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The beautiful, unusual and almost alien looking burgundy, bronze, and green colored dutchman's pipe-like flowers are produced during the growing season atop the smooth and glossy olive green variegated foliage. Bejuco de Santiago, or Contribo in its native Belize, is an easy to grow, evergreen, vigorous twining tropical climber that is small enough to be enjoyed on a 3-4' trellis although it can climb to 12-15'H if given support. The foliage and dense habit are decorative and showy even when the plant is not in flower. Bejuco de Santiago can tolerate full sun but the foliage seems to be at its best where the plant receives some shade or filtered sun during the heat of the day. Caterpillar host: Polydamas and Pipevine Swallowtail. Item# 3123

Spikes of fuzzy, glowing red tubular blooms are borne from summer to frost attracting hummingbirds for the duration of the flowering period. Where protected from frosts and freezes Belize Sage can flower continuously throughout the year. Smooth glossy green foliage and a compact habit set this Salvia apart as well as its preference for partial shade conditions. An excellent choice for containers or in the ground anywhere it is hardy, or it is vigorous enough to grow as an annual in cooler climates. Item# 10118

Belle Starr Gold Lantana produces a endless display of deep golden yellow, nectar rich, rounded flower clusters on a vigorous mounding to trailing plant with deep dark green glossy foliage acting as a backdrop. A 2015 LSU Agcenter Plant with Potential, this hardy Lantana attracts loads of butterflies, bees, smaller pollinators, and other garden beneficials and flowers from spring to frost. Use Belle Starr Gold Lantana as filler/spiller for medium to large containers or as a groundcovering perennial in the garden or landscape. It was named for the famous outlaw queen associated with James - Younger gang. Item# 11146

The intensely fragrant, up to 4" wide, double white flowers may produced throughout much of the year under warm tropical conditions and are held against a foil of large glossy dark green foliage. Belmont Gardenia is almost old enough to be an heirloom variety being patented in 1934 by Walter E. Lenk on Belmont Estate, Massachussets. In his patent application, PP93, he states that "The variety is an extraordinarily heavy producer and can be propagated rapidly. If not pinched back this variety blooms almost continuously and readily adapts itself to maximum production of blossoms in the Winter when they are so valuable." Obviously, Mr. Lenk developed it for greenhouse production but it has proven to be a highly desirable Gardenia clone that is still popular today and has proven to be hardy into zone 7. It is fairly similar to Aimee Yoshioka and Miami Supreme in vigor and flower size. In the garden and landscape, expect flowering to be heaviest in spring and summer with some repeat flowering into fall on mature plants. Item# 12299

This is the highly sought after and very rare red flowering Sweet Olive. Beni Kin Mokusei produces dense clusters of deep orange-red flowers in fall that are slightly larger than your typical orange flowered Sweet Olive as per Ted Stephens of Nurseries Caroliniana who managed to bring this wonderful plant into the US for us to enjoy. Sweet Olives are easy and reliable, long-lived, large evergreen shrubs with few pests or diseases. They can be enjoyed as a container specimen where not hardy. Item# 10786

Two-toned semi-double flowers are dark pink at the outer edges fading to a light pink toward the center surrounding the prominent and contrasting boss of gold stamens. Berenice Boddy Camellia is a large flowered Japonica type producing medium sized flowers in mid season on this vigorous old garden favorite. Expect it to grow to about 8-12' high and 6-8' wide at maturity with a moderately dense branching habit and deep green glossy foliage. For optimum growth and vigor provide Camellias with a fertile soil rich in organic matter, with average moisture, and an organic mulch. See our Camellia Growing Guide for in-depth planting and care instructions. Item# 9528

The spike-like clusters (racemes) of tiny fragrant white flowers of Berlandier's Fiddlewood attract a whole host of pollinators including butterflies large and small, bees, and many other beneficials. Pollinated flowers are followed by long clusters of attractive orange berries that mature to black and are utilized by a variety of birds and mammals. This is an adaptable South Texas native that develops into a medium to large deciduous shrub to small tree. Item# 11368

The extra large flowers of Betty Magnolia can be up to 8" across and are pinkish purple to reddish purple on the outside and are white to near white on the inside. This is a vigorous growing Magnolia that typically grows as wide as it is tall with a naturally rounded habit on mature plants. Like the other 'Little Girls' in this series from the US National Arboretum, Betty flowers later minimizing the chance of freeze damage to the flowers. Caterpillar host: Western Tiger Swallowtail. Item# 11483

