Featured Plants - Page 2 (K-Z)

Plants are in alphabetical order by botanical names.

A-to-J L M O P R S T V
Common Name: Cup Kalanchoe
Latin Name: Kalanchoe synsepala
Family: Crassulaceae
Hardiness:

Tropical succulent, unusual and rare to find.

 


Common Name: Flapjack
Latin Name: Kalanchoe thrysiflora "Watermelon"
Family: Crassulaceae
Origin: Madagascar
Hardiness: USDA Zone 9-12

Variegated Flapjack with golden orange yellow variegation instead of the pink red variegation of "Fantastic".

 


Common Name: Panda Plant
Latin Name: Kalanchoe tomentosa
Family: Crassulaceae
Origin: Madagascar
Hardiness: USDA Zone 9-12

The Panda Plant has succulent leaves covered in white felt-like hairs. They prefer full sun to light shade and must not be overwatered. Let plants dry out between waterings. Plants are slow growing eventually reaching 18 to 24 inches tall. Do not water during winter months.

 


Common Name: Bay Laurel, Sweet Bay Leaf
Latin Name: Laurus nobilis
Family: Lauraceae
Zone: 7-10

Sweet Bay Laurel is native to Mediterranean regions, but known and cherished worldwide as an essential cooking spice and lovely evergreen tree. Bay Laurel does well as a potted tree or planted in the ground. Fresh green leaves are notably stronger in flavor than dried leaves and generally require only one leaf for seasoning your favorite dish. In the ground it will grow 15 to 20 feet tall, in a container it can easily be pruned to around 5 feet for easy harvesting of the aromatic leaves.


Zebra quill
Common Name: Zebra quill
Latin Name: Ledebouria 'Gary Hammer'
Family: Asparagaceae
Origin: South Africa
straplike leaves of gray green with irregular maroon markings. In spring, these clumps are adorned with mini pink scilla like racemes. Prefers part shade. Very hardy!

Common Name: West Indian Holly
Latin Name: Leea coccinea 'Rubra'
Family: Vitaceae
Zone: 9-11
Upright, caned shrub with glossy red maroon compound leaves. Bright light, warm climate.

Common Name: New Zealand tea tree
Latin Name: Leptospermum scoparium
Family: Myrtaceae
In the Myrtle family, native to Australia and New Zealand, prickly shrub with dense growth and showy rosy pink flowers, attracts honey bees. Leaves used to make a medicinal tea.

Common Name: Snow Bells, Snowdrops, Dewdrops
Latin Name: Leucojum aestivum
Family: Amaryllidaceae
Zone: 5-9
Small white bell like flowers in early spring. Naturalizes along the Gulf Coast. Allow foliage to grow and then die back in order to make food for next years blooms. One of the earliest blooming spring bulbs, Snow Bells is an Old South Heirloom bulb. Our stock is from old Louisiana homesites.

Common Name: Lovage
Latin Name: Levisticum officinale
Family: Apiaceae
Zone: 4 to 9
the leaves, seeds and fruit are used in confectionery and cooking, especially in South European cuisine. Grows 3-5 feet tall. Perennial. Delicious taste similar to Celery. Striking ornamental, grow in full sun.

Common Name: Singapore holly, Dwarf holly
Latin Name: Malpighia coccigera
Family: Malpighiaceae
Zone: 10 to 11
Low growing, miniature, hollylike leaves, pink flowers, small red fruit. Makes a great groundcover for sun or shade. It is not a true holly.

Mascagnia macroptera - Mexican Butterfly Vine
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Common Name: Mexican Butterfly Vine
Latin Name: Mascagnia macroptera
Family: Malpighiaceae
Zone: 8
Fast growing vine grows to 10-12 ft high with a profusion of yellow flowers spring, summer, and fall. Seedpods resemble butterflies, thus the name. The flowers attract butterflies too. This is an easy to grow vine that is very drought tolerant but will bloom even more prolifically with regular watering. It is well adapted to long hot summers. Native from Southern Mexico to Brazil in South America.

