Rare & Unusual Plants

Large clusters of 1" wide starry golden yellow flowers with anthers that age to a contrasting red may be produced throughout the year under warm tropical conditions. The flowers attract bees and butterflies and if pollinated they are followed by 3/4-1" wide helicopter-like samaras. Maiden's Jealousy, Tristellateia australasiae, is a naturally evergreen tropical twining woody climber with rich green foliage and purplish stems on the growth. It can be grown in the ground in areas with mild winters and can also be grown as a container plant where not hardy. Provide a full to mostly sunny site for optimum flowering. Maiden's Jealousy should be fairly tolerant of soil types as it is a component of Mangrove swamps and coastal forests in Tropical Asia, the Pacific Islands, and Australia. Item# 12026

Exceptionally fragrant with a strong spearmint aroma! Malcolm's Whiteleaf Mountainmint, a.k.a. Malcolm's Mint, was selected and introduced by its namesake Dr. Malcolm Vidrine for its strong minty fragrance in lieu of the typical, sometimes camphor-like, fragrance more common to this species. This is a clump forming native perennial with an upright to rounded growth habit reaching about 3' high by flowering. The dainty flowers are pollinated by a variety of smaller pollinators but are especially relished by bees. Easy to grow and deer and pest resistant. Whiteleaf Mountainmint is somewhat drought resistant once well-established. Clusters of tiny, light pink, tubular flowers are encircled by a mass of velvety white, bract-like leaves in mid to late summer. Item# 12627

The large rounded clusters of tubular open to deep orange, fragrant flowers with a contrasting gold splotch that attract butterflies, bees, and hummingbirds in early spring atop the bare stems. Mauvilla Gold Aromi Deciduous Azalea develops into an upright to rounded, medium-sized deciduous shrub well suited to bright woodland settings but will also thrive in full sun under good conditions. The Aromi Deciduous Azaleas were developed by Dr. Eugene Aromi of Mobile, Alabama, and are known for both their amazing spring display of fragrant flowers as well as their ability to withstand the heat and humidity of the Southeastern US. Sometimes still fondly referred to as Wild Honeysuckle Bushes, these nativars will do best in an average moist, well-drained, fertile, acidic soil from partial shade to full sun conditions. Topdress with an organic mulch like pinestraw, a.k.a. pine needles, or pine bark. Item# 13291

Rich purplish-pink, ruffly edged, nearly 3" wide flowers with a deep red-purple blotch and darker flecking are produced in midspring and are held against a foil of medium to coarse-textured foliage with the flowers attracting bees, butterflies, hummingbirds, and curious passersby. Michaele Lux Evergreen Azalea is an unusual and uncommon Aromi hybrid that develops into a small to medium-sized, densely branched shrub. Azaleas do best in average moist, acidic soils that are rich in organic matter but have good to excellent drainage and should be top dressed with an organic mulch such as pine straw and pine bark. We recommend using a slow-release, non-burning fertilizer that is labeled for acidic loving plants. Images courtesy of Maarten Van der Giessen, Van der Giessens Nursery, all rights reserved. Item# 12573

Talk about a tongue twister, these 1/2" long, ovoid, bright red berries will make anything sour taste exceptionally sweet! Lemons, limes, and a multitude of other sour and hot foods will taste like candy for 30-60 minutes or more after eating just one of the berries. The Miracle Fruit, Synsepalum dulcificum, is a densely branching, naturally evergreen, tropical shrub that normally grows to 3-5' high and 2-3' feet wide as a container plant but in the ground can potentially reach 12-15' high. Our 1-2 year old plants are seed grown and can be expected to bear fruit as young as 3-4 years of age. The plants need an acidic to very acidic, fertile, well-draining soil rich in organic matter and with average moisture for optimum growth and vigor. These naturally understory plants can tolerate full sun to partly shaded conditions. Provide direct sunlight to high indirect sunlight if overwintering plants indoors. The small white flowers are pollinated by bees and other smaller pollinators. Item# 9582

