(Aeonium, Saucer Plant)

Imagine a plant that looks like it was squashed to the ground as if stepped on by an elephant. That's saucer plant. This strange low-growing tender perennial forms a flat, rounded rosette of succulent foliage. It is native to the coastal cliffs of Tenerife in the Canary Islands and is well-adapted to salt spray and high winds. Each rosette survives as a biennial or short-lived perennial, reproducing by seed or small pups that sprout from the base of the mother plant.

Spoon-shaped, bright green...

(Lipstick Basket Vine, Lipstick Plant)

Vibrant lipstick-red flowers adorn the sprawling stems of this tree-dweller ("epiphyte") from moist forests of Malaysia. In nature it grows in trunk crotches and other arboreal niches where leaf litter accumulates.

Pairs of glossy deep green leaves crowd the long, lax stems of this evergreen perennial. They may blush burgundy-purple in relatively hot, sunny sites. Pairs of dark red to nearly black buds develop at the branch tips, opening into tubular, hairy, vivid red blooms with five lobes,...

(East African Yellowwood, Fern Pine)

The graceful form of fern pine is accented by the linear, bluish green leaves that project from the branches much like the leaves of a lily. This tall, tender evergreen tree is native to higher elevations of subtropical eastern Africa. Unlike other conifers such as junipers, that have scale-like needles, fern pine leaves are smooth, flat and narrow, arranged spirally around gently pendent branches. Plants are dioecious, being either male or female. Male plants produce small, tan, finger-like cones...

(African Lily, Blue Danube Lily-of-the-Nile, Lily-of-the-Nile)

The vigorous lily-of-the-Nile, 'Blue Danube', bears large rounded clusters of light violet-blue flowers on very tall stems. Often listed as a variant of the South African Agapanthus africanus, it is actually a hybrid. Where hardy, it is best grown in the landscape but in colder climates it may be maintained as a container specimen if provided a large spacious pot. Flowering is most profuse from late-spring through summer.

The long strap-like leaves of this tender perennial are medium...

(African Lily, Lily-of-the-Nile)

The Blue Umbrella lily-of-the-Nile is a dramatic tender perennial grown for its large sky-blue flower clusters borne on long stalks above clumps of grassy dark green foliage. Often listed as a variant of the South African Agapanthus praecox ssp.orientalis, it is actually a hybrid. Where hardy, it is best grown in the landscape but in colder climates it may be maintained as a container specimen if provided a large spacious pot. Bloom time is variable, depending on the local climate...

(African Lily, Lily-of-the-Nile)

The bright white blooms 'Bressingham White' appear atop sturdy stems. This compact cultivar was bred and selected by Alan Bloom for Blooms of Bressingham. Lily-of-the-Nile is a dramatic, evergreen tender perennial grown for its large flower clusters. Where hardy, it is best grown in the landscape but in colder climates it may be maintained as a container specimen if provided a large spacious pot. Bloom time is variable, depending on the local climate and water availability, but plants typically bloom...

(African Lily, Ellamae Lily-of-the-Nile, Lily-of-the-Nile)

Very large brilliant indigo blue flower clusters adorn 'Ellamae.' Each vibrant flower cluster has many florets. This cultivar was bred in 1978 by Archie A. Amate of Huntington Beach, California and introduced in 1990 by the Los Angeles State and County Arboretum. It is best grown in the landscape but in colder climates it may be maintained as a container specimen if provided a large spacious pot. This tends to be a summer bloomer, but bloom time can be variable depending on the local climate and...

(African Lily, Lily-of-the-Nile)

The English Headbourne hybrids are some of the hardiest Agapanthus available. The violet-blue-flowered selection, 'Headbourne Blue', bears dense clusters of bright lily-like flowers on sturdy stems. Each flower head has around 70 to 75 florets. Where hardy, they are best grown in the landscape but in colder climates may be grown in containers if provided large spacious pots. Bloom time is variable, depending on the local climate and water availability, but plants typically bloom in summer.

The...

(African Lily, Lily-of-the-Nile)

The large, flared flowers of 'Midnight Blue' are dark blue and appear atop short sturdy stems. Lily-of-the-Nile is a dramatic, evergreen tender perennial. Where hardy, it is best grown in the landscape but in colder climates it may be maintained as a container specimen if provided a large spacious pot. This tends to be a spring and summer bloomer, but bloom time can be variable depending on the local climate and water availability.

The long, thin, strap-like leaves of this cultivar are medium...

(African Lily, Lily-of-the-Nile)

The large, flared flowers of 'Midnight Blue' are dark blue and appear atop short sturdy stems. Lily-of-the-Nile is a dramatic, evergreen tender perennial. Where hardy, it is best grown in the landscape but in colder climates it may be maintained as a container specimen if provided a large spacious pot. Bloom time is variable, depending on the local climate and water availability, but plants typically bloom in summer.

The long, thin, strap-like leaves of this cultivar are medium green and produced...