221 plants Encyclopedia

• Common name : Seaside Alder • Scientific name : Alnusmaritima • Family : Betulaceae • Native land : The United States The name ‘Maritima’ comes from Latin, meaning growing by the sea. It is a deciduous, multi-trunked, upright-rounded, fall-blooming perennial large shrub or small tree that typically grows to 20-30 feet tall. The greatest […]

• Common name : Hollyhock • Scientific name : Alcearosea • Family : Malvaceae • Native land : Asia and Europe The plant is variously described as a biennial (having a two-year life cycle), as an annual, or as a short-lived perennial. There are about 60 species of this flowering plant. They can grow up

• Common name : Century Plant • Scientific name : Agave attenuata • Family : Asparagaceae • Native land : The plateaus/mountains of Central Mexico Century plant is a rosette forming evergreen herbaceous perennial succulent. It is popular for its attractive leaves and its huge drooping flower stems. Spineless, fleshy, ovate, light grey to pale

• Common name : Mexican Hyssop • Scientific name : Agastachemexicana • Family : Labiatae • Native land : Southern North America It belongs to the family of mint and is a perennial and self-fertile plant. Typical of the mint family, the stems are square and they can grow up to 4 inches tall. There

• Common name : Himalayan Lantern • Scientific name : Agapetesserpens • Family : Ericaceae • Native land : The Himalayas The plant is an evergreen perennial. It is an odd member of the blueberry family. The plant has long, arching stems adorned with scarlet, jewel-like blooms. The fascinating patterns of this plant make it

• Common name : African Violet • Scientific name : Saintpaulia • Family : Violaceae • Native land : East central Africa It was first discovered in 1892 in East Central Africa by Baron Walter von Saint Paul-Illaire. It is a herbaceous perennial flowering plant, usually grown indoors. It is popular due to its ability

• Common name : Saucer Plant • Scientific name : Aeoniumundulatum • Family : Crassulaceae • Native land : Northern Africa and surrounding areas The plant is an evergreen perennial or small, semiwoody shrub with fleshy, tidy, rosette leaves. Leaves grow in a variety of colours and patterns, from light green to variegate with deep

• Common name : Monkshood • Scientific name : Aconitum napellus • Family : Ranunculaceae • Native land : Western and Central Europe The name ‘monkshood’ is derived from the shape of the flowers, which look like blue helmets. It is a herbaceous perennial plant. The leaves are rounded, palmately divided into five to seven

• Common name : Yarrow • Scientific name : Achilleamillefolium • Family : Asteraceae • Native land : Europe, Western Asia, North America The name ‘Achillea’ comes from Achilles, the hero of the Trojan War in Greek mythology, who used the plant medicinally to stop bleeding and to heal the wounds of his soldiers. It

• Common name : Silver Maple, Red Maple • Scientific name : Acer saccharinum/Acer rubrum • Family : Sapindacea • Native land : Eastern North America (White Maple)/ Eastern and Central North America (Red Maple) The dark green leaves of silver maple have silvery undersides that are easily exposed in the slightest breeze, giving this

Acalypha • Common name : Jacob’s Coat • Scientific name : Acalyphawilkesiana • Family : Euphorbiaceae • Native land : Fiji and neighbouring South Pacific Islands It is an evergreen, often suckering, tropical shrub, annual outdoor houseplant. It can grow up to 10-15 feet tall in frost‑free areas. The leaves are coppery green with red

• Common name : Glossy Abelia • Scientific name : Abeliagrandiflora • Family : Caprifoliaceae • Native land : Eastern Asia (Japan west to the Himalayas) and Southern North America (Mexico) Abelia is a perennial deciduous shrub. It was first raised in 1886 at the Rovelli nursery at Pallanza (now Verbania), on Lake Maggiore in