Huge, deep orange-red tubular flowers open from dark tinged calyxes and 8-12" long spikes in summer and fall, when grown as a perennial, to potentially year round under warm tropical conditions attracting hummingbirds for miles! Mole Poblano Mexican Chocolate Scarlet Sage, a selection of Salvia gesneriflora, is more compact and flowers much longer than its parent growing to about 6-7' high and wide. This giant growing Salvia, the species is reported to grow over 20' high, is a shade tolerant, herbaceous to shrub-like tender perennial Salvia that is adorned with fragrant, large heart-shaped, fuzzy, quilted foliage and is anecdotally root hardy into zone 8A. Its only real drawback is that it should be grown in a sheltered area protected from strong winds and heavy rains as the stems are subject to breakage. It can be pruned to help keep the plant shorter, stronger, and fuller. Provide Mole Poblano Salvia with a moist to average moist, well-drained, fertile soil for optimum vigor and continuous flowering. Item# 12583

Loads of 1-1/2" wide, purple tinged rich peachy-pink, starry funnel shaped flowers are produced in midspring with good repeat in fall all on a low mounding spreading plant. Momo No Haru Azalea, which roughly translates to 'Spring of Peach', is a dwarf Satsuki evergreen azalea slowly building to about 2-3'H x 4-5'W. Its compact habit lend it to use as a bonsai specimen but it can also be utilized as a low growing evergreen hedge or as a specimen plant in the garden and landscape. Azaleas do best in average moist, acidic soils that are rich in organic matter but have good to excellent drainage and should be top dressed with an organic mulch such as pine straw and pine bark. We recommend using a slow-release, non-burning fertilizer that is labeled for acidic loving plants. Azalea flowers attract a variety of pollinators including bees, butterflies, and hummingbirds. Item# 12801

Clusters of deep red to red-orange flowers are each centered by contrasting orange to gold coronas but the most interesting thing about this cultivar is that is cloaked in beautifully variegated cream, pink, and green narrow foliage. Monarch Promise Butterflyweed, a selection of Asclepias curassavica, is an upright growing to vase-shaped, naturally evergreen, herbaceous tropical that flowers from spring to fall. It is sure to make for a colorful addition to containers as well as in the garden and landscape. In areas where freezes occur, like zone 8B, Butterfly Milkweed plants may freeze to the ground and generally return from the roots in spring but we cannot vouch for this specific cultivar's reliability as a die-back perennial. Caterpillar host: Queen and Monarch. Item# 12088

Wow! Possibly THE darkest purple Salvia on the market today! Dark colored spikes of deep royal purple, sometimes with a hint of red, two-lipped tubular flowers are produced from spring to fall on a compact well-branched vigorous plant. Nachtvlinder Salvia is a perennial Salvia with excellent vigor and flower power growing to about 24" high and wide and is adorned with glossy green fragrant foliage. Nachtvlinder translates to "night butterfly" or "moth" and was discovered as a chance seedling in the gardens of Hessenhoff Nursery in the Netherlands and is reported to have withstood temperatures as low as -4^oF. Provide a full to mostly sunny site in a well-drained, average moist, fertile soil for optimum vigor and flowering. Nachtvlinder Salvia is compact enough for low-maintenance specimens or add it to the garden and landscape for a summer long show. The nectar rich flowers attract hummingbirds, bees, and the occasional butterfly. A Royal Horticulture Society 2015 Award of Garden Merit Winner. Item# 12474

The loose hanging flower clusters of the rare Nong Nooch Vine can reach over 4' in length! Long-lasting bright yellow bracts subtend the creamy white tubular flowers and the dark green tropical foliage makes a wonderful foil for this easily grown tropical climber that blooms throughout the warmer months of the year. Grow the Nong Nooch Vine as a vine on small to medium-sized trellises or allow it to trail in hanging baskets. The flowers attract hummingbirds, butterflies, and likely larger bees. It can be grown in full sun but greenhouse grown plants, like ours, should be slowly acclimated to sunny conditions or leaf burn may occur. Provide an average moist to moist but never soggy wet, fertile, well-drained soil for optimum vigor and flowering. Item# 10045

