(Baobab, Dead Rat Tree)

With a flared, muscular trunk and architectural, stubby branches, the baobab is a tree to admire in spacious landscapes. A slow-growing, deciduous tropical tree native to southern Sub-Saharan Africa, this succulent tree is characterized by a swollen trunk that often becomes hollow in order to store rainfall for sustenance. Interestingly, the wood of baobab is relatively soft and spongy and does not produce age rings, even though considered one of the longest-lived tree species on earth.

The medium...

(Desert Rose)

Desert rose is a heat-loving beauty with swollen “feet” or trunk flare. It is native to sub-Saharan Africa and Arabia and is a large perennial shrub to small tree with a wide swollen base which is sometimes buried underground. The ovate leaves are clustered on the ends of many twisted branches, most with no petiole. It is usually leafless during the cooler winter dry season. Grown for spectacular bell-shaped flowers with colors ranging from deep rose/red to pale pink which appear in summer in mass...

(Black Ruby Desert Rose, Desert Rose)

Desert rose is a hothouse baby with swollen “feet.” It is native to sub-Saharan Africa and Arabia and is a large perennial shrub to small tree with a much swollen base which is sometime buried underground. Grown for spectacular bell-shaped flowers, ‘Black Ruby' blossoms have white centers, red petals with a very dark red or 'black' edge which appear in summer in mass and few scattered throughout the year. The ovate leaves are clustered on the ends of many twisted branches, most with no petiole. It...

(Common Maidenhair Fern, Southern Maidenhair Fer)

Delicate and shade-loving, southern maidenhair fern is a beautiful plant native to tropical and temperate regions throughout the world. This species is evergreen in tropical and subtropical areas and deciduous in temperate regions.

It's most admired for its small, fine fronds comprised of dainty, fan-shaped leaflets of light green that move in the slightest breeze. These are supported by glossy black stems that arise from short creeping rhizomes.

Southern maidenhair fern grows best in moist,...

(Rough Maidenhair Fern)

Rough maidenhair fern is an evergreen clumping perennial fern native to southern and southeastern Asia and Australia. New fronds may be copper-pink maturing to bronze-green. The fern stems, or stipes, are forked in two with shiny, leathery dark green leaflets with an occasional bronze casting.<> Rosy maidenhair fern prefers most moist soils with a high organic content. Looking its best in a shady spot, it can tolerate substantial sunlight if soil is moist and humidity higher; it does not like...

(Delta Maidenhair Fern)

Delta maidenhair fern is an delicate-looking evergreen fern native to tropical North America, South America, and the West Indies. They have roughly triangular, 3- or 4-pinnate fronds with dark, black stalks emerging from short rhizomes. Newly emerged fronds are light green but darken with age. The sori are located at the edge of the leaflet where the tip the leaf tissue rolls over to enclose it.

Delta maidenhair fern should be grown in partial sun or diffused sunlight. The ideal environment...

(Delta Maidenhair Fern, Pacific Maid Maidenhair Fern)

Pacific maid maidenhair fern is an evergreen fern native to tropical America. 'Pacific Maid' is a compact growing maidenhair with large leaflets and roughly triangular, 3- or 4-pinnate fronds that have deep divisions. Dark, black stalks emerge from short rhizomes. Newly emerged fronds are light green but darken with age. The sori are located at the edge of the leaflet where the tip the leaf tissue rolls over to enclose it.

Pacific maid maidenhair fern should be grown in partial sun or diffused...

(Adonidia Palm, Christmas Palm)

Christmas palm is a tall, graceful, evergreen with an arching, feathery crown of fronds. Strap-like leaflets of this native of the Philippines are green to dark green above and light green and scaly below. Flowers generally occur in summer and are yellow to yellow-green and held in pendent, brached clusters at the base of the crownshaft. The fruits become bright red or orange-red by late autumn, lingering into the winter. This coincided with Christmas in its native land.

Christmas palm prefers...

(Aechmea, Big Harv Aechmea, Big Harv Bromeliad)

A large bromeliad for the tropical landscape, 'Big Harv' has light green and coppery foliage and produces a tall, branched, yellow and red flower spike in summertime. It is an evergreen, frost-tender perennial bromeliad that forms an upright rosette of leaves with a bold, coarse visual texture. It is usually grown in the soil but can be wedged among rocks. This hybrid was developed by Bullis Bromeliads of Princeton, Florida.

The long, rigid strappy leaves are a light green with coppery bronze...

(Aechmea , Foster's Freckles Aechmea, Foster's Freckles Bromeliad)

Resulting from a cross of the bromeliads Aechmea fendleri and A. orlandiana, 'Foster's Freckles' is a tender tropical perennial grown primarily for its lush speckled foliage. It forms a tall rosette of leathery, upright, broadly lance-shaped leaves with burgundy-brown spots. The light green leaves are edged with small sharp spines. The rosette may send forth a tall thick flower stem topped by a large spike-like cluster of small white blooms with showy scarlet bracts. The...