(Chilean Mesquite)

A common landscape plant in desert regions of the American Southwest, this spiny tree is native to southwestern South America. Most plants sold under this name are unnamed and unarmed selections or hybrids. This semi-deciduous tree rapidly forms a dense spreading canopy of twisting branches. The bright green, fern-like leaves have numerous narrow leaflets. Plants may lose some or all of their leaves in winter, but soon refoliate. Fluffy catkin-like clusters of yellow flowers appear spring, followed...

(Clamshell Orchid, Cockleshell Orchid)

With light green flowers that are inverted to look like small octopuses, the cockleshell orchid is unique in that it holds its burgundy and orange floral lip at the top of the flower, unlike most orchids. A small evergreen tropical orchid, it is an epiphyte (growing on another plant). It is native to Central and northern South America, the Caribbean and southernmost Florida, where it is endangered. There are two differently sized forms, one that is much smaller in all its parts; for floral impact...

(Fragrant Anacheilium Orchid, Fragrant Prosthechea Orchid)

With light green flowers with white lip striped with burgundy, the fragrant prosthechea orchid is unique in that it holds its floral lip at the top of the flower, unlike most orchids. A small evergreen tropical orchid, it is an epiphyte (growing on another plant). It is native to the lowlands across Central America and the Caribbean Basin and northern South America. The most prized feature of this orchid is the fragrance of its usually winter to spring flowers, which resembles a blend of vanilla...

(Pink Ice Protea, Protea)

Cold hardiness and beautiful pink and black flowers are the hallmarks of the hybrid, 'Pink Ice.' A cross between the South African natives, mink protea (Protea neriifolia) and stink-leaf sugarbush (P. susannae), this evergreen is an upright to loosely rounded shrub that blooms in fall and winter. Its stellar blooms are beautiful when cut and last for two to three weeks in a vase.

The narrow, oval foliage of this shrub is medium green with a leathery, hard texture. When fall...

(Protea, Waboom, Wagon Tree)

This is a South African shrub with many uses, both functional and ornamental. In Africa waboom was traditionally used to tan leather, make ink, and construct wagon brake blocks and wheel rims, but this compact protea is also an ornate small tree with large, ivory flowers and pleasing blue-green foliage. It is native to the dry slopes and screes of South Africa where it often attains a gnarled, picturesque habit. In its native habitat, it has become adapted to cyclical fall brush fires followed by...

(Carruthers' Falseface)

Green to purplish green foliage topped by small, star-like flowers of pink or white and magenta makes Carruther's falseface pretty whenever temperatures are warm. A tender evergreen shrub native to New Caledonia and Vanuata in western Polynesia, it has today become naturalized in many parts of the tropical Pacific and South America.

The oval leaves have noticeable veins and often have gently wavy edges. They are yellow green (var. carruthersii), fully green in color (var. reticulatum)...

(Pink Shaving Brush Tree, Shaving Brush Tree)

The cigar-like flower buds of the shaving brush tree open to show bright rosy pink flowers that truly look like brushes. This deciduous tree is native to dry woodlands across Mexico and Guatemala. When young, its bark is thin and green, but with age it becomes thicker and grayish-tan with green streaks, looking much like elephant or dinosaur skin. Shaving brush tree attains a wide, spreading, rounded canopy. Alternating seasons of moisture and drought helps develop its interesting bottle-shaped trunk.

Mid-spring's...

(Shaving Brush Tree, White Shaving Brush Tree)

White shaving brush tree produces interesting torpedo-shaped flower buds and puffy white flowers that look like paintbrushes. This deciduous tree is native to dry woodlands across Mexico and Guatemala. When young, its bark is thin and green, but with age it becomes thicker and tan-gray with green streaks, looking like elephant or dinosaur skin. Shaving brush tree attains a wide, spreading, rounded canopy. Alternating seasons of moisture and drought helps develop the bottle-shaped trunk.

Mid-spring's...

(Strawberry Guava)

The aptly named strawberry guava produces beautiful, fragrant white flowers followed by tart, strawberry-flavored fruits. A slow growing evergreen tree from subtropical southeastern Brazil, it has a dense canopy of foliage and smooth, pale reddish brown bark. When young, it has a rounded, shrubby habit but will attain a tree-like stature with age.

The oval leaves are leathery and dark green with gray-green undersides and prominent lighter central veins, or midribs. It flowers most heavily in...

(Strawberry Guava)

The yellow guava produces beautiful, fragrant white flowers followed by tart, strawberry-flavored fruits. A slow growing evergreen tree from subtropical southeastern Brazil, it has a dense canopy of foliage and smooth, pale reddish brown bark. When young, it has a rounded, shrubby habit but will attain a tree-like stature with age.

The oval leaves are leathery and dark green with gray-green undersides and prominent lighter central veins, or midribs. It flowers most heavily in mid- and late-spring...