One of the neatest plants you can grow! The unusual 2" high green and white parachute shaped flowers are produced on and off throughout the warmer months and potentially year-round under warm tropical conditions. The Parachute Vine, Ceropegia sandersonii, is an easy to grow and enjoy naturally evergreen twining succulent with glossy very dark green fleshy foliage and equally dark stems that can potentially reach 8-12' but can easily be maintained on an 18-24" or larger trellis. It prefers partial to filtered shade to high indirect sunlight, the latter in hot summer climates, and a well-drained fertile soil making it an easy choice for container culture including as a hanging basket specimen. The Parachute Flower has been selected as a Royal Horticulture Society of Award of Garden Merit Award winner thanks to its ease of culture and reliability. Item# 9182

One of the neatest plants you can grow! The unusual 2" high green and white parachute shaped flowers are produced on and off throughout the warmer months and potentially year-round under warm tropical conditions. The Parachute Vine, Ceropegia sandersonii, is an easy to grow and enjoy naturally evergreen twining succulent with glossy very dark green fleshy foliage and equally dark stems that can potentially reach 8-12' but can easily be maintained on an 18-24" or larger trellis. It prefers partial to filtered shade to high indirect sunlight, the latter in hot summer climates, and a well-drained fertile soil making it an easy choice for container culture including as a hanging basket specimen. The Parachute Flower has been selected as a Royal Horticulture Society of Award of Garden Merit Award winner thanks to its ease of culture and reliability. Item# 543

The fleshy deep green to reddish green 1/2" diameter, 4-5 angled, branched stems are adorned with small spikey thorns that produces 3-5" wide pale yellow to near white starry flowers that are overlaid with intricate burgundy and dark burgundy variegation reminiscent of a Persian carpet. It can flower any time of year and multiple times per year once fully mature and under good conditions. Like Stapeliads, this plant is pollinated by flies and has a rotten carrion like odor to attract them but you may have to put your nose in the flower to notice it as it does not seem to permeate the air. The Persian Carpet Flower, Edithcolea grandis newly reclassified as Ceropegia sordida, is an evergreen herbaceous succulent from tropical Africa that can build to 4-8"H x 12"W and is typically found growing in partially shaded to occassionally full sun conditions in dry desert-like regions. Its main requirements are soils with excellent drainage and warm temperatures, preferably not below about 60^oF. The Persian Carpet Flower should make an easy summer porch or patio plant or even as a hanging basket where it receives at least some direct sunlight during the day to promote flowering. It can tolerate slightly more moisture when in active growth but should still be allowed to become moderately dry between waterings. Reduce watering in winter, especially if grown under cool conditions. These are well-established young plants that are already branching. Item# 12457

3-4" high Shrimp Plant-like, square-shaped spikes of brilliant red bracts from between which emerge red-orange, curving tubular flowers with recurving petals and are produced mainly in winter into early spring. The Peruvina Wild Petunia or Lobster Claw, Ruellia chartacea, is a shrubby, naturally evergreen, tropical plant with medium-sized, glossy, deep green foliage and grows to 3-6'H x 3-4'W but can be maintained smaller with pruning. This is the only known Ruellia species with such showy bracts and they can provide color for months. Provide bright indirect sunlight, filtered shade, to cool sunlight like early or very late in the day. The Peruvian Wild Petunia will prefer an average moist, well-drained, fertile soil for optimum vigor and flowering. Item# 12926

Large, 3" wide deep purplish red trumpet shaped flowers are produced throughout the warmer months of the year to potentially year-round under warm tropical conditions. The Purple Allamanda, we originally thought that this was the dwarf form, is a vigorous growing and very free flowering, naturally evergreen, scandent (or vine-like shrub, rambler, etc.) and can be trained to espelier, trellis, or arbor or periodic pruning will help to keep it semi-shrub-like. Rich green smooth foliage adorns the upright to arching stems on a plant that grows to about 8-12'H and may get larger with age under good conditions. Provide the Purple Alllamanda with a full to partly sunny site in an average moist but never soggy wet, well-drained, fertile soil for optimum vigor and continuous flowering. Where not hardy it can be easily overwintered in a warm sunny window as a container plant. It should make an excellent container specimen that is sure to add a little tropical flair to any sunny setting. Item# 12976

