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  Common name:   Mother of Thousands, Alligator Plant, Mexican Hat Plant, Devil’s Backbone Family:  Crassulaceae Synonymous:  Kalanchoe daigremontiana Distribution and habitat:  Bryophyllum daigremontianum is a succulent perennial plant native to the Fiherenana River valley and Androhibolava mountains in southwest Madagascar. It has been introduced to numerous tropical and subtropical regions, such as Florida, Puerto Rico, Hawaii, parts of the Canary Islands and Australia. Like other members of the genus Bryophyllum, it is able to propagate vegetatively from plantlets (epiphyllous buds) that develop on the leaf edges. The plantlets that grow on the edges of each leaf fall easily and root wherever they land. It is commonly found growing on gravelly and sandy soils. This succulent plant is a weed of bushland and disturbed sites such as roadsides, along fence lines, around rubbish tips and abandoned rural dwellings. It also occurs frequently along creeks and rivers...

  Common Names: mountain laurel, calico bush Family: Ericaceae (heath Family) Description Mountain laurel is a dense, bushy shrub that is usually less than 10 ft (3 m) tall with an equal spread. Occasional specimens may reach tree size, up to 30 ft (9 m) in height. Mountain laurel has leathery evergreen leaves that are glossy dark green, elliptic to oval in shape, 2-5 in (5-12 cm) long, and arranged alternately on the stems. With mountain laurel it’s all about the inflorescence, which is extremely showy. Individual flowers are bowl shaped, a little less than an inch (2.5 cm) across and may be pale pink, fuchsia, almost crimson or white, usually with darker pink markings on the inside of the corolla. Several flowers are borne in rounded clusters (corymbs) 3-4 in (7-10 cm) across. The buds that precede the flowers are dark pink and nearly as showy as the flowers. Mature fruits are inconspicuous dry capsules that eventually split open to release extremely tiny seeds. This beautiful Am...

  Common Name : Peacock Plant / Zebra Plant / Rattlesnake Plant When  Calathea  is grown as a house plant it sometimes goes by the name  Peacock Plant , Zebra Plant  or  Rattlesnake Plant  because of its leaf markings, but it’s much more common to stick to its latin name of  Calathea .Occasionally you may find it labeled as “ Prayer Plant ” but this is probably a mislabel as the “ Prayer Plant ” is strictly a Maranta  and therefore belongs in the Marantaceae  family. Although (and we promise it won’t get any more complicated than this) the  Marantaceae family also includes the  Calathea genus , so basically the plants are both closely related, they look very similar and essentially have the same care requirements. There are several house plants which are grown exclusively for their foliage, and the Calathea  is one of these. The leaves and plants themselves come in many shapes and sizes, each one will normally have go...

  A miniature Zen garden is a small space filled with sand or gravel and usually accessorized with a few rocks or plants. The goal is to use a small rake to move the sand or gravel to create patterns that look similar to ripples of water. The quiet practice is supposed to help you let go of whatever factors may be bothering you and focus on the simple task of creating the patterns. There are many reasons that a miniature zen garden would be a good addition to your home. Keep reading to find all the benefits of a miniature zen garden. 1.Miniature Zen Gardens Can Be Beautiful A Zen garden can add to the beauty of your home. That’s because they are simple and elegant. Because they’re so simple, you can adapt them any way you like to fit your style. Use the same color rocks, add trees and shrubs. You can even play around with the shape of your garden. 2.Zen Gardens Can Be Low Cost The simplicity of your garden means you don’t have to spend a lot of money to create it. Rocks and sand ar...

 Today we will discover 10 plants that look good in the garden all year round. A good garden looks good all year round, not just in spring or summer. Most plants, such as roses, are at their peak during one season. But choose carefully and you’ll find a range of plants that offer more than one season of interest – not only flowers but autumn leaf colour and colourful berries, too, as well as an architectural form. Of course, your year round stars will need some support from other plants – discover 12 plants for colour in every month Cercis canadensis  ‘Forest Pansy’ Cercis canadensis  ‘Forest Pansy’ bears pinky-violet coloured blossom on bare stems in spring, followed by beautiful, dark purple heart-shaped leaves in summer. In autumn, they turn yellow before falling. Many are multi-stemmed, so you can enjoy the shape of the plant during the winter months.. Crab apples A crab apple, such as  Malus  x  robusta  ‘Red Sentinel’ can...

  Bird’s nest fern is an evergreen, epiphytic fern with a short rhizome and large leaves that can be 150cm long and 20cm wide The plant is sometimes harvested from the wild as a local food source. It is commonly grown as an ornamental in the tropics. Range East tropical Africa, through tropical Asia to northern Australia and the Pacific Islands. Habitat An epiphytic plant, sometimes growing on rocks, at elevations from sea level to 1,200 meters Cultivation Details A plant of moist areas in the tropics. Requires a shady position and humid conditions[ Edible Uses Leaves – parboiled and eaten Ash from the burnt leaves can be used as a salt substitute Medicinal The leaves are said to be contraceptive, depurative and sedative, It is used in the treatment of chest pains It is used externally for the treatment of stings and bites Propagation Seed -Division.

  Caladiums are tropical plants growing from tubers, most known for their colorful foliage, and used as a houseplant or summer bedding plant. About This Plant Any garden with a shady location has a perfect spot for caladiums. These tropical tubers, most of them varieties derived from  Caladium bicolor , are grown for their dramatic summer foliage. They are naturals in beds with ferns or coleus, in pots to accent shady spots, or used as indoor houseplants. Special Features Caladium bicolor  is widely available at garden centers and nurseries. The leaf shape is oval or like an arrowhead. There are a multiple hybrids available offering a range of leaf colors and patterns. Tall varieties such as white ‘Candidum’ and pink ‘Carolyn Whorton’ put on a beautiful show, but since each tuber has only one to three active buds, the leaf count is low. Lance-leaved types, including ‘Rosalie’ and ‘White Wing’, produce many more leaves from multiple buds, but the leaves are thinner and not...