The large to very large, ruffled, semi-double flowers are a rich pink with prominent darker veining are edged in a broad white band and are accented by a boss of gold stamens. Flowering occurs over a long period from mid to late season or January to April. Betty Sheffield Blush Camellia, also sometimes known as Betty Sheffield Funny Face Variegated, is a large flowered Japonica type with a moderate rate of growth and developing into a large, upright and rounded, evergreen shrub with deep green glossy foliage. The elegantly decorated flowers have made this one of our longtime favorites. For optimum growth and vigor provide Camellias with a fertile soil rich in organic matter, with average moisture, and an organic mulch. See our Camellia Growing Guide for in-depth planting and care instructions. Item# 820

The arching spikes of 1" long, velvety, tubular, white flowers emerge from constrasting and long lasting, velvety, purple calyxes in late summer and into fall, and potentially spring where plants are protected from freezing temperatures, attracting Monarch butterflies, hummingbirds, and other pollinators. Bicolor Mexican Bush Sage, Salvia leucantha, is a multi-stemmed, clump forming and slowly spreading perennial whose 3-4' high, upright to slightly arching stems are cloaked in velvety, narrow lance-shaped, green to gray-green foliage that adorns the young white stems. This is a heat and sunloving, salt tolerant, and deer proof plant that typically does best in an average moist, well-draining soils but are somewhat drought resistant once fully established. Its uniform habit lends it to use in formal to informal garden and landscape settings as well as medium to large containers. It is considered reliably hardy in zones 8-10 and it can be enjoyed as an annual in colder winter regions. In areas that experience hard freezes, plant out as early in the growing season as possible to ensure a strong crown before frost arrives and a breathable winter mulch and excellent drainage will further help to ensure winter survival. Selected as a Texas Super Star© Plant and as an RHS Award of Garden Merit winner. Item# 10284

Conical spikes of deep red, 3" long tubular flowers are produced nearly continuously throughout the growing season on this vigorous and easy to grow shrub to shrub-like perennial. Bidwill's Coral Tree is a hybrid of our native Mamou Bean, Erythrina herbacea, and the tropical Crybaby Tree, Erythrina crista-galli, combining the best features of both parents. It has the cold hardiness of the Mamou and the continuous flowering of the Crybaby and the hummingbirds flock to the intense red tubular flowers. Easy to grow and establish, it is perennial in areas where freezes are common and becomes more shrub-like in zones 9, 10, and 11. Item# 11083

The deep scarlet red, 1-1/2" long, Turk's turban-like flowers are held upright and are produced in abundance from late spring or early summer until the first hard frost or freeze to potentially year round in mild winter climates. The nectar rich flowers attract a seemingly continuous horde of bright yellow Sulphur butterflies as well as hummingbirds. Big Momma Turk's Cap, a hybrid Malvaviscus developed by noted Texas horticulturist and author Greg Grant, has all of the toughness and flower power of the common Turk's Cap with the added vigor and increased flower size attributed to its other parent the Giant Turk's Cap. As a die-back perennial, in areas where hard freezes occur, the plants typically reach about 4' high and 5-6' wide by the end of the growing season. In warm winter regions, the plants can easily be used as a formal or informal 6' high hedge or as specimen plantings. Provide a full to mostly sunny site in an average to well-drained, average moist, fertile soil for optimum vigor and flowering. Item# 1081

Selected at the esteemed Biltmore Estate, Ashville, NC, the summerlong display of 2" wide dangling Chinese lantern-like flowers are a soft yellow-orange heavily overlaid with a strongly contrasting deep red veining. Biltmore Ball Gown Abutilon or Flowering Maple is an exceptionally hardy and reliable upright growing, naturally evergreen shrubby tropical that has proven to be evergreen in mild zone 8 winters but where it is not reliably hardy it makes an easy container plant that can be overwintered indoors near a sunny window. Abutilons are also known as Parlor Maples as this was a reliably flowering indoor plant and a conversation piece. The flowers attract hummingbirds and other garden beneficials. Provide a full sun to partly shaded site in a fertile, average moist soil. Item# 13087

