauhinia)

When in bloom, the nasturium-bauhinia looks like a reddish-orange bougainvillea from a distance due to its habit and profuse flowers. A semi-deciduous tree native to southeastern Africa, it grows upright, but has drooping, spreading branches that flop to the ground or on to nearby plants.

The leaves are rounded and divided into two lobes like other Bauhinia. They are a light to medium green and shed during the cool or lightly frosty winter season. The five-petaled flowers bloom most...

(Ambassador Pink Begonia, Fibrous Begonia, Wax Begonia)

Popular bedding plants, ambassador pink wax begonias are tender perennials of hybrid origin. These plants are evergreen in tropical to sub-tropical zones but grown as annuals in temperate zones. Ambassador pink wax begonias bloom continuously in summer displaying bright pink blooms on light green foliage. They prefer well drained soil in full sun to partial shade. As reliable bloomers they are often used as annuals in containers, hanging baskets and mass plantings.

(Ambassador Red Begonia, Fibrous Begonia, Wax Begonia)

Popular bedding plants, ambassador red wax begonias are tender perennials of hybrid origin. These plants are evergreen in tropical to sub-tropical zones but grown as annuals in temperate zones. Ambassador red wax begonias bloom continuously in summer displaying bright red blooms on light green foliage. They prefer well drained soil in full sun to partial shade. As reliable bloomers they are often used as annuals in containers, hanging baskets and mass plantings.

(Ambassador White Begonia, Fibrous Begonia, Wax Begonia)

Popular bedding plants, ambassador white wax begonias are tender perennials of hybrid origin. These plants are evergreen in tropical to sub-tropical zones but grown as annuals in temperate zones. Ambassador white wax begonias bloom continuously in summer displaying pure white blooms on light green foliage. They prefer well drained soil in full sun to partial shade. As reliable bloomers they are often used as annuals in containers, hanging baskets and mass plantings.

(Bada Bing Rose Bicolor Begonia, Fibrous Begonia, Wax Begonia)

Wax or fibrous begonias are classic bedding plants because they are beautiful all season and easy to grow. Though commonly grown as "annuals" these are actually evergreen perennials where hardy. As a group, they are hybrids of three South American species, Begonia cucullata, Begonia hookeri and Begonia schmidtiana.

Low growing and bushy, wax begonias have lustrous, succulent leaves that may be bright green, dark green, red-hued, burgundy or bronze, depending on the selection. Blooms appear continuously,...