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Agastache, commonly called giant hyssop, is a perennial mainly native to North America. Agastache hybrids like 'Blue Boa' are planted for their attractive flowers and better winter hardiness. Agastache is attractive to bees, hummingbirds and butterflies.
Ageratum houstonianum is an annual plant commonly called floss flower. floss flower features clusters of lavender flowers which resemble aster. 'Blue Horizon' is a tall, hardy hybrid with sturdy stems and larger flowers. 'Blue Horizon' blooms from mid summer to fall. Ageratum tolerates rabbits and deer and is attractive to butterflies.
Alocasia 'Calidora' is also know as Persian palm or giant elephant ear. It is a tropical bulb that is best suited to be planted as an annual. The leaves of 'Calidora' grow on large petioles and can reach sizes of up to 6 feet long and 3 feet wide.
Elephant Ears are toxic to pets. Click here to visit our Subject Guide on Plants and Pets.
Click here for more information on growing Alocasia 'Calidora'.
'Regal Shields' is another variety of elephant ear but much smaller than 'Calidora'. Featuring leaves with a burgundy underside, 'Regal Shields' only reach heights of up to 3 feet. 'Regal Shields' tolerates deer and rabbits but is toxic to pets. Click here to visit our Subject Guide on Plants and Pets.
Alternanthera dentata is a perennial plant that is best grown as an annual in the Mid Atlantic. 'Rubiginosa' is a rapid grower and is typically grown for its glossy, burgundy foliage.
Alternanthera dentata is highly attractive to pollinators like bees and butterflies.
Click here for more information on growing Alternanthera dentata.
Ammi majus 'Green Mist' is a perennial commonly know as Bishop's flower, Bishop's weed, False Queen Anne's Lace, or bulwort. 'Green Mist' is closely related to the wildflower Queen Anne's Lace and looks similar. 'Green Mist' is an excellent alternative to invasive Queen Anne's lace because it is non invasive.
Ammi majus is not poisonous but can sometimes cause an allergic reaction in people during handling.
Asclepias tuberosa is an herbaceous perennial commonly know as butterfly weed. As its name suggests, it is highly attractive to butterflies. It is drought resistant and tolerates poor soil but is slow to establish and not well suited for transplant once established. Asclepias tuberosa typically reaches 1 to 3 feet.
Asclepias tuberosa produces clusters of bright orange flowers on tall stalks. These flowers give way to spindle shaped seed pods that are prized for use in dried floral arrangements.
Click here for more information on growing Asclepias tuberosa.
Browallia americana, also know as bush violet, is a shrubby, herbaceous perennial. Reaching heights of up to 3 feet, Browallia americana produces beautiful 2 inch flowers in shades of blue and purple.
Click here for more information on growing Browallia americana.
Bulbine frutescens is a tropical and tender perennial succulent. It is fast growing and forms clumps of foliage making it well suited for ground cover. Bulbine frutescens blooms twice a year in the spring and in the fall. It attracts bees and butterflies. It is also deer resistant.
Canna 'Phasion' is a very popular Canna lily. It features broad, variegated leaves that are striped in shades of orange, red, pink, and green. Its large, lily-like flowers are tangerine colored and showy.
Canna are perennials which must be dug up and stored for winter in temperate areas like the Mid Atlantic. Canna are highly adaptable plants and well suited for containers.
Capsicum annuum 'Black Pearl' is an ornamental pepper. It's a perennial that is hardy in the Mid Atlantic. It is heat loving and requires full sun.
'Black Pearl' features glossy leaves that start green but turn black as they mature. The highlight of 'Black Pearl' is its black fruit which turns cherry red as it ripens. While technically edible, the fruit is extremely hot and not recommended for eating.
Click here for more information on growing Capsicum annuum 'Black Pearl'.
Cissus discolor, also know as Rex Begonia vine, is a tropical, evergreen vine best suited for use as an annual in the Mid Atlantic. Cissus discolor reaches lengths of up to 12 feet and does well in hanging baskets.
