PLANT ENCYCLOPEDIA

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38,238 plants

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lily 'Uchida'

Lilium speciosum var. rubrum 'Uchida'

A deciduous, bulbous hardy perennial with strap-like dark green flowers, purple stems and dark, fragrant, carmine-pink speckled flowers. Flowers are pendant, downward-facing and recurved and appear in late summer to early autumn

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big blue lilyturf

Liriope muscari

L. muscari is an evergreen tuberous perennial forming a dense clump of narrow, arching, leathery, dark green leaves, with small violet-purple flowers carried in dense, erect spikes to 30cm in height in autumn, followed by black berries

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Aucamp's living stone

Lithops aucampiae

L. aucampiae is a succulent perennial forming a clump of thick, paired reddish-ochre coloured leaves with darker markings on the tips, and yellow, daisy-like flowers in late summer and autumn

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Leslie's living stone

Lithops lesliei

L. lesliei is a perennial succulent forming a clump of paired, fleshy pale brown leaves, the ends mottled with deep olive green, with yellow or white flowers in late summer and autumn

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sweet alyssum

Lobularia maritima

A compact and low-growing, bushy annual or short-lived perennial, grown for its tiny, white, honey-scented flowers, which are borne in rounded clusters throughout summer. A good plant to attract pollinating insects

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Japanese honeysuckle

Lonicera japonica

A vigorous, woody, evergreen or semi-evergreen twining climber about 10m tall, with dark green leaves to 8cm long, deeply lobed on young growth. Tubular 2-lipped, very fragrant, purple-flushed, white flowers, age to yellow, and are produced in pairs from the leaf axils, over a long season from spring to late summer, followed by blue-black berries

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Lotus 'Fire Vine'

A tender perennial with trailing stems to 1m, bearing needle-like, silver-grey leaves to 2cm long. In spring and early summer it produces red-tipped, orange flowers, 3cm long and shaped like lobster claws

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coral gem

Lotus berthelotii

A trailing or ground covering evergreen sub shrub to 20cm in height, with silver-grey linear leaves and rich orangey-red pairs of pointed flowers in spring and early summer

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evergreen magnolia

Magnolia grandiflora

A large, rounded evergreen tree about about 12m tall or more with glossy dark green, leathery, oblong-elliptic leaves, often rusty-brown beneath, and highly fragrant, cup-shaped, cream flowers to 25cm across in late summer and autumn

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apple

Malus domestica

A widely variable species of deciduous tree, usually with downy young shoots and toothed green leaves. White or pink blossom is produced in spring, sometimes highly fragrant, and followed by large sweet fruits. This species has a complex history and is the parent of numerous apple cultivars

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Japanese Flowering Crabapple

Malus floribunda

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crab apple

Malus sylvestris

A small, rounded tree, about 9m tall, with mid-green leaves to 8cm long and clusters of pink-tinged white flowers to 5cm across in late spring, followed by yellow-green, sometimes red-flushed fruits 2-3cm across

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Common Mallow

Malva neglecta

Common Mallow is a low-growing annual or biennial herb with rounded, shallowly lobed leaves and delicate five-petaled flowers in shades of pale pink to lilac, often with darker veins. It forms a spreading mound up to 60 cm tall and wide, blooming from late spring through summer. Its charm lies in its wildflower appearance and ability to thrive in poor soils, making it a valuable plant for informal gardens and wildlife areas.

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ladyfinger cactus

Mammillaria elongata

M. elongata is a cactus with clustered cylindrical stems to 15cm in height, the spines creamy-yellow to brown; flowers 1.5cm in length, pale yellow or tinged pink

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Thimble Cactus

Mammillaria gracilis

Mammillaria gracilis is a small, clustering cactus with slender, rounded stems that resemble green thimbles. Each stem is densely covered with white, bristle-like radial spines, giving the plant a soft, woolly appearance. In spring, rings of small cream to pale-yellow flowers may appear at the stem crown. Its compact, offsetting habit makes it an attractive low-maintenance succulent for windowsills and containers.

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prayer plant

Maranta leuconeura var. kerchoveana

An evergreen perennial to 30cm in height, forming a clump of broad, oval mid-green leaves with grey-green markings and conspicuous brown blotches either side of the midrib. Flowers white, insignificant

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Melaleuca alternifolia

An evergreen shrub or tree, to 6m in its native Australia, with papery, grey-white bark and smooth, linear, needle-like leaves to 3cm long, scattered irregularly or whorled along the stems. The leaves are the source of tea tree oil. In summer it produces small white flowers, held in dense spikes that resemble a bottle-brush; these are followed by small, woody, cup-shaped fruits

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lemon balm

Melissa officinalis

An aromatic, bushy perennial up to 1m tall and wide. Heart-shaped leaves are lemon-scented with scalloped edges are 2-8 cm long. Leafy spikes of creamy-white or pale purple flowers are full of nectar, attracting bees and other pollinators in summer. The leaves are often used as a culinary herb

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heart-leaved fig marigold

Mesembryanthemum cordifolium

A dwarf evergreen perennial, forming a mat of succulent, trailing stems and shiny, fleshy, heart-shaped leaves to 2cm long. In summer it produces many-petalled, daisy-like pink flowers from the stems tips. Suitable for a container on a sunny patio

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American wild bergamot

Monarda fistulosa

A clump-forming perennial to 1.2m tall, with bushy, branching stems and dull, mid-green, lance-shaped, aromatic leaves up to 10cm long. From mid-summer to early autumn produces whorls of two-lipped, tubular, pale purple or pale, dusky pink flowers with purple-tinged bracts and a pale green centre

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Ghost pipe

Monotropa uniflora

Monotropa uniflora is a remarkable, non-photosynthetic herbaceous plant. The above-ground part is a fleshy, waxy, translucent white stem, only 10-30 cm tall, with small scale-like leaves and a single nodding, bell-shaped white flower. Rare forms may be pale pink, and older stems blacken after flowering. It grows in small clusters among deep leaf litter in shaded woodland. Because it lacks chlorophyll and feeds through mycorrhizal fungi, it is valued more as a botanical curiosity than as a conventional garden flower.

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variegated Swiss cheese plant

Monstera deliciosa 'Variegata'

A vigorous evergreen climber to 3m or more, with large, pinnatisect or perforated, rich green leaves marbled and splashed with creamy-white

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Variegated Swiss Cheese Plant

Monstera deliciosa variegata

Monstera deliciosa variegata is a variegated form of the Swiss cheese plant, grown for its large, glossy, deeply lobed leaves patterned with white to creamy-yellow sectors. It is an evergreen climbing epiphyte that develops aerial roots and, with support, can form a tall specimen. The fenestrated leaves become more elaborate with maturity, making it a striking foliage houseplant. Variegation is unstable, and some shoots may revert to solid green.

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Curry Leaf Plant

Murraya koenigii

Murraya koenigii is an evergreen shrub or small tree, typically reaching 1.5–3 m in height. Its pinnate leaves consist of 11–21 leaflets, each strongly aromatic with a characteristic curry scent when crushed. Clusters of small, fragrant white flowers appear in spring and summer, followed by glossy black berries. The plant is valued both as a culinary herb and as an ornamental for its lush foliage and compact growth habit.

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