(Aechmea, Orland's Bromeliad)

A carnival of color and texture in its foliage, Orland's bromeliad has apple-green leaves with dark red stripes and speckles and eventually forms a red flower spike with yellow blossoms. A tender tropical perennial bromeliad that is an epiphyte (grows upon other plants like trees), it is native to southern Brazil. It may also be propped in well-draining soil to look ground-dwelling but ideally protected from frost.

The wide strap-like leaves form a vase-shaped rosette that holds water in the...

(Aechmea, Ensign Aechmea, Ensign Bromeliad, Ensign Orland's Aechmea Bromeliad)

A carnival of color and texture in its foliage, the Ensign bromeliad has apple-green and white leaves with pink-red stripes and speckles and eventually forms a red flower spike with yellow blossoms. A tender tropical perennial bromeliad that is an epiphyte (grows upon other plants like trees), it is native to southern Brazil. It may also be propped in well-draining soil to look ground-dwelling but it is very tender to frosts.

The wide strap-like leaves form a vase-shaped rosette that holds water...

(Basket Vine, Hot Flash Lipstick Plant, Lipstick Plant)

One of the prettiest and easiest to grow of the lipstick plants, 'Hot Flash' is a compact plant with large orange-red blooms with light color striations. The flowers are held upright in clusters at the ends of the branches. This vigorous, floriferous hybrid is a cross between Aeschynanthus evrardii and Aeschynanthus hildebrandii and a favorite plant for containers or hanging baskets. It was hybridized by B. Schwarz in 1984.

This tropical is a semi-trailing evergreen perennial...

(Lipstick Basket Vine, Lipstick Plant)

Vibrant lipstick-red flowers adorn the sprawling stems of this tree-dweller ("epiphyte") from moist forests of Malaysia. In nature it grows in trunk crotches and other arboreal niches where leaf litter accumulates.

Pairs of glossy deep green leaves crowd the long, lax stems of this evergreen perennial. They may blush burgundy-purple in relatively hot, sunny sites. Pairs of dark red to nearly black buds develop at the branch tips, opening into tubular, hairy, vivid red blooms with five lobes,...

(East African Yellowwood, Fern Pine)

The graceful form of fern pine is accented by the linear, bluish green leaves that project from the branches much like the leaves of a lily. This tall, tender evergreen tree is native to higher elevations of subtropical eastern Africa. Unlike other conifers such as junipers, that have scale-like needles, fern pine leaves are smooth, flat and narrow, arranged spirally around gently pendent branches. Plants are dioecious, being either male or female. Male plants produce small, tan, finger-like cones...

(African Lily, Blue Danube Lily-of-the-Nile, Lily-of-the-Nile)

The vigorous lily-of-the-Nile, 'Blue Danube', bears large rounded clusters of light violet-blue flowers on very tall stems. Often listed as a variant of the South African Agapanthus africanus, it is actually a hybrid. Where hardy, it is best grown in the landscape but in colder climates it may be maintained as a container specimen if provided a large spacious pot. Flowering is most profuse from late-spring through summer.

The long strap-like leaves of this tender perennial are medium...

(African Lily, Lily-of-the-Nile)

The large blooms of 'Blue Moon' are silvery blue and appear atop tall sturdy stems. This is one of the best pale colored forms. Lily-of-the-Nile is a dramatic, evergreen tender perennial grown for its large showy flower clusters. Where hardy, it is best grown in the landscape but in colder climates it may be maintained as a container specimen if provided a large spacious pot. Flowering is most profuse from late-spring through summer.

The long strap-like leaves of this tender perennial are...

(African Lily, Lily-of-the-Nile)

The Blue Umbrella lily-of-the-Nile is a dramatic tender perennial grown for its large sky-blue flower clusters borne on long stalks above clumps of grassy dark green foliage. Often listed as a variant of the South African Agapanthus praecox ssp.orientalis, it is actually a hybrid. Where hardy, it is best grown in the landscape but in colder climates it may be maintained as a container specimen if provided a large spacious pot. Bloom time is variable, depending on the local climate...

(African Lily, Elaine Lily-of-the-Nile, Lily-of-the-Nile)

A tidy compact habit, robust foliage and large beautifully colored blooms are the winning characteristics of 'Elaine.' Each dark violet-blue flower cluster has many florets. Where hardy, it is best grown in the landscape but in colder climates it may be maintained as a container specimen if provided a large spacious pot. This tends to be a summer bloomer, but bloom time can be variable depending on the local climate and water availability.

The long strap-like leaves are medium green and produced...

(African Lily, Ellamae Lily-of-the-Nile, Lily-of-the-Nile)

Very large brilliant indigo blue flower clusters adorn 'Ellamae.' Each vibrant flower cluster has many florets. This cultivar was bred in 1978 by Archie A. Amate of Huntington Beach, California and introduced in 1990 by the Los Angeles State and County Arboretum. It is best grown in the landscape but in colder climates it may be maintained as a container specimen if provided a large spacious pot. This tends to be a summer bloomer, but bloom time can be variable depending on the local climate and...