Dipteronia sinensis Chinese Money Maple Dipteronia sinensis Type: Deciduous Tree Exposure: Part or Light Shade Water: Regular This guy’s a bit of a rarity. Native to higher elevation woodlands of China, this small tree isContinue reading
Tag: Unique Foliage or Flowers
Glory Bush
Tibouchina urvillieana Glory Bush, Princess Flower Tibouchina urvillieana Type: Perennial (here) Exposure: Full Sun Water: Regular to Moist Here’s one of those tricky ones that is treated as a different type of plant depending onContinue reading
Cardoon
Cynara Cardunculus Cardoon Cynara Cardunculus Type: Herbaceous Perennial Exposure: Full Sun Water: Regular This big bold perennial is pretty much the epitome of an “architectural” plant. Dramatic, grey / green spiny leaves that can reachContinue reading
False Hemp
Datisca cannabina False Hemp Datisca cannabina Type: Perennial Exposure: Full Sun Water: Regular Calm down; it looks like it, but it isn’t. While the foliage of this dramatic, somewhat underused perennial looks like that ofContinue reading
Red Dragon Knotweed
Persicaria microsephala “Red Dragon” Red Dragon Knotweed Persicaria Microsephala “Red Dragon” Type: Perennial Exposure: Sun / Part Shade Water: Regular to Ample This dramatic, spreading perennial will grow to 2-3ft (60-90cm) tall and wide. ItContinue reading
Dead Man’s Fingers
Decaisnea fargesii Dead Man’s Fingers Decaisnea fargesii Type: Deciduous Shrub Exposure: Sun / Part Shade Water: Regular Happy Halloween! And now for some creepiness… This somewhat morbidly-named shrub originates in Western China. Reaching 12 toContinue reading
Canna Lilly
Canna Canna Lilly Canna Type: Perennials sometimes grown as Annuals Exposure: Full Sun Water: Regular to Ample For Rosemary Time to add to our list of big, colorful, in-your-face, tropical-looking plants. Canna lillies, or justContinue reading
Taro, Elephant’s Ear
Colocasia esculenta Taro, Elephant’s Ear Colocasia esculenta Type: Annual (here in USDA Zone 8) Exposure: Sun / Part Shade Water: Ample Here’s another dramatic tropical plant that can fool us all into thinking we’re inContinue reading
Lion’s Tail
Leonotis leonurus Lion’s Tail Leonotis leonurus Type: Perennial Exposure: Full Sun Water: Regular / Drought Tolerant In its native Africa, this is a broadleaf evergreen, and becomes a 6ft (1.8m) tall andContinue reading
Persian Violet, Hardy Fall Cyclamen
Cyclamen hederifolium Persian Violet, Hardy Fall Cyclamen Cyclamen hederifolium Type: Perennial Exposure: Full/ Part Shade Water: Regular This native of Turkey grows from corms (similar to a bulb) to form a plant 6in (15cm) highContinue reading