Common Name: Evergreen Wisteria Vine
Latin Name: Millettia reticulata
Family: Leguminosae
Origin: China
Hardiness: USDA Zones 8-10

Evergreen moderate size woody vine to 15 feet with dense foliage and fragrant dark purple flowers. The vine is suitable for arbors, trellises and fences. Blooms summer to fall. Grow in full sun to light shade. Evergreen Wisteria is a non-invasive vine.


Common Name: Tricolor Neo
Latin Name: Neoregelia tricolor
Family: Bromeliaceae
Origin: Hybrid Cross

Osmanthus fragrans
Common Name: Sweet Olive
Latin Name: Osmanthus fragrans var. aurantiacus
Family: Oleaceae
Zone: 8-11
A small evergreen tree with broad deep green leaves and wonderfully fragrant clusters of small pale orange flowers blooming intermittently throughout the growing season. Can be grown in the ground or in a container. Keep soil moist.

Common Name: Maypop
Latin Name: Passiflora incarnata
Family: Passifloraceae
Origin: Southern United States
Hardiness: USDA Zone 6-9
Maypops are native deciduous passion flowers with 3 inch purple and white flowers blooming along scrambling vines to 12 feet in length. The plant is host to our native Gulf Fritillary butterfly. The fruit is edible and said to taste similar to Guava fruit. Grow in moist soil, plenty of mulch around the roots, and in full to part sun.

Common Name: Blood Red Passion Vine
Latin Name: Passiflora sanguinolenta
Family: Passifloraceae
Zone: 9-11
Coral Pink flowers 1/2 inch across, a robust vine, hardy to mid-20s, one of the hardiest passion vines. Interesting bat wing shaped leaves. Native to the mountains of Ecuador (6,500-8,500' elev) Grow in full sun to light shade. Blooms during warm months, peaking mid-summer. Also does well as an interior plant near bright window light.

Common Name: Orange Pavonia
Latin Name: Pavonia missionum
Family: Malvaceae
Zone: 9-11
Evergreen bush to 6 feet, likes full sun. Orange flowers with 5 petals.

Common Name: Ragtime Geranium
Latin Name: Pelargonium peltatum 'Ragtime'
Family: Geraniaceae
Zone: 9
Colorful leaves, red flowers, and an open growth habit, excellent plant for hanging baskets, needs shade from full sun.

Common Name: Brazos Penstemon, Gulf Coast Penstemon
Latin Name: Penstemon tenuis
Family: Scrophulariaceae
Zone: 8-10
Showy native Gulf Coast perennial wildflower. Grows well in moist perennial beds and borders. Has the potential to reseed freely. Flower stalks are 1 to 2 feet tall blooming in March, April, and May. Makes a great cut flower for arrangements. Will grow in full sun but prefers some shade. Chance for second blooming in the fall.

Pereskia bleo
Common Name: Rose Cactus
Latin Name: Pereskia bleo
Family: Cactaceae
Zone: 9b-11
A cactus with large leaves! Flowers are large and resemble roses. Prefers sun to light shade and well drained soil. Take care with sharp spines.

Common Name: Nun's Orchid
Latin Name: Phaius tankervilliae (formerly Phaius grandifolius)
Family: Orchidaceae
Zone: 9 - 11
Large, easy to grow terrestrial orchid native to China. Leaves are up to 3 feet tall and the inflorescence can tower to 4 feet! Long lasting fragrant flowers, up to 5 inches across, bloom for about 6 weeks in spring. Plant in a rich organic and well drained soil with protection from mid-day sun. Protect from freezing. Fertilize regularly with half strength general purpose fertilizer.

Common Name: Jeruselum Sage
Latin Name: Phlomis fruticosa
Family: Lamiaceae
Zone:
Evergreen perennial that grows to 3x3 foot. Full sun. Hot and dry loving!