Cissus discolor is grown for its beautiful foliage. The leaves are green, wine, and silver colored. The underside of the leaves are wine colored with a fuzzy, velvety texture.
Colocasia gigantea 'Thailand Giant' is a giant variety of elephant ear. 'Thailand Giant' regularly reaches heights of 10 feet. The leaves can grow as large as 5 feet long and 4 feet wide.
Like 'Calidora' and 'Regal Shields', 'Thailand Giant' is poisonous to pets. Click here for our Subject Guide on plants and pets.
Click here for more on growing Colocasia gigantea 'Thailand Giant'.
Cuphea 'David Verity' is a hybrid Cuphea grown for its abundance of orange, cigar-shaped flowers. In the Mid Atlantic, this broad leafed evergreen needs to be grown as an annual or overwintered indoors.
Evolvulus nuttallianus 'Blue Daze' is best grown as an annual in areas with frost. It is a non-vining perennial that resembles a morning glory. 'Blue Daze' has lavender to powder blue flowers that bloom all summer long.
Also known as balloon plant, swan plant, and balloon milkweed, Gomphocarpus physocarpus, is a highly invasive perennial in warm climates. In the Mid Atlantic, it is best used as an annual. Gomphocarpus physocarpus is grown primarily for its unusual, bladder like seed pods. It is highly attractive to butterflies.
Heliotropium arborescens 'Marine' is usually grown as an annual in flower beds and containers. It is deer tolerant and attracts hummingbirds and butterflies. Though it's a member of the borage family, it is toxic.
Heliotropium arborescens is nicknamed the cherry pie plant for its fragrant flowers. 'Marine' is a compact hybrid which produces deep blue flowers in large clusters.
Ribbon bush, centipede plant, and tapeworm plant are all synonyms for Homalocladium platycladum. Homalocladium platycladum is an evergreen shrub that can become invasive in warmer climates. It is grown for its flat, jointed green stems and its arrow shaped leaves. It produces compact flowers and has both spreading and climbing tendencies.
Click here for more information on Homalocladium platycladum.
Ipomoea quamoclit is also known as Cypress vine. Grown as an annual in the Mid Atlantic, Ipomoea quamoclit is a twining vine in the Morning Glory family. Ipomoea quamoclit is prized for its scarlet flowers and fern-like foliage.
Cypress vine is attractive to bees, butterflies, and birds.
Leonotis nepetifolia has many common names including klip dagga, lion's ear, Christmas candlestick, and Devil's pincushion. Freezing temperatures damage Leonotis nepetifolia so it is best suited as an annual in the Mid Atlantic.
Leonotis nepetifolia is tall and slender, growing up to 8 feet tall. The rounded, spiky flower heads encircle the stem and produce 1 inch orange blossoms. Leonotis nepetifolia is attractive to hummingbirds, bees, and butterflies. Leonotis nepetifolia is also drought tolerant.
Nicotiana langsdorffii is in the tobacco family and is commonly called flowering tobacco. In the Mid Atlantic, Nicotiana langsdorffii grows best as an annual. It features broad, deep green leaves and tall, 2 inch bell-shaped flowers. The flowers are a chartreuse or green apple color.
Also known as pearl millet, Pennisetum purpureum 'Vertigo' is a large annual grass. 'Vertigo' does not flower and it grown solely for its deep, non-fading purple foliage.
Click here for more on growing Pennisetum purpureum 'Vertigo'.
Plectranthus argentatus is also known as silver spurflower. Plectranthus argentatus produces flowers but is usually grown as an annual for its velvety, silver gray leaves. Plectranthus argentatus can reach up to 3 feet tall and 3 feet wide.
Plectranthus 'Nico' is also know as Swedish ivy. 'Nico' is grown as an annual for its dark green and burgundy foliage.
Pseuderanthemum atropurpureum 'Rebrum' is grown as an annual in the Mid Atlantic. 'Rebrum' is an erect, open shrub with 4 - 6 inch long leaves. The leaves are a deep purple to chocolate-brown color. 'Rebrum' also produces small white or purple flowers.