This very rare red flowered form of Chinese Hat produces red tubular blooms that emerge from the Chinese hat-like red calyxes are produced from late summer to autumn along the arching stems of this unusual shrub. An excellent late summer and fall flowering shrub-like to die-back perennial for a sunny location. Easy and begins flowering just in time for the Hummingbird migration southward. Provide a deep winter mulch in the northern portions of its range. Item# 11486

The Red Firecracker Fern produces loads of 1" showy red tubular flowers that are born in large loose clusters along the arching ferny stems throughout the warmer months of the year or nearly year round where winters are mild. Excellent for Hummingbirds! This is a durable and long-lived, clump forming perennial that requires little additional care once well-established. The Firecracker Fern has excellent heat and sun tolerance as well as moderate drought resistance once well-established. It is even listed as being suitable for xeriscaping. Firecracker Fern, Russelia equisetiformis, is listed as a Texas A&M Outstanding Coastal Plant as it has excellent resistance to soil and wind born salts, though it could use some protection from harsh, drying winds. It is also an RHS Award of Garden Merit selection. It can be used as a low informal hedge, allow it to spill over walls, enjoy it as a hanging basket, window box, or container specimen, as well as in mixed container gardens. Item# 417

Dense bottlebrush-like flowers composed of fragrant frilly white to cream colored flowers are produced atop the tips of the bare stems in late winter or early spring. Redneck Nation Fothergilla or Witch Alder is a moderately dense growing small to medium sized deciduous suckering native shrub with showy gray-green and bronze new growth that matures to blue-green in summer and produces fall color in shades of red, orange, and yellow. This species is new to science as of 2020! The the cultivar name is in honor of its original discovery by botanist and naturalist Fred Nation in Baldwin County, Alabama and the species name honors Dr. Ron Miller. Provide an average moist, well-drained, acidic soil in full to partly sunny location for optimum vigor and flowering. Redneck Nation Fothergilla can be used as a low growing and low maintenance informal hedge or as a specimen plant in the garden and landscape as well as in naturalistic settings. Flowers will be similar to those shown although this is an image of Mt. Airy Fothergilla. Item# 12165

The nearly 1/2" wide ruby red flowers adorn the narrow elongating spikes of this large growing Porterweed from spring to frost. We are excited to be able to finally offer this true red flowering form of the ever popular Coral Porterweed! Ruby Throat Red Porterweed is a vigorous large type Porterweed that can easily exceed 3' high. The Ruby Throated Hummingbirds along with a host of butterflies are sure to search this beauty out and enjoy its rich near continuous supply of nectar. These are heat and sun loving tropical plants that have excellent flower power and will show off in a non-stop fashion throughout the growing season! Item# 12377

Shoal Creek Vitex produces 12" spikes of rich deep purplish-blue from late spring to fall.  This is a vigorous and disease free and drought tolerant spreading to upright deciduous shrub or small tree that attracts hummingbirds, butterflies and other pollinators. Shoal Creek was selected as a Louisiana Super Plant for the spring of 2011 due to its large & richly colored spikes as well as for the fact that Vitex is an excellent low maintenance plant with a long flowering season. Item# 10305.

The bare winter stems are adorned with bright sunny yellow flowers in late winter and early spring attracting mainly bees as pollinators. Once the flowering season is finished this beautiful shrub is adorned with solid yellow foliage providing color until autumn when the foliage takes on purple tones until it falls away. The Solid Gold Dwarf Korean Forsythia, Forsythia viridissima var. koreana 'Solid Gold', is an Almost Eden introduction that we selected as a stable sport of the cultivar Ilwang. Ilwang was first shared with us by the late great nurseryman Sherwood Aikens of Minden, Louisiana. This is an easy to grow, low maintenance, compact growing deciduous shrub with an arching, fountaining habit growing wider than tall and maxing out at about 3-4'H x 4-5'W. Its golden foliage can tolerate full sun but may lighten some but this does not appear to affect the plant's vigor it. Provide a fertile soil with average or better drainage and average moisture. Item# 9742