Common Name: Purple marsh fleabane 
Latin Name: Pluchea odorata
Family: Asteraceae
Zone:
native, very easy to grow, blooms summer through fall, likes moisture, excellent butterfly nectar plant, leaves emit a noticeable odor when bruised, blooms purple/pink button like flowers, grows to about 4ft.

Common Name: Assorted Plumeria 
Latin Name: Plumeria
Family: Apocynaceae
Zone: 10

Assorted named varieties of Plumeria: Rainbow Treasure, Playful, Yellow Stone, Velo de Nova, Rainbow Surprise, Princesa Maya, Kauku Wilder, Goldmine, Nebels Gold
Other varieties available in 2 gal., 3 gal., 7 gal. sizes.


Polianthes tuberosa 'Double Pink Sapphire'
Common Name: Polyanthus lily, Double pink sapphire tuberose
Latin Name: Polianthes tuberosa 'Double Pink Sapphire'
Family: Agavoideae
Zone: 8-10

fabulously fragrant long stemmed cut flower


Common Name: Tuberose
Latin Name: Polianthes tuberosa 'Pearl'
Family: Agavoideae
Zone: 8-10

Tuberoses are members of the Agavoideae family of plants and native to Mexico where they were domesticated long ago by pre-Columbian Indians. They are wonderfully fragrant flowers and are enjoyed in the garden, home, and in Hawaiian Leis. They are easy to grow, blooming on 2-3 foot spikes in summer and fall. Tuberoses are no longer found in the wild.


Common Name: Needle Flower, Tree Jasmine
Latin Name: Posoqueria latifolia
Family: Rubiaceae
Zone:
Beautiful tropical large shrubby tree with fragrant tubular white flowers.

mesquite foliage
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image By Don A.W. Carlson, CC BY 2.5
Common Name: Honey Mesquite
Latin Name: Prosopis glandulosa
Family: Leguminosae (Fabaceae)
Origin: Texas, American Southwest
Hardiness: USDA Zone 6
Mesquite is one of the most widely distributed trees in Texas. It is a small to medium tree with an irregular crown of finely divided bipinnately compound foliage that casts very light dappled shade underneath. It is armed with thorns sometimes up to 2 inches long. In the spring, summer and after rains it is covered with fragrant white flowers, and the long bean pods are ornamental as well as providing food for wildlife and livestock.

Double Pink Flowering Almond
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Common Name: Pink Flowering Almond
Latin Name: Prunus glandulosa 'Rosea Plena'
Family: Rosaceae
Zone: 4 - 10
Double pink rose-like flowers in Spring. Foliage is bright shiny green. This small deciduous woody shrub is valued for its profuse blooming with masses of beautiful double pink flowers in early April through May. Best in full sun.

Common Name: Angel Red® Pomegranate
Latin Name: Punica granatum 'Angel Red'®
Family: Punicaceae
Zone: 8-11
A new and as yet difficult to find variety with bright red flowers and exceptionally juicy flavorful fruit on gently arching stems. Seeds are small and soft enough to be eaten along with the juicy pulp. Leaves are shiny green and the fruit ripens in late August to September (sooner than 'Wonderful') Pomegranates are self pollinating and production from this variety is expected to be heavy.

Common Name: Rangoon Creeper
Latin Name: Quisqualis indica
Family: Combretaceae
Zone: 9-10
Summer flowering tropical vine from New Guinea and Asia ideal for arbor or trellis, or in a patio pot. Pink and white flowers in profusion in warm months. Hardy to freezing, protect with mulch or cover during winter freezes.


Double Rangoon Creeper - double flowered form of Rangoon Creeper, fragrant double blooms change from light pink to red, large vigorous, hardy tropical looking vine.

Common Name: Dwarf Tree Jasmine
Latin Name: Radermachera kunming "Peep Thong"
Family: Bignoniaceae
Zone: 10-11
Fragrant flowered small tropical tree from Thailand with clusters of 2 inch creamy white, yellow centered blooms. Used for perfume extract. Very ornamental. Blooms very young.

