Plumeria (Frangipani): Origin, Characteristics & Cultivation

Plumeria also known as frangipani is a genus of flowering plants in the subfamily Rauvolfioideae, of the family Apocynaceae. Most species are decidous shrubs or small trees. The species are native to the Neotropical realm (in Mexico, Central America, and the Caribbean, and as far south as Brazil and as far north as Florida in the United States), but are often grown as cosmopolitan ornamentals in tropical regions, especially in Hawaii, as well as hot desert climates in the Arabian Peninsula with … Read more

Poinsettia (Euphorbia pulcherrima): Characteristics & Cultivation

The poinsettia is a commercially important flowering plant species of the diverse spurge family Euphorbiaceae. Indigenous to Mexico and Central America, the poinsettia was first described by Europeans in 1834. It is particularly well known for its red and green foliage and is widely used in Christmas floral displays. It derives its common English name … Read more

24 Types of Phlox Flowers (With Their Characteristics)

Phlox as a genus is a genus of 68 species of perennial and annual plants in the family Polemoniaceae. They are found mostly in North America (one in Siberia) in diverse habitats from alpine tundra to open woodland and prairie.  Phlox plants can be perennial, annual, or biennial. The perennial varieties, which are the most common in gardens, form clumps that spread over time. They can … Read more

24 Different Types of Delphinium (Characteristics & Pictures)

Delphinium is a genus of about 300 species of annual and perennial flowering plants in the family Ranunculaceae, native throughout the Northern Hemisphere and also on the high mountains of tropical Africa. The genus was erected by Carl Linnaeus. All members of the genus Delphinium are toxic to humans and livestock. The common name larkspur is shared between perennial Delphinium species and annual species of the genus Consolida. Perennial in most areas, … Read more

Zinnia: Characteristics & Cultivation

Zinnia is a genus of plants of the tribe Heliantheae within the family Asteraceae. They are native to scrub and dry grassland in an area stretching from the Southwestern United States to South America, with a centre of diversity in Mexico. Members of the genus are notable for their solitary long-stemmed 12 petal flowers that … Read more

Schefflera (Umbrella Plant): Characteristics & Cultivation

Heptapleurum actinophyllum is a tree in the family Araliaceae. It is native to tropical rainforests and gallery forests in northern and northeastern Queensland coasts and the Northern Territory of Australia, as well as New Guinea and Java. Common names include Australian umbrella tree, Queensland umbrella tree, octopus tree and amate. This small tree is commonly grown indoors, but survives outdoors … Read more

Freesia: Characteristics & Cultivation

Freesia is a genus of herbaceous perennial flowering plants in the family Iridaceae, first described as a genus in 1866 by Christian Friedrich Ecklon (1886) and named after the German botanist and medical practitioner, Friedrich Freese (1795–1876). It is native to the eastern side of southern Africa, from Kenya south to South Africa, most species being found in Cape Provinces. The plants usually called “freesias” in horticulture and floristry … Read more

10 Types of St. Augustine Grass

St. Augustine grass (Stenotaphrum secundatum), also known as buffalo turf in Australia and buffalo grass in South Africa, is a species of grass in the family Poaceae. The grass has bluish-green leaves with 1/3-inch wide, flat blades. It has a low, creeping habit and spreads via stolons. forming dense mats that outcompete weeds. St. Augustine … Read more