P. fruticosa – Ming Aralia – This large shrub or small tree probably originating in Northern Australia and Western Pacific region and grows to 25′ feet tall. It produces finely cut, bright green often red tinted, pinnate to tripinnate leaves up to 30″ long. The individual white to cream flowers are tiny, but are borne in panicles to 24″ long. It is a very graceful plant best trained to a canopy with either single or multiple trunks. Use as a interior specimen.

Indoors, grow in soil based potting mix in full light or bright filtered light. In growth, water freely, mist daily, and apply a balanced liquid fertilizer every month.

Zones 12-14

There are about 250 species of evergreen, rhizomatous perennials, in this genus. Those grown are from a variety of habitats in South and Western Africa, Southern Asia, Australia and South America. From fibrous or fleshy rhizomes sprouts linear, lance shaped, ovate, or strap shaped, basal leaves. In summer they bear arching racemes or panicles of starry small, 6 petalled, white or greenish flowers that hardly show, and often produce plantlets. Where not hardy grow in containers and hanging baskets in a cool or temperate conservatory, they are also popular foliage house plants, tolerant of a wide range of conditions, In warmer area, use in a border or as a groundcover. One species is widely grown as a hardy houseplant.

Indoors grow in soil based potting mix in bright indirect to full light, shaded from hot sun. Water freely in growth, moderately other times. Divide plantlets at anytime of year except winter.

Prone to tip burn, and fluroide.

 C. comosum ‘Reverse Variegatum’ – C. capense of Gardens – Spider Plant – Ribon Plant – Hen and Chickens – This popular hanging basket, interior plant, forms untidy clumps of linear, grass like to linear-lance shaped, fresh green leaves with white edges, 12-18″ long. It bears small, star shaped white flowers, are carried in racemes, to 24″ long, but are rare to flower indoors.

Zones 9-11

There are about 33 evergreen, epiphytic or terrestrial, climbing vines from woodland in tropical Central and South America. They produce alternate leaves are initially simple and ovate to triangular, becoming larger, long stalked, arrow shaped, then 3 to 5 lobed or pedate as the plants mature. Tiny, petalless flowers are borne on spadices surrounded by pale green and cream to purplish green spathes, which often become bright red at fruiting time. They rarely flower in cultivation, and are grown for their foliage. Grow as a houseplant. All parts may cause mild stomach upset if ingested, contact with the milky sap may irritate skin.

Indoors, grow in soilless potting mix, in bright indirect light for green leaved species, or in bright filtered light for variegated ones. When in growth, water freely and apply a balanced liquid fertilizer every 3 or 4 weeks. Water moderately in winter. Support with a moss pole.

Prone to bacterial leaf spot, soft rot, spider mites, mealy bugss, aphids, scale insects, and a variety of fungal diseases.

S. podophyllum ‘White Butterfly’  – Nephthytis triphylla of gardens – Aarrowhead Vine – Goosefoot – This sparsely branched climber found from Mexico to Brazil climbs to 3-6′ feet tall or more.   It is compact and trailing when young, and produces heart shaped leaves, when mature, they are arrow shaped, later pedate, each with 5-11 elliptic leaflets, the largest leaflet 6-16″ long, all are dark green above, sometimes with white centers, paler beneath. In summer, green and greenish white to cream or, more rarely, yellow spathes, 4 ½” long, are borne in groups of 4-11 from the leaf axils.

Zones 14-15

D. deremensis – D. d. ‘Souvenir de Schrijver – D. d. ‘Warneckei’ – From tropical Eastern Asia, this hardy shrub grows to 15′ feet tall and 6′ feet wide. It produces terminal rosettes of dark green leaves, 27″ long and 2″ wide, are accompanied by sprays of dark red flowers

Indoors. Grow in soil based potting mix in full light with shade from hot sun and moderate humidity. Green leaves plants tolerate slightly lower light levels. From spring to autumn, water freely, applying a balanced liquid fertilizer monthly, water sparingly in winter.

zones 9-11