Common Name: Panama Rose, Rondeletia
Latin Name: Rondeletia splendens
Family: Rubiaceae
Zone: 10
Fragrant flowers in the evening, small shrub to 3 feet tall, tender, good potted patio plant with ever blooming bright red flowers.

Common Name: Yerba Maravilla
Latin Name: Ruellia coccinea
Family: Acanthaceae
Zone: 8-10

Hardy perennial shrub with bright red flowers that are 1" tubular shaped, hummingbird favorite, blooms summer through fall, part shade, from Brazil.


Common Name: Rio Red Ragin Cajin Ruellia
Latin Name: Ruellia elegans
Family: Acanthaceae
Zone: 8-10

Bright tomato red flowers late spring till fall. Rio Red Ruellia is attractive to butterflies and hummingbirds. It is a food plant for the Texan Crescent Butterfly ( Phyciodes texana ).

Prefers moist soil partial shade. Morning bloomer.

Forms a mound two feed across and foot high.


Salvia farinacea 'Henry Duelberg'
Common Name: Henry Duelberg Salvia
Latin Name: Salvia farinacea 'Henry Duelberg'
Family: Lamiaceae
Zone: 7
Henry Duelberg Salvia is a low maintenance native Texas perennial wildflower that is heat tolerant, deer resistant and has masses of showy blue flowers from spring until first fall frost. It was found by Greg Grant in a small central Texas cemetery. Taller with bluer and more floriferous flowers and larger and greener leaves than modern cultivars.

Common Name:Ram's horn Willow
Latin Name: Salix babylonica Crispa
Family: Salicaceae
Origin: China
Hardiness: USDA Zone 6-9
From dry northern China, fast growing, unusual spirally, curled leaves, branches make great cut flower filler

Common Name: Hot Lips Salvia
Latin Name: Salvia microphylla (grahamii) 'Hot Lips'
Family: Lamiaceae
Zone: 7-9a
Salvia microphylla 'Hot Lips' was found near the Chiapas area of Mexico and was introduced by Richard Turner of the Strybing Arboretum in San Francisco, California. In cooler months this bi-color Salvia exhibits its best coloration. During the heat of summer flowers may be mostly solid red. Hot Lips Salvia is similar to Salvia greggii except it has a finer texture and smaller leaves. Great for use in borders and beds. Salvia microphylla 'Hot Lips' can reach 30" tall and spread up to 6' at maturity.

Common Name: Dragon's Tongue, Sweetleaf, Katuk
Latin Name: Sauropus androgynus
Family: Phyllanthaceae
Herbaceous plant from Asia. Also called Tropical Asparagus and Star Gooseberry. The leaves are sauteed and eaten like a vegetable. The stems are cooked like asparagus, and the fruit is edible as well - grapelike in flavor, high in vitamin K and other nutrients. Prefers shade to bright indirect light. Makes a shrub to 5'. Tropical! Protect from harsh cold.

Common Name: Red Mexican flame vine
Latin Name: Senecio confusus
Family: Asteraceae
This beautiful twining vine is a butterfly magnet! Intense vivid red orange daisy flowers with gold centers, are 2in. Blooms late spring to fall.

Common Name: Variegated Tree of a Thousand Stars
Latin Name: Serissa foetida 'Variegata'
Family: Rubiaceae
Zone: 10
A small evergreen sub-tropical shrub frequently used for creating bonsai. Bold creamy leaf edges with center striping. Flowering is almost constant in warm weather and especially heavy in spring and fall. Fertilize regularly, keep moisture and light levels constant and protect from freezing.

Common Name: Blue-Eyed Grass
Latin Name: Sisyrinchium angustifolium 'Suwannee'
Family: Iridaceae
Zone: 8-10
Blue-Eyed Grass is more related to Irises than true grasses. Suwannee' is an exceptionally heavy bloomer that does not reseed it self all over the garden like some of the more common varieties. The small 8 inch high mound produces hundreds of 3/4 inch wide pale blue flowers in spring and early summer. The plant is a perennial perfect for native and rock gardens. Does well in sun or light shade.