Click here fore more on Pseuderanthemum atropurpureum 'Rebrum'.
Salvia guaranitica 'Black and Blue' is a herbacious perennial also know as Brazilian sage.
Salvia guaranitica 'Black and Blue' is attractive to pollinators like bees and butterflies. ‘Black and Blue’ is a cultivar that features dark, cobalt blue flowers with black calyces that bloom from mid summer to fall.
Salvia leucantha 'Solid Purple' is also know as Mexican bush sage. Salvia leucantha is grown as an annual in the Mid Atlantic. It is fast growing and reaches 3 feet tall by 3 feet wide. 'Solid Purple' features silver gray foliage and tall spikes of purple flowers.
Senecio 'Kilimanjaro' is an evergreen succulent that is not hardy in the Mid Atlantic. 'Kilimanjaro' produces thick, curling, silver-gray leaves that form a tight cluster of foliage.
Senecio mandraliscae is also know as blue chalk sticks. It is a succulent that is grown as an annual in the Mid Atlantic. Senecio mandraliscae features chalky, blue-gray, pencil-like leaves that curl slightly. It also produces small yellow flowers. It makes a good ground cover because it is low growing and semi-trailing.
Senna alata is also known as candle bush or candlestick bush. It is a broad leaf evergreen best grown as an annual. A tall plant, Senna alata can reach 6 - 8 feet in a growing season. Its main attraction is erect spikes of bright yellow flowers.
Senna alata is drought tolerant. It is attractive to bees, butterflies, and birds. Cassia alata is a synonym for Senna alata.
Solanum pyracanthum, also called porcupine tomato, is suitable for growing as an annual. Solanum pyracanthum is poisonous to pets and to people.
Solanum pyracanthum grows 3 - 5 feet tall and adds texture and color to a garden. It has bright orange spikes on its leaves and stems. Solanum pyracanthum produces purple flowers with yellow stamens during the summer that eventually bear fruit.
This thorned plant is deer and rabbit resistant.
Solanum quitoense is a member of the nightshade family and also known as Naranjilla. Solanum quitoense is a spreading, herbaceous shrub that is planted as an annual in the Mid Atlantic. The leaves reach sizes of up to 2 feet and are soft and woolly with purple spines and hairs. It produces white flowers with yellow stamen and purple hairs underneath. The resulting fruit is a bright orange but covered in brown hairs that are easily wiped off.
Unlike Solanum pyracanthum, the fruit of Solanum quitoense is edible and has a tropical taste.
Stachys 'Lilac Falls' is a hybrid cross between a Stachys and a Lamium. It is a hardy perennial that is heat and cold tolerant. 'Lilac Falls' is a colorful, long-blooming ground cover.
Tetrapanax papyrifer 'Steroidal Giant' is a giant form of the rice paper plant. In the Mid Atlantic, it is an evergreen shrub that will die back in the winter and re-grow in the spring. It can reach heights of 12 feet and its leaves can grow up to 4 feet wide. White flowers bloom in the fall.
Tetrapanax papyrifer 'Steroidal Giant' is attractive to pollinators. Caution should be used when working around Tetrapanax papyrifer 'Steroidal Giant'. The underside of the leaves create a substance that may cause irritation while handling.
Click here for more on Tetrapanax papyrifer 'Steroidal Giant'.
Tradescantia pallida is commonly called purple heart. It is a tender perennial that is not hardy in the Philadelphia region but should be brought indoors before the first frost. Tradescantia pallida features v-shaped leaves which turn purple when grown in full sun. Three petaled, pink flowers bloom in clusters. It makes an attractive ground cover because of its habit of trailing.
Tradescantia pallida may cause skin irritation in people when handling. Tradescantia pallida is toxic to dogs. Click here to visit our Subject Guide on Plants and Pets.
Verbena bonariensis, or tall verbena, is winter hardy in the Mid Atlantic. It is a rapidly growing, clump forming perennial. Clusters of lilac-purple flowers are highly attractive to butterflies and other pollinators.