Complete Plant Guide

Berberis eurybracteata, long sold under its former name Mahonia eurybracteata, is an evergreen shrub of the barberry family native to China. It forms an upright, clumping habit with graceful, glossy dark green pinnate leaves made up of slender leaflets. In late summer and autumn it carries erect spires of small, fragrant yellow flowers, which are followed by blue-black berries. The popular cultivar Soft Caress stays compact at roughly 1.2 m in height and spread, and its leaflets are narrow and largely spine-free, so it is much easier to handle than typical mahonias. It gives a fine, architectural texture in shady borders, woodland gardens and containers, and it is valued for late-season colour when few other shrubs are in flower.

508

Calafate

Berberis microphylla

Easy 💧 7 days ☀️ Bright indirect

Berberis microphylla, known as calafate, is a spiny shrub in the family Berberidaceae, native to southern Chile and Argentina, from the Maule region to Tierra del Fuego and from sea level to about 2,000 meters. It grows 1.5 to 2.5 meters tall and spreads wide, with arching branches covered in three-pronged spines. The leaves are small, tough and glossy; in cold winters the shrub may drop some of them. In spring it bears masses of small yellow-orange flowers. Round blue-black berries follow; they are sweet with little acidity and are eaten fresh or made into jam, ice cream and even beer. It is also sold as Berberis buxifolia, an older name still in wide use.

509

Japanese Barberry

Berberis thunbergii

Berberis thunbergii, or Japanese barberry, is a compact, deciduous shrub native to Japan prized for its dense thorny branching, small oval leaves (green, purple, or gold depending on cultivar), and bright red berries that persist into winter. Clusters of pale yellow flowers appear in mid-spring before the foliage fully unfurls. While it is a tough, low-maintenance landscape plant valued for hedging and erosion control, it has become invasive across parts of the northeastern and midwestern United States and eastern Canada, where it escapes cultivation, crowds out native understory plants, and creates humid microhabitats favored by ticks; several states restrict or ban its sale and planting.

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Common barberry

Berberis vulgaris

Easy 💧 10 days ☀️ Low light

Berberis vulgaris is a shrub in the family Berberidaceae, native to central and southern Europe, northwest Africa and western Asia. It loses its leaves in winter and can reach 4 meters. The stems carry three-pronged spines, and above each spine sits a tuft of 2 to 5 oval, finely toothed leaves 2 to 5 cm long. In late spring it bears drooping clusters of small yellow flowers with a strong scent. Oblong red berries 7 to 10 mm long follow in late summer and autumn; they are very sour and rich in vitamin C. In Iran the dried berries (zereshk) flavor rice; in Europe they go into jam. The bark, roots and leaves contain berberine, which is harmful if eaten. The plant hosts wheat stem rust, so growing it is banned in Canada and several US states.

511

Heart-leaved Bergenia

Bergenia crassifolia

Bergenia crassifolia is a perennial evergreen plant native to Siberia, Mongolia, and Central Asia. It is recognized by its large, leathery, glossy leaves that turn reddish or bronze in winter. The plant blooms in early spring with beautiful pink, purple, or white flower clusters. It is extremely hardy and can survive temperatures as low as –30 °C.

512

Curry Leaf Tree

Bergera koenigii

Easy 💧 14 days ☀️ Bright indirect

The curry leaf tree (Bergera koenigii, synonym Murraya koenigii) is an aromatic shrub or small tree in the citrus family Rutaceae, native to South Asia. Its glossy, pinnately compound leaves are intensely fragrant and are a staple seasoning in Indian and Southeast Asian cooking, typically fried fresh in oil at the start of a dish. The plant bears small fragrant white flowers followed by ornamental black berries. It has a medium growth rate, tolerates drought once established, but is sensitive to frost.

513

Gold-flowered Bergeranthus

Bergeranthus multiceps

A low-growing, compact succulent native to the sandstone outcrops of the Eastern Cape in South Africa, belonging to the Aizoaceae (mesembs) family. It forms dense clumps of triangular, fleshy, and sub-erect leaves, alluding to its name 'multiceps' (multiple heads). In spring and summer, it produces striking yellow daisy-like flowers that only open in direct sunlight and close at night or on cloudy days.

514

Golden Snake Cactus

Bergerocactus emoryi

Medium 💧 14 days ☀️ Direct sun

Bergerocactus emoryi is a shrubby cactus in the Cactaceae family, native to the coast of Southern California and northwestern Baja California. It forms dense thickets of cylindrical branches with 12 to 18 ribs, covered in golden-yellow spines that appear velvety when backlit by the sun. Stems are typically less than 6 feet (2 m) long. It blooms in spring with diurnal yellow flowers featuring reddish tips and produces globular, reddish, and spiny fruits. It is rare in cultivation and highly valued as an ornamental plant.

