(Fringed Dutchman's Pipe, Pipevine, White Veined Dutchman's Pipe)

A small vine that packs a visual punch with small pipe-like flowers and leaves of green with lighter yellow-green veins, the fringed dutchman's pipe is a well-behaved plant. A semi-hardy and semi-deciduous perennial vine from southern Brazil, Paraguay and northern Argentina, it is popular as a hanging basket specimen. With age, it forms a caudex, or swollen stem base that looks like a potato.

The leaves are heart-shaped, but the two lobes resemble kidneys. Each blade is medium to dark green and...

(Brazilian Dutchman's Pipe, Giant Pelican Flower)

Giant Dutchman's pipe is an evergreen tropical vine from Panama southward into South America regarded for its showy, unusually shaped flowers which occur from summer through early winter. The truly immense burgundy flowers have white and purple veining throughout and emit a pungent lemony scent to attract pollinating flies into its pouch. The throat of the uniquely curved, flared and tubular flower is yellow. The vine's large green leaves are heart-shaped.

Giant Dutchman's pipe is a very fast...

(Horseradish)

This hardy, coarse, deep-rooted perennial is the source of horseradish, the familiar, fiery condiment. It grows as a clump of large, toothed, puckered, dark-green leaves on long stems arising from a fleshy root that divides vigorously into offshoots and sends out tunneling stems to start new plants with such vigor that one plant soon becomes many. Unless dug out regularly, the new plants can become invasive pests. Even a tiny fragment of root left in the ground will grow a new plant.

From late...

(Breadfruit)

Captain William Bligh of the HMS Bounty brought breadfruit to the West Indies in the 1790s from his journeys across the South Pacific. While the precise origins of the breadfruit tree are not clear, it's likely native to Indonesia and Malaysia. Its movement by man is largely to blame. Through the centuries, peoples cultivated it for its fruit and wood and seeds were carried eastward as the islands of the South Pacific became inhabited.

Breadfruit is a fast-growing tropical tree. Both the...

(Arum, Cretan Arum)

At first glance of the Cretan arum in bloom, you'd think it was a lemon-scented calla lily. Native to the rocky mountainous hillsides of the Greek island of Crete, and adjacent western Turkey, it prospers in sunnier conditions, unlike many other arums which prefer shade.

The medium green, satiny leaves look like small arrowheads and appear from fall to spring. They die back in summer during the arid heat of the Mediterranean. Any time in spring, flower stems will rise above the leaves. Each bloom...

(Giant Reed)

Giant reed is a large, evergreen or deciduous, perennial grass with thick, hollow, cane-like stems and long, arching, green to gray-green leaves. In late summer it produces feathery plumes of light green to purplish flowers that mature to silver. Originally from southern Europe, giant reed has been widely planted and become naturalized in temperate and sub-tropical regions worldwide. It spreads by underground rhizomes and is potentially invasive in tropical and subtropical regions where it may also...

(Giant Reed, Golden Chain Giant Reed)

Giant reed is a large, evergreen or deciduous, perennial grass with thick, hollow, cane-like stems and long, arching, green to gray-green leaves. In late summer it produces feathery plumes of light green to purplish flowers that mature to silver. Originally from southern Europe, giant reed has been widely planted and become naturalized in temperate and sub-tropical regions worldwide. It spreads by underground rhizomes and is potentially invasive in tropical and subtropical regions where it may also...

(Bloodflower, Scarlet Milkweed)

Butterflies can’t resist this evergreen perennial. Blood flower is native to Mexico and South America and has naturalized throughout subtropical and tropical regions worldwide. Hummingbirds and bees are also regular visitors to the showy flowers.

The plant has upright branched stems which sport lance-shaped, opposite leaves of medium green. When broken, the stems emit a milky-white, sticky latex sap. In the heat of summer plants produce flattened clusters of small, complex red-orange flowers...

(Bloodflower, Red Butterfly Milkweed, Scarlet Milkweed)

Butterflies can’t resist this evergreen perennial. The cultivar ‘Red Butterfly’ of Indian butterfly weed are vigorous growers with brightly colored flower clusters in red, yellow that are darker than average. The stems are sturdy and flowers excellent for cutting.

Also known as blood flower, this butterfly weed is native to Mexico and South America and has naturalized throughout subtropical and tropical regions worldwide. Hummingbirds and bees are also regular visitors to the showy flowers.

The...

(Bloodflower, Scarlet Milkweed, Silky Deep Scarlet Milkweed)

Butterflies can’t resist this evergreen perennial. Silky Deep Red Indian butterfly weed is a vigorous grower with brightly colored flower clusters in rich, red and bright yellow crowns that are slightly larger than average. The stems are sturdy, plants compact, the foliage has a red-purple tone and flowers excellent for cutting.

Also known as blood flower, this butterfly weed is native to Mexico and South America and has naturalized throughout subtropical and tropical regions worldwide. Hummingbirds...