Cypress vine, Ipomoea quamoclit

Here are some facts about Cypress vine, Ipomoea quamoclit:

Fast-growing vine: They can grow up to 10 feet long in a single season, making them a great choice for covering fences, trellises, or other structures quickly.
Delicate star-shaped flowers: They come in red (most common), pink, and white and bloom profusely throughout the summer and fall, attracting hummingbirds and butterflies.
Feathery green leaves: These complement the vibrant flowers and add a light, airy feel to the vine.
Warm weather annual: This means they will die with frost and need to be replanted each year.

Easy to grow: They thrive in full sun to partial shade and well-drained soil. They are moderately drought tolerant but prefer consistent moisture.
Self-seeding: The cypress vine can readily reseed itself in your garden if you allow the flowers to dry and turn to seed pods.
Deer resistant: This is a plus for gardeners who have problems with deer in their area.
Toxic: Be aware that all parts of the cypress vine are toxic and can cause stomach upset, vomiting, and diarrhea if ingested. Keep them out of reach of children and pets.

Here are some additional details to consider:

USDA Hardiness Zones: 11-12
Native range: Tropical regions of the Americas
Common names: Cypress vine, cypress vine morning glory, cardinal creeper, cardinal vine, star glory, star of Bethlehem, hummingbird vine
Family: Convolvulaceae

Calla Lily, Zantedeschia aethiopica

The Calla Lily (Zantedeschia aethiopica) is a flowering plant native to southern Africa. It is a rhizomatous perennial that can grow in a variety of habitats, including coastal marshes, grasslands, and old homesteads. Mature clumps can reach 2-3 feet tall and 1.5-2 feet wide.

The calla lily has large flowers, with a spathe (modified leaf) up to 10 inches long and a yellow spadix (flower spike) in the center. The spathe is often white, but it can also be yellow, pink, or purple. The leaves of the calla lily are arrow-shaped and green.

Calla lilies are popular cut flowers and can also be grown in pots or in the garden. They prefer full sun to partial shade and moist, well-drained soil. Calla lilies are not winter hardy in cold climates and should be dug up and stored indoors over the winter. They are also mildly toxic, so be sure to keep them out of reach of children and pets.

Brazilian plume, Justicia carnea

The Brazilian plume, known scientifically as Justicia carnea, is a beautiful flowering plant native to the Atlantic Forest biomes in eastern Brazil. It's popular in tropical and subtropical gardens around the world due to its vibrant and lush appearance. The plant typically grows as a bushy shrub reaching up to 1.5 meters in height and features dense, soft green leaves.

The most striking feature of the Brazilian plume is its flowers. These are rich, plume-like blooms composed of numerous small, tubular flowers that range in color from deep pink to light pink, and sometimes white. They are grouped in erect, spike-like clusters that emerge above the foliage, blooming primarily during the summer and autumn months. This plant thrives in moist, well-drained soil and prefers partial shade, making it ideal for under-canopy conditions in gardens. It's also relatively easy to care for, requiring regular watering and occasional pruning to maintain its shape and promote flowering.

Unusal facts about Brazilian plume, Justicia carnea
The Brazilian plume, Justicia carnea, holds several fascinating and somewhat unusual attributes that contribute to its charm and appeal.

Hummingbird Attraction: Despite its origins in Brazil, where hummingbirds are abundant, the Brazilian plume is particularly adept at attracting these birds wherever it is grown. Its tubular flowers are perfectly shaped to accommodate the feeding habits of hummingbirds, making it a fantastic plant for bird enthusiasts wanting to attract these creatures to their gardens.
Shade Tolerance: Unlike many flowering plants that require full sun to thrive and bloom profusely, the Brazilian plume can bloom abundantly even in shaded areas. This makes it exceptionally valuable for gardeners who have limited light due to tree cover or other structures.

Medicinal Uses: In some traditional practices, parts of the Justicia carnea plant are used for medicinal purposes. The leaves have been used in folk medicine to treat conditions like headaches and fever, although there is limited scientific research to support these uses.
Survival Strategy: The plant’s ability to thrive in under-canopy conditions with high humidity and lower light levels is a survival strategy that stems from its natural habitat in the Atlantic Forest of Brazil. This adaptation allows it to compete successfully in a crowded ecological niche.
Propagation Peculiarity: The Brazilian plume is relatively easy to propagate from cuttings, which can be a fun fact for gardeners interested in expanding their plant collections without buying new plants. The ease of propagation also means it can quickly spread in garden settings if not managed properly.

These characteristics make Justicia carnea not only a visually appealing addition to many gardens but also a plant with interesting ecological and practical uses.

Blue Lechenaultia, Lechenaultia biloba

The Blue Lechenaultia (Lechenaultia biloba) is a beautiful flowering plant that is native to the southwest of Western Australia. It is a member of the Goodeniaceae family and is known for its stunning blue flowers.

