Get to know 20 plants selected from North America. Discover their scientific names, identifying features and growing needs.
Capsicum annuum
This is the wild plant from which many of our cultivated sweet peppers and chillies have been bred. It shows a wide range of fruit shapes, colours, sizes and degree of capsaicin production - from where the heat may or may not be felt. It ha
Learn more →
Epipremnum aureum
An evergreen self-clinging climber to 4m or more, with glossy bright green ovate leaves spotted and streaked with cream or yellow; green flowering spathes appear only rarely in cultivation
Learn more →
Sansevieria trifasciata
S. trifasciata is a succulent perennial forming a clump of erect, sword-shaped deep green leaves with pale green transverse bands, with racemes of small, tubular pale green flowers in summer or autumn
Learn more →
Hibiscus rosa-sinensis
A compact evergreen shrub with ovate to broadly lance-shaped glossy dark green leaves. Single 5-petalled flowers 10cm across with yellow anthered red stamens are produced from the leaf axils from summer to autumn, though in cultivation semi
Learn more →
Solanum lycopersicum
This is the original plant from which all know varieties of tomato have been bred. The original species is quite a large, branching and climbing plant growing up to 2m tall that is perennial subshrub in its native tropical habitat. The stem
Learn more →Codiaeum variegatum
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
Learn more →
Euphorbia milii
A more or less evergreen shrub to 1m, with thorny, succulent branches, leathery obovate leaves and axillary clusters of very small yellow flowers with showy, bright red bracts
Learn more →
Caladium bicolor
Caladium bicolor is a tuberous perennial grown for its striking, heart-shaped leaves that display a vibrant mix of green, white, pink, red, and burgundy. The foliage is papery thin with prominent veins, arising directly from the underground
Learn more →
Aloe vera
An evergreen perennial to 0.6m, forming rosettes of fleshy, narrow, dull green leaves with spiny margins, with long racemes of tubular greenish-yellow flowers 3cm in length in racemes to 90cm in length
Learn more →
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
Learn more →
Catharanthus roseus
A woody-based evergreen perennial, to 45cm in height, with somewhat fleshy stems bearing ovate leaves and 5-petalled flowers, to 4cm across, pink, red or white in colour
Learn more →
Coleus scutellarioides
A tender, evergreen perennial to 60cm, with semi-succulent, square stems bearing ovate, toothed leaves. The species shows some leaf variegation and numerous brightly coloured cultivars have been developed from it. Small, blue flowers are bo
Learn more →
Persea americana
P. americana is a bushy evergreen shrub or small tree, with glossy, lance-shaped or elliptic leaves, rarely flowering in cultivation in temperate climates
Learn more →
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
Learn more →
Dieffenbachia seguine
Dieffenbachia seguine is a popular houseplant known for its large, ovate leaves that are dark green with cream or white variegation. It has a thick, cane-like stem that supports the foliage, and under ideal conditions it may produce a small
Learn more →
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
Learn more →
Kalanchoe daigremontiana
K. daigremontiana is an upright succulent perennial with trinagular-lance-shaped, grey-green leaves, often spotted with brown, and with a row of plantlets on each edge; pendent, tubular greyish pink flowers 2cm long open in winter
Learn more →
Dracaena fragrans
An upright, evergreen, tropical shrub with cane-like stems and glossy, strap-shaped leaves to 40cm long. Its slender habit and tolerance of a range of conditions make it a popular houseplant
Learn more →
Cordyline fruticosa
Cordyline fruticosa is an evergreen shrub reaching up to 2-3 meters in height. It has erect stems with a tuft of sword-shaped or lanceolate leaves at the top, each 30-60 cm long. The foliage exhibits a wide range of colors, including deep g
Learn more →
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
Learn more →