Common Name: Porterweed - Blue, Dwarf Red, and Coral
Latin Name: Stachytarpheta jamaicensis
Family: Verbenaceae
Zone: 9b-10
Butterflies and hummingbirds love these flowers produced all summer long on terminal spikes of blue, red, and coral flowers. Easy to grow perennial shrub, gets 3-5 feet tall. Nice addition to any sunny landscape

Common Name: Firewheel tree
Latin Name: Stenocarpus sinuatus
Family: Proteaceae
Zone: 10-11
Australian rainforest tree, blooms wheel like umbels of red, with fringed edges, slow growing, has glossy lance shaped leathery leaves and corky bark. Prefers acid loam soil.

Common Name: Pinwheel Jasmine, Carnation of India
Latin Name: Tabernaemontana corymbosa
Family: Apocynaceae
Zone: 9 - 11
Pinwheel jasmine, carnation of India are common names for this hardy shrub. It likes full to part sun and blooms lightly scented pinwheel flowers. Grows 5 to 6ft tall.

Common Name: Windmill bush, Banana bush
Latin Name: Tabernaemontana pandacaqui
Family: Apocynaceae
Zone: 9 - 11
This bushy tropical shrub has single white flowers atop dense dark green foliage. Flowers are fragrant and blooms constant.

Common Name: Silver Leaf Germander
Latin Name: Teucrium fruticans
Family: Lamiaceae
Zone: 8 - 10
A small shrub from the Mediterranean with silver leaves and bright blue flowers. Grows to about 5 feet tall and 4 feet wide. Drought tolerant, grow in full sun to light shade. Flowering is spring through summer. Once established, reduce watering and keep on the dry side. Uses include rock gardens, shrub for a low hedge, and as a foundation plant in the perennial garden. Germander is deer resistant especially when grown in full sun with infrequent watering as these conditions increase the aromatic oils in the leaves.

Common Name: Giant Blue Sky Vine
Latin Name: Thunbergia grandiflora
Family: Acanthaceae
Zone: 8-11
Fast growing free flowering vine great for quickly covering fences and trellises. Likes moist rich soil and something to climb on. Flowers are about 3 inches long and look similar to a morning glory. We have regular and variegated leaf varieties at Caldwell's Nursery.

Common Name: Tiger Grass
Latin Name: Thysanoleana maxima
Family: Poaceae
Zone: 9-10

Fast growing tropical grass from Thailand, looks like a small tropical bamboo. Grows to 10 feet tall with beautiful plumes in the fall. In Asia, the leaves are used to wrap food for steaming and the flower stalks are wrapped together to make brooms.

Grow in full sun to light shade, ample moisture and fertilizer, protect from freezing. Root hardy into the low 20s if well mulched.


Common Name: Creeping Vitex, Pohinahina
Latin Name: Vitex rotundifolia
Family: Lamiaceae, sometimes placed in Verbenaceae
Origin: Hawaii and Pacific Islands
Hardiness: USDA Zone 7-10

Vitex rotundifolia is a sprawling shrub 6 to 8 feet in diameter and 6 inches to 2 feet tall. The round leaves are gray-green to silvery and 1 to 2 inches long. The foliage has a spicy fragrance. The 1 inch flowers are bluish purple and are produced in small clusters at the ends of the branches throughout the year.

This creeping shrub is salt and drought tolerant and grows in full sun.


Common Name: Arabian Lilac
Latin Name: Vitex trifolia purpurea
Family: Lamiaceae
Hardiness: USDA Zone 9-10

Very hardy and easy to grow shrub with gray green leaves with purple undersides. Peppery scented leaves, lavender purple flowers, 10 inch panicles, grows in sun or shade.

A-to-J K L M O P R S T V