Here are some facts about the Blue Lechenaultia:

Appearance: The Blue Lechenaultia is a spreading shrub that typically grows to a height of 100 cm (39 in), sometimes to 160 cm (63 in). It has grey-green to green leaves that are crowded, linear, 6–15 mm (0.24–0.59 in) long, about 1 mm (0.039 in) wide and fleshy. The flowers are arranged in compact clusters, the sepals 6–7 mm (0.24–0.28 in) long and the petals dark blue to light blue or cream-coloured, the range of colours sometimes appearing in a single population of plants.
Habitat: The Blue Lechenaultia grows in sunny areas with sandy or gravelly, well-drained soil. In its native habitat, it grows on hillsides and grasslands.
Climate: The Blue Lechenaultia is frost tolerant but thrives in warm climates. It is only hardy in USDA hardiness zones 9-11.

Uses: The Blue Lechenaultia is a popular plant for rockeries, xeriscapes, and container gardens. It is also a valuable food source for nectar-feeding insects.

If you are looking for a beautiful and low-maintenance flowering plant for your garden, the Blue Lechenaultia is a great option. Just be sure that you live in a climate that is warm enough for it to thrive.

Firespike, Odontonema Strictum

A Showy Evergreen Shrub:Firespike is a beautiful evergreen shrub with dark green, glossy leaves that have wavy margins and pointed tips . It typically grows to a height of 2-4 feet (0.6-1.2 meters) but can reach up to 8 feet (2.4 meters) tall in ideal conditions.

Long Lasting Blooms:The most striking feature of Firespike is its long-lasting blooms. It produces vibrant red, tubular flowers in 12-inch (30-cm) spikes throughout fall and winter, and sometimes even into early spring in frost-free areas. These flowers are a magnet for hummingbirds and butterflies, adding to the beauty and liveliness of your garden.

Adaptable to Sun or Shade: Firespike is a versatile plant that can thrive in both full sun and partial shade. However, for the most flowers and the most vibrant blooms, it prefers to be planted in an area that receives at least a few hours of direct sunlight each day.

Easy to Care For: Firespike is a relatively low-maintenance plant. It prefers moist, well-drained soil but can tolerate some drought conditions once established. It's not particular about soil pH but will grow best in rich soil.

Fast Growing: Firespike is a fast-growing plant that can reach its mature size within a few years. It can be easily propagated from cuttings, making it a great choice for gardeners who want to add a splash of color to their landscape quickly.

Warm Climate Plant: Firespike is not frost-hardy and is best suited for USDA zones 9-11. In colder climates, it can be grown as a container plant and brought indoors for the winter.

Firespike is a beautiful and low-maintenance flowering shrub that can add a touch of the tropics to your garden. With its long-lasting blooms and attractive foliage, it's sure to become a favorite.

Fan Flower, Scaevola aemula

The Fan Flower, also known as the Fairy Fan Flower (Scaevola aemula), is a beautiful flowering plant native to Australia.

Here are some interesting facts about it:

Appearance:The Fan Flower is a sprawling perennial with ascending and/or procumbent stems that typically grows to 9-18 inches tall and spreads to 24 inches wide. It has small, bright green, oval leaves with toothed edges. The star of the show though are its dainty fan-shaped flowers that come in colors of blue, purple, pink, or white, with bright yellow-and-white throats .

Blooming: This profuse bloomer thrives in hot, humid climates where it produces a non-stop bloom of these fan-shaped flowers throughout summer to first frost.
Heat and Drought Tolerance: Once established, the Fan Flower is a champion when it comes to tolerating heat and drought. This makes it a perfect choice for hot summer climates.

Low Maintenance: Another perk? Fan Flowers are low maintenance plants. They are self-cleaning, meaning you don't have to deadhead the spent blooms, and they are generally resistant to pests.
Growing Conditions: The Fan Flower prefers full sun to part shade and moderately fertile, humusy soil with adequate moisture. You can sow seeds in spring or root softwood cuttings in late spring or summer.

Where to Plant: This versatile plant can be grown in hanging baskets, window boxes, containers, or as a bedding plant. In warm climates (zones 9-11), it can be treated as a tender perennial. In cooler climates, it is typically grown as an annual.

Dusty miller, Artemisia stelleriana

Some facts about Dusty Miller, Artemisia stelleriana:

Silver and beautiful:Dusty Miller is known for its striking silvery-white foliage, which is finely cut and wonderfully textured. This unique color comes from a dense coating of white hairs on the leaves, which helps to reflect sunlight and insulate the plant.

A coastal dweller: This perennial plant is native to coastal regions of eastern Asia and North America, including China, Japan, Korea, Russia, and the Aleutian Islands. It thrives in sandy soils and can tolerate salt spray, making it a popular choice for coastal gardens.

Sun worshiper: Dusty Miller prefers full sun to light shade and well-drained soil. Established plants are drought tolerant, making them a good choice for low-maintenance gardens.

More than just looks: While the flowers of Dusty Miller are not particularly showy, they do attract pollinators like bees and butterflies. The plant is also deer resistant, which is a plus for gardeners who have problems with deer browsing.

A variety of options: There are several cultivars of Dusty Miller available, with variations in leaf size, shape, and color. Some popular cultivars include 'Silver Brocade,' which has deeply lobed, silvery-white leaves, and 'Powys Castle,' which has finely cut, fern-like foliage.

Easy to grow:Dusty Miller is a relatively easy-to-grow plant that is suitable for beginner gardeners. It can be propagated by seed or division.