(Kroonaalwyn, Spiral Aloe)

The genus Aloe contains around 300 species of succulent plants grown for both their exquisite flowers and fleshy foliage. They are primarily native to southern Africa and the island of Madagascar but also exist in the Cape Verde Islands and the Arabian Peninsula. All of these regions are arid tropical zones, so aloes are adapted to dry, frost-free areas.

These plants typically develop a rosette of linear, triangular or sword shaped leaves with short, sharp thorns along the leaf edges...

(Coral Aloe, Striped Aloe)

The large, uniform rosettes of coral aloe are comprised of thick, smooth leaves with toothless margins. These are silvery gray-green and produce showy spikes of coral orange flowers from late winter to spring. This standout succulent originates from South Africa where it inhabits open, dry, rocky, hilly locales.

Coral aloe develops a substantial rosette of broad, thick, pointed leaves that are entirely smooth. These are silvery gray-green and some variants have thin, dark, longitudinal lines,...

(Thrask's Aloe)

A striking specimen plant for mild climates, this stately aloe forms a single-stemmed, palm-like "tree." Native to coastal dunes of eastern South Africa, it bears a large rosette of long, strap-shaped, evergreen leaves atop a "trunk" that can reach house-high. The olive-green, arching leaves have channeled centers and red-toothed margins. The shaggy remains of old leaves often cloak the upper "trunk." Conical clusters of tubular orange-yellow flowers appear in branching candelabra-like spikes in...

(Aloe Vera, Barbados Aloe)

True aloe is an outstanding ornamental succulent that is cultivated outdoors, where winters are frost-free, and indoors as a potted plant for sunny exposures. It is believed to have originated from northwestern Africa to the Arabian Peninsula, but because of a long history of widespread human distribution its true nativity is unknown.

This clump forming succulent plant produces rigid upright rosettes of light green, thick, lance-like leaves edged with tiny yellow teeth. If broken, they emit...

(Zanzibar Aloe)

This is a little jewel box aloe that is at home in frost free gardens, pots on the porch or indoors where there is bright light. As its name suggests, this ground hugging Aloe originates from the dry climates of Zanzibar, a small island off the coast of Tanzania.

Zanzibar aloe develops little upright rosettes that elongate over time and travel horizontally, rooting as they go. In addition, it produces lateral plantlets, or pups, over time to form colonies. Sometimes the original point...

(Lemon Verbena)

Lemon verbena to North American gardeners, Herb Louisa to European gardeners, Aloysia triphylla is a tender deciduous shrub grown for the odor of its leaves, an extraordinarily pleasant and sweet lemony scent released by untouched leaves and by bruised or crushed leaves alike. The flowers, which appear in late Spring, are white to pale lavender and insignificant and the ornamental value of the plant lies in its canopy of narrow leaves.

Lemon verbena grows best on well-drained, slightly...

(Sweet Almond Shrub, Sweet Almond Verbena)

Perfuming the air, the white flowers of sweet almond verbena attract bees and butterflies. Native to the drier subtropical parts of northern Argentina, this fast-growing evergreen shrub is almost ever-blooming. It is an upright plant but will look rounded with its many horizontal, weeping branches. The oval, gray-green leaves have small teeth on their edges, and overall have a fine sand-papery texture. Towards the tips of the new growth, many small flowerspikes jut out horizontally from the leaf...

(Jungle Queen, Red Ginger)

Native to the South Pacific, this large evergreen perennial bears showy conical clusters of brilliant red flower bracts and small white true flowers atop tall stems whenever temperatures are warm and soil moist. The blooms contrast beautifully with the large, lance shaped, medium green leaves. The stems die to the ground in the colder part of its hardiness range, but regrow from thick ginger-scented rhizomes in spring.

After the primary flower fades, smaller, side flowers appear from the base...

(Shell Ginger)

Fragrant in all its parts, this large, clump-forming, evergreen perennial is native to tropical Asia and naturalized in other areas of the tropics. Pendulous clusters of waxy, pearly, pinkish white flowers resembling seashells appear atop tall, strong, large-leaved stems in spring and summer. The interior of each flower is yellow with a red throat. The lance-shaped leaves are variegated in some forms. The stems die to the ground in the colder part of its hardiness range, but regrow from thick rhizomes...

(Golden Lotus, Shell Ginger, Variegated Shell Ginger)

Fragrant in all its parts, variegated shell ginger is a large, clump-forming, evergreen perennial native to tropical Asia. Pendulous clusters of waxy, pearly, pinkish white flowers with yellow interiors appear atop tall, strong, large-leaved stems in spring and summer. The leaves of the cultivar 'Variegata' are strikingly marked with yellow and green stripes and blotches. The stems die to the ground in the colder part of its hardiness range, but regrow from thick rhizomes in spring.

Variegated...