The tubular, lavender flowers emerge from contrasting deep purple buds on large flower spikes beginning in late spring or early summer and continuing into fall. The nectar rich flowers are seemingly mobbed by bees of all shapes and sizes and are also utilized by butterflies, both large and small, and hummingbirds. Black Adder Agastache or Giant Hyssop, a sterile hybrid of, Agastache rugosum x A. foeniculum, is a branching, clump-forming, herbaceous perennial growing to about 24-36" high and wide by the end of the growing season. Utilize it in containers to bring the pollinators in close as well as in sunny garden and landscapes. Its licorice or anise scented foliage help provide deer and rabbit resistance. This is a vigorous and free flowering perennial that will do best in soils with good to excellent drainage and in full to mostly sunny sites. Item# 10807

Beautiful, deep blue flowers emerge from spikes of black calyxes on this exquisite perennial Salvia all summer and fall against a backdrop of rich deep green foliage. Black and Blue Salvia, an Anise Sage and selection of Salvia guaranitica, is a highly sought after nectar plant for hummingbirds and may also be visited by larger butterflies. This easy and reliable perennial Salvia slowly spreads by rhizomes to create a tall groundcover like effect up to about 3' high but may remain shorter in drier poorer soils. Provide a full to mostly sunny position in an average moist to moist, average to well-drained, moderately fertile soil for maximum vigor and flower production. Easy and reliable. Item# 808

Large clusters of deep burgundy berries whorl around the arching stems of this Mexican Beautyberry and last through much of winter or until the birds find them sweet enough to enjoy. In all other regards Callicarpa acuminata very much resembles our native American Beautyberry, Callicarpa americana, though it may be slightly shorter in habit. The Black Beautyberry flowers and fruits on new wood. Item# 11380

Drooping spike-like clusters composed of numerous, lightly fragrant, small white flowers are produced in spring and are followed by small, 1/4-1/3" diameter red cherries that ripen to black and are consumed by a wide variety of birds and small mammals. The Black Cherry Tree, Prunus serotina, is a moderately fast growing, medium to large, deciduous native tree found throughout much of the eastern, central, and southwestern US as well as into Canada, Mexico, and into Central America. Its medium green serrated foliage is a caterpillar host for the Eastern Tiger Swallowtail and Viceroy butterflies as well as a variety of moths. The Black Cherry fairly consistently produces good yellow to red fall color even here in zone 8B in southwestern Louisiana and the white and gray winter bark adds to its interest. Provide a full to mostly sunny site in well-drained, average moist, fertile soils for optimum growth and vigor.Prunus serotina (Black Cherry) is generally considered self-fertile. While a single tree can produce fruit on its own, planting more than one can lead to better pollination and higher fruit yields. Item# 10469

Dense, deep dark green foliage adorns the naturally upright and pyramidal form of this easy to grow evergreen. Black Dragon Japanese Cedar, a dwarf selection of Cryptomeria japonica, is a fine textured, small to medium-sized, evergreen shrub with a densely branching, conical, upright habit. This cultivar tends to have a moderate rate of growth to about 4-6' high and then growth slows as plants mature. Use this small evergreen as a specimen plant, accent, low maintenance hedge, as a container plant, or as a bonsai specimen. Cryptomeria or Japanese Cedars are adaptable provided they have an average to well-drained, fertile, acidic soil with average moisture in a full sun to partially shaded site. The dark colored foliage makes an excellent foil for lighter colored flowers and foliage. Black Dragon Cryptomeria has been selected as a Great Plant Pick of the Pacific Northwest. Item# 9111

The sweet dark figs of Mission are the number one favorite for drying. Mission is one of the most widely grown figs in California producing heavy crops of medium to large dark purplish-black pear-shaped fruit with a rich, sweet strawberry red pulp. Good fresh or preserved. Black Mission is self-pollinating and may produce a light breba crop. A good choice for the South as well. The small eye makes it resistant to spoiling. Caterpillar host: Ruddy Daggerwing. Item # 832.

Arching 2-3" long spikes adorned with numerous whitish to greenish tiny flowers are produced from the leaf axils with pollinated flowers producing small round, 1/5" diameter fruits that start out green and mature through orange-red to black. The Black Pepper Plant is a tropical, evergreen vine with glossy, deep green foliage. It uses adventitious roots to support itself on the bark of nearby trees, shrubs, or wooden trellises and supports. It branches readily creating a full lush decorative vine. Black Pepper prefers a mildly acidic to neutral, average moist to moist, well-drained soil rich in organic matter but should not be allowed to remain soggy wet. Item# 12581