Get to know 15 plants selected from Batman. Discover their scientific names, identifying features and growing needs.
Oxalis articulata
A rhizomatous, clump-forming, deciduous perennial up to 45cm tall in flower, with green, clover-like, three-lobed leaves on long stalks and masses of bright pink flowers in umbels on long flower stems, through the summer
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Anchusa azurea
A herbaceous perennial to 90cm with coarsely-hairy, lance-shaped, mostly basal leaves. Bright gentian-blue flowers, aging to blue-purple, are borne on erect, branching stems
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Phaseolus vulgaris
The wild common bean from which a vast number of edible beans have been bred, including all the 'French' beans. They are annual, twining climbers with green tri-foliate leaves, though many selected varieties are dwarf. The flowers are mostl
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Spathiphyllum wallisii
S. wallisii is an evergreen perennial with erect, lance-shaped, glossy dark green leaves, and ovate white flowering spathes to 15cm in length, each with a slender cream spadix within
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Codiaeum variegatum, commonly known as croton, is a striking evergreen shrub grown primarily for its bold, leathery leaves. The leaves come in a dazzling array of colors including green, yellow, orange, red, and purple, often with variegate
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Parthenocissus quinquefolia
P. quinquefolia is a vigorous large deciduous climber. Leaves with five ovate leaflets, turning bright red and orange in autumn. Flowers inconspicuous; berries blue-black
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Begonia rex
R. rex is an evergreen perennial to 30cm, with large, obliquely ovate leaves which are metallic green with a silvery zone on the upper surface, reddish beneath; panicles of small pink flowers in winter
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Schefflera arboricola
Schefflera arboricola, commonly known as the Dwarf Umbrella Tree, is an evergreen shrub native to Taiwan. It features palmate compound leaves typically composed of 7-9 leaflets, glossy and leathery. The plant has a compact, bushy habit with
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Zea mays
Sweetcorn is relatively easy to grow and without a doubt tastes so much better that shop bought. There's a great range of varieties to grow, both heritage and modern, and something to suit most gardens and the shorter British summers. If y
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Echinops sphaerocephalus
A fast-growing, clump-forming perennial to 2m in height, with spiny grey-green leaves, and thistle-like silvery-grey flower heads on stout grey stems during mid and late summer
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Plumbago auriculata
P. auriculata is an evergreen shrub to 4m or more (with support), with slender, scandent stems bearing light green, spoon-shaped leaves and terminal racemes of sky-blue, long-tubed flowers 15mm across
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Opuntia ficus-indica
A bushy, tree-like cactus with divided, spiny, flat, oblong or elliptic grey to green stems. Bowl-shaped yellow or orange flowers are produced from spring until summer, followed by purple, orange or red fruit
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Euonymus japonicus
A bushy, medium-sized, evergreen shrub or small tree to a height of 4m, with dark green oval leaves. The flowers are small and greenish in colour; fruits are pink and orange, with a hint of white, but seldom produced
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Ficus elastica
Large, tropical evergreen tree, often grown as a houseplant. Large, broadly oval-shaped, glossy dark green leaves, occasionally red-flushed, with bronze-coloured undersides are 30-45cm long. Yellow figs are produced in clusters on mature tr
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Hibiscus syriacus
A medium to large, deciduous shrub up to 4m tall with an upright habit. Lobed leaves appear in late spring and large, trumpet-shaped flowers in shades of pink, red, blue and white with conspicuous protruding tubes of stamens open in success
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