(Joseph's Coat)

Grown in flower gardens for its dazzling plumage, this large annual is an important leaf vegetable in tropical Asia, where it is native.

This fast-growing, heat-loving plant bears large, elliptic or oval leaves that are often brilliantly hued when young, forming colorful ruffs atop tall, erect stems. The new leaves may be yellow, red, purple, bronze, ivory, or combinations thereof. The leaves gradually age to medium or dark green. In tropical Asia, where this plant is grown for the flavor rather...

Creamy yellow new leaves form showy ruffs atop the relatively compact stems of this cultivar of Joseph's coat. A large annual grown in flower gardens for its brilliant plumage, Joseph's coat originated in tropical Asia, where it is widely cultivated as a leaf vegetable.

This fast-growing, heat-loving plant bears large, elliptic or oval leaves on erect stems. The leaves are creamy yellow when young, aging to mint green. Insignificant clusters of green or reddish flowers appear at the stem tips...

Clusters of brilliant rose-pink new leaves crown the tall stems of this cultivar of Joseph's coat. A large annual grown in flower gardens for its colorful plumage, Joseph's coat originated in tropical Asia, where it is widely cultivated as a leaf vegetable.

This fast-growing, heat-loving plant bears large, elliptic or oval leaves on erect stems. The brightly hued new leaves fade gradually to deep maroon. This relatively early cultivar is spectacular from early summer to frost. Insignificant...

Showy clusters of crimson, gold-suffused leaves crown the tall stems of this cultivar of Joseph's coat. A large annual grown in flower gardens for its colorful plumage, Joseph's coat originated in tropical Asia, where it is widely cultivated as a leaf vegetable.

This fast-growing, heat-loving plant bears large, elliptic or oval leaves on erect stems. The brilliant orange-red new leaves are brushed and blotched with golden yellow. The leaves age to rich green with deep maroon markings. Insignificant...

(Joseph's Coat)

Clusters of scarlet new leaves with yellow and green tips crown the tall stems of this cultivar of Joseph's coat. A large annual grown in flower gardens for its colorful plumage, Joseph's coat originated in tropical Asia, where it is widely cultivated as a leaf vegetable.

This fast-growing, heat-loving plant bears large, elliptic or oval leaves on erect stems. The brightly hued new leaves fade gradually to medium green with deep maroon markngs. This cultivar is spectacular from summer to frost....

(Flaming Fountain, Joseph's Coat, Summer Poinsettia)

Clusters of scarlet new leaves with yellow and green tips crown the tall stems of this cultivar of Joseph's coat. A large annual grown in flower gardens for its colorful plumage, Joseph's coat originated in tropical Asia, where it is widely cultivated as a leaf vegetable.

This fast-growing, heat-loving plant bears large, elliptic or oval leaves on erect stems. The brightly hued new leaves fade gradually to medium green with deep maroon markngs. This cultivar is spectacular from summer to frost....

(August Lily, Belladonna Lily, Naked Lady)

Bringing an exotic, naked-stemmed floral display to the doldrums of summer, belladonna lily's pink blossoms bring an air of spring. Not to be confused with the common florists' amaryllis, Hippeastrum, belladonna lily is a deciduous, perennial bulb native to South Africa. Clusters of large, showy, fragrant pink flowers bloom on tall sturdy stems in summer when the strap-like basal foliage is absent. The leaves appear in late fall or winter and persist into mid-spring. Forms and hybrids of...

(Serviceberry)

(Apple Serviceberry, Juneberry)

Birds will flock to the Juneberry for a taste berry treat in very late spring, and gardeners will sigh over the beauty of the white spring flowers and vibrant red and yellow fall foliage. Especially astute gardeners will manage to harvest the edible, sweet, purplish black fruits before the birds pluck them all from the tree.

Great debate and uncertainty remains as to the origins of this deciduous large shrub to small tree. Clearly native to eastern North America, taxonomists can't agree if it's...

(Bishop's Weed, Bullwort)

There is no better cutflower for airy, wildflower looks. The large, white, parasol-shaped flower clusters of Ammi majus look just like larger versions of Queen Anne's lace blooms, but the plant is not as weedy. This fast-growing annual originates from regions along the Mediterranean, so it can withstand drought and warmth once established.

Fine, lance-shaped, compound leaves of soft green line the tall stems. In summer, the big lacy white blooms appear and should be cut regularly to keep...