Tradescantia zebrina ‘Burgundy’ is a charming, naturally trailing, sprawling plant with silver and burgundy striped leaves. Leaf colour will vary on individual plants according to the light levels and different growing conditions the plants experience. Plants grown in areas that enjoy brighter sunlight, which are only watered when their growing media has begun to dry out will display more vibrantly coloured foliage with a more vivid purple colouring than plants grown in poorer quality sunlight.
Erigeron annuus is a charming plant which is sometimes called Tall Fleabane. In the UK, Erigeron annuus plants produce tall sprays of small white-petalled, yellow-centred daisies from June to the end of October (early summer to early autumn). These plants display a relaxed and floaty air, which is always welcome in my garden. Erigeron annuus has that gorgeous meadowy vibe! Plants have a naturally open habit, which allows us many opportunities to see what other plants are growing amongst them.
I bought this endearing little plant about ten years ago. For me this is a truly charming terrarium plant. I adore Goeppertia micans leaves; their foliage may appear to be lovely, but fairly ordinary plain green, narrow leaves, but when you touch this foliage it’s a delightful surprise to discover that these leaves are sumptuously soft! The undersides of every leaf are smooth and silky, they feel like the softest velvet.
Goeppertia warscewiczii is a handsome tender plant that hails from the tropical rainforests of Central and South America. This Goeppertia produces absolutely fabulous, velvety, bottle-green coloured leaves, which are beautifully enhanced by their jade-green variegation, and nicely set off by the leaf’s contrasting claret-coloured undersides. With regular care, warm, even temperatures, high humidity levels, and bright, filtered lighting, this stunning plant will grow successfully inside our homes.
French beans (known by their botanical name, Phaseolus vulgaris) are such lovely vegetables to grow. These plants are both productive and decorative, with attractive flowers. French beans are super plants that will truly enhance your garden; the beans they produce taste delicious, too!
Firstly, take care to select the type of French bean you want to grow. There are two types of French beans: tall climbing French beans (often called ‘Pole Beans’) that grow up to 8ft (2.5m) tall (and taller!)
Callisia repens is a low growing, tender herbaceous perennial plant from Mexico, North, Central, and South America. Plants thrive in partially shaded conditions, in shallow, free draining, acid soils. This easy-to-grow plant readily adapts to a range of circumstances; tolerating both brighter and more shaded environments, as well as moist, humid, and drier conditions and neutral compost and soils; making Callisia repens a superb houseplant, thats hard to kill!
Monstera deliciosa can be found growing in the wild, in the damp, humid rainforests of Panama, and Mexico. The rainforest is a competitive environment. Monstera deliciosa plants grow towards and then climb up nearby trees, to reach the sunlight.
Monstera deliciosa is a tender evergreen climbing plant, that favours growing in a location where it can enjoy bright, but indirect light, or partially shaded conditions.
Masdevallia nidifica is a miniature epiphytic and lithophytic orchid species, which is widespread: this species originates from Nicaragua, Ecuador, Peru, and Colombia, where this plant can be found growing in areas of mountainous forest and cloud forests.
Given cool to intermediate temperatures, a shaded environment and a moist environment Masdevallia nidifica is a reliable and floriferous orchid species. This plant requires very high humidity and constant growing conditions all through the year to succeed, when it will grow into a rewarding plant that can flower at any time of year.
Runner beans, also known by their botanical name of Phaseolus coccineus, are tender perennials that originate from Mexico and South America. Runner beans are deservedly popular in the UK; these easy to grow vegetables are both decorative and productive.
Both dwarf runner bean varieties and tall climbing runner bean varieties are available – check the label before buying seeds or plants to determine how tall they will grow.
Helianthus annuus, also known by their common name of sunflowers, are tall growing annuals with very large, round flower heads with brown centres and yellow outer petals, which are very attractive to bees and butterflies. The flower heads of Helianthus annuus turn to face the sun, they slowly turn as the sun moves throughout the day. Helianthus annuus grow best when planted in a very sunny spot.
Erigeron karvinskianus is a dear little herbaceous perennial plant, that originates from Mexico. One of this plant’s common names is Mexican fleabane, it’s also known as the Mexican daisy. This is a small herbaceous perennial, that forms spreading, mat-like, low growing, slightly tangled plants, with small green leaves. Erigeron karvinskianus grows up to around 15cm (6 inches) in height. These dainty plants produce hundreds of flowers, which open as white petaled, yellow centred daisies.
Restrepia trichoglossa is a species of miniature orchid which originates from cloud forests in Peru, Colombia, and Ecuador. Naturally forming a tufted shape, this little Restrepia produces flowers in succession, throughout the year.
I find Restrepias to be tolerant of different temperatures, and light conditions, favouring cooler indoor temperatures of around 16 C – 20 C, and bright, indirect, filtered light.
