(Devil's Tongue, Elephant Yam, Konjac)

A bizarre, summer-growing plant with with a large smelly inflorescence and an immense, waxy and fleshy leaf and stalk, this tuberous perennial is native from China to Indonesia. The maroon, funnel-shaped spathe emerges in spring on a tall wrist-thick stem that bears snakeskin-like marbling. The spear-shaped purple spadix protrudes from the spathe. The highly dissected dark green leaf arises on a mottled stem after the flowers collapse.

Plant devil's tongue in a fertile, well drained soil in partial...

(Titan Arum)

This gigantic, summer-growing plant from Sumatra has perhaps the largest inflorescence and tuber in the plant kingdom. In late spring, if the female plant is old enough, a thick, tall flower stalk emerges and unfurls a multicolored spathe and spadix with a rotting, foetid stench. It is pollinated by flies and carrion beetles. In summer, an immense leaf stalk reaches skyward with a huge, umbrella-like leaf that is very lobed and attractive.

This singular plant needs a warm, alkaline, well drained...

(Acajou, Cashew)

This small, broad-crowned, evergreen tree is cultivated throughout the tropics for its tasty fruits, as well as for numerous other by-products. It is native to lower latitudes of the New World.

Large, leathery, elliptical leaves crowd the crooked, gray-barked branches of this fast-growing tree. The leaves are ribbed with conspicuous, deep-set veins, and are often notched at the tip. Many-flowered clusters of pale green, red-tinged, five-lobed blooms appear at the branch tips from late spring...

(Pineapple)

These terrestrial, evergreen perennials from South America are grown for their handsome foliage, striking flowers, and edible fruits. Ananas comprises some 8 species including the pineapple, A. comosus. Plants form basal rosettes of tall, sword-shaped, saw-toothed leaves which give rise in summer to stout erect flower stems. Borne in a terminal spike, the three-petaled, red or blue flowers have prominent, often colorful basal bracts. Pulpy fruits follow the blooms, merging...

(Red Pineapple)

Closely related to the commercial pineapple, red pineapple is an evergreen, terrestrial perennial from southeastern Brazil, Paraguay, and northern Argentina. Plants form rosettes of erect, sword-shaped, olive-green leaves that blush red in full sun. Rosettes produce offsets at the base and between the leaves. When mature (about 18 months after propagation), the central rosette gives rise to a tall stout stem bearing an oval cluster of lavender flowers with large prickly red bracts. A plume of stiff...

(Variegated Red Pineapple)

Closely related to the commercial pineapple, red pineapple is an evergreen, terrestrial perennial from southeastern Brazil, Paraguay, and northern Argentina. Plants form rosettes of erect, sword-shaped, olive-green leaves that blush red in full sun. Rosettes produce offsets at the base and between the leaves. When mature (about 18 months after propagation), the central rosette gives rise to a tall stout stem bearing an oval cluster of lavender flowers with large prickly red bracts. A plume of stiff...

(Tricolor Red Pineapple, Variegated Ornamental Pineapple)

Closely related to the commercial pineapple, red pineapple is an evergreen, terrestrial perennial from southeastern Brazil, Paraguay, and northern Argentina. The cultivar 'Tricolor' (also known as 'Striatus') has rosettes of erect, sword-shaped, olive-green leaves with creamy margins and red spines. The rosettes produce offsets at the base and between the leaves. When mature (about 18 months after propagation), the central rosette gives rise to a tall stout stem bearing an oval cluster of lavender...

(Pineapple)

Who doesn’t love sweet, juicy pineapple? This popular fruit has been long cultivated in hot spots like Southeast Asia, Costa Rica and Hawaii. Believed to have originated from Brazil, pineapple had already been grown and selected by indigenous Americans before Europeans arrived in the 15th Century. Today no wild form is known, but many variable selections exist that differ in flavor quality, vigor and fruit size. Some have even been developed for their ornamental appeal.

Ananas comosus...

(Ivory Coast Pineapple, Variegated Pineapple)

A cultivar of pineapple grown for its colorful foliage rather than its edible fruit, 'Ivory Coast' is an evergreen, terrestrial, rosette-forming perennial whose erect, sword-shaped, olive-green leaves have creamy white, spineless edges. Mature specimens produce pyramidal clusters of small lavender flowers with showy pink bracts. These are borne atop a stout central stem in summer. The flowers give rise to fleshy amber or golden brown fruitlets that fuse into a large, cone-shaped pineapple. The fruit...

(Variegated Pineapple)

Variegated pineapple is a terrestrial bromeliad with a rosette of narrow evergreen leaves colored green, creamy yellow and a little pink. Nasty spines line the leaves, and protect the fleshy amber to golden brown fruit that rises on a central stalk. It is believed to be native to Brazil.

Variegated pineapple needs sunlight and a moist, well drained soil. Full sun promotes the light pink blushing on the leaves, although it is faint or simply not present. It loves humidity and moisture, but soggy...