This should just go to show you how my mind works — it’s the beginning of December and I’m going to talk about plants. HOWEVER, I have an excuse, I work at a nursery and landscaping company every day, so I’m constantly discovering plants I had no idea even existed.
I’ve now created a masterful list of the Top 10 AMAZING Plants You Won’t Believe Exist. I’ve included the species name, photos and a little bit of information on each one, my sources to each one are included in the link that’s the name of each plant.
So, without further ado, here are 10 plants that look like they came from a Dr. Seuss book.
1. Columbine
The columbine plant (Aquilegia) is an easy-to-grow perennial that offers seasonal interest throughout much of the year. It blooms in a variety of colors during spring, which emerge from its attractive dark green foliage that turns maroon colored in fall. The bell-shaped flowers are also a favorite to hummingbirds and may be used in cut-flower arrangements as well.
Araucaria araucana (commonly called the monkey puzzle tree, monkey tail tree, Chilean pine, or pehuén) is an evergreen tree growing to 1–1.5 m (3–5 ft) in diameter and 30–40 m (100–130 ft) in height. It is native to central and southern Chile, western Argentina. Araucaria araucana is the hardiest species in the conifer genus Araucaria. Because of the longevity of this species, it is described as a living fossil. It is also the national tree of Chile. Its conservation status was changed to Endangered by the IUCN in 2013 due to the dwindling population.
Love in a puff plant is a tropical to sub-tropical vine with tiny white flowers and green papery fruits that are similar to tomatillos. The vine is a heat lover that is charming when draped over a fence or trellis. Unfortunately, in southern landscapes it has become a nuisance plant, escaping cultivation and taking over the local flora.
A weeping tree hibiscus. Grows rapidly and blooms freely, It has slender and gracefully curved stems and the Flowers can be recognized by the fringed and lacy petals which are bent backward. It will reach about 6 to 8 feet with a spread of 5 to 6 feet. A Rapid grower in good soil. It gets very large in pots, so one needs to prune it often to keep a desired form. Pruning also helps to keep a abundance of flowers, since flower are formed on new wood. Blooms sporadically all year long.
There are over 400 species of tropical passion flowers (Passiflora spp.) with sizes ranging from ½ inch to 6 inches across. They are found naturally from South America through Mexico.
6. Hoya
Hoya is an Asclepiad genus of 200–300 species of tropical plants in the family Apocynaceae (Dogbane). Most are native to Asia including India, China, Thailand, Malaysia, Việt Nam, and Indonesia, There is a great diversity of species in the Philippines, and species in Polynesia, New Guinea, and Australia. Common names for this genus are waxplant, waxvine, waxflower or simply hoya. This genus was named by botanist Robert Brown, in honor of his friend, botanist Thomas Hoy.
A fairly infrequently used annual, arctotis (or African daisy) is a tough plant native to South Africa. These plants have beautiful silver/grey foliage that lays the groundwork for a stunning floral display. The blooms of this plant come in a wide array of colors that can put on quite the show for an extended period of time in mild climates.
Aeonium arboreum is a subtropical succulent sub-shrub native to the hillsides of the Canary Islands where their natural range includes arid desert regions.
It bears rosettes of leaves and large pyramidal panicles of bright yellow flowers in the spring. Each rosette that bloom will die.
Echeveria ‘Raindrops’ is a solitary plant, up to 6 inches (15 cm) across, with pale green rounded leaves with pale reddish margins and a single globular blue-green bump in the middle of each leaf toward the tip that develops with age. Young plants often do not exhibit this trait but it appears as the plant ages. These bumps, similar to a water droplet, are what give this unique plant its name.
A Monkey Tail Cactus is a great plant for beginners. It has long, white, soft, hairlike spines and gets large bright red flowers. It looks best in hanging baskets.
gardening (i.e. Gardening in pots, tins and other containers).