515

Beet

Beta

Easy 💧 4 days ☀️ Bright indirect

Beta is the beet genus, in the amaranth family (Amaranthaceae). It has 7 to 8 species native from the Atlantic coasts of Europe and the Mediterranean to the Near East and India. The best known is Beta vulgaris, the source of beetroot, chard, sugar beet and mangelwurzel, the fodder beet. Their wild ancestor is the sea beet, which grows on shores and salty ground. The other species live on rocky slopes in Turkey, the Caucasus and Greece. They are annual, biennial or perennial herbs, often with a thick, fleshy root. The flowers are small and greenish, in long spikes that cultivated plants only produce in their second year.

516

Beetroot

Beta vulgaris

Easy 💧 3 days ☀️ Direct sun

Beta vulgaris is a versatile plant species in the Amaranthaceae family, native to Europe, Western Asia, and the North African coast. It includes several cultivar groups: table beet (edible root), Swiss chard (edible leaves and stems), sugar beet, and mangelwurzel. It is a biennial vegetable grown worldwide for its nutritional value and ease of cultivation.

517

Wood Betony

Betonica officinalis

Easy 💧 10 days ☀️ Bright indirect

Wood betony (Betonica officinalis, syn. Stachys officinalis) is a perennial herb in the mint family (Lamiaceae), native to Europe, where it grows wild in grasslands, along hedgerows, and in open woodlands. The plant forms a dense rosette of heart-shaped, rough basal leaves and an upright, slightly hairy stem reaching 30-70 cm in height. From June to August, it bears dense spikes of purple-red to pink tubular flowers, which are highly attractive to bees and other pollinators. Wood betony has a long history as a medicinal plant and was considered in the Middle Ages to be able to cure almost anything—hence the old proverb 'sell your cow and buy betony'.

518

Birch

Betula

Betula, commonly known as birch, is a genus of about 30-60 species of deciduous hardwood trees and shrubs native to cool temperate and boreal regions of the Northern Hemisphere. Birches are best known for their thin, often peeling bark, which ranges from silvery-white to golden-bronze depending on the species, and for the slender catkins that dangle from bare branches in early spring before the leaves emerge. Fast-growing and relatively short-lived, birches are pioneer trees that quickly colonize open or disturbed ground, and they are widely planted as ornamental specimens for their striking bark, graceful form, and brilliant yellow autumn foliage.

519

Paper Birch

Betula papyrifera

Easy 💧 14 days ☀️ Direct sun

The paper birch is a fast-growing deciduous tree native to northern North America, prized for its brilliant white bark that peels away in thin, papery layers to reveal a warm orange-brown inner layer. Its bright green, oval leaves turn golden yellow in autumn, and slender brown catkins appear in spring. Reaching 15 to 21 meters at maturity, it makes a striking focal point in cold-climate gardens and naturalized woodland plantings.

520

Silver Birch

Betula pendula

The Silver Birch (Betula pendula) is an elegant, fast-growing deciduous tree and one of Europe's most light-demanding forest trees. It reaches heights of up to 25 meters and is known for its characteristic white, peeling bark and its fine, drooping branches. As a pioneer species, it colonizes open spaces and disturbed sites as one of the first tree species. In autumn, its diamond-shaped leaves turn a vibrant yellow. The birch thrives in sandy, moderately dry to fresh soils with a slightly acidic pH and tolerates harsh winters down to -40 °C.

521

Downy Birch

Betula pubescens

Easy 💧 4 days ☀️ Bright indirect

Betula pubescens, known as downy birch or moor birch, is a fast-growing deciduous tree native to northern Europe and Asia. It features smooth, dull grey-white bark marked with dark lenticels, and small serrated, diamond-shaped leaves that turn golden yellow in autumn. As one of the most cold-hardy broadleaf trees in the world, it thrives in cool, moist climates and is often the first tree species to colonize open ground after disturbance.

522

Bidens

Easy 💧 5 days ☀️ Direct sun

The Bidens genus consists of extremely versatile and resilient plants belonging to the Asteraceae family. In Brazil, Black-jack (Bidens pilosa) is widely known for its medicinal properties, while Bidens ferulifolia is a garden favorite for its bright yellow flowers that attract pollinators. Its seeds have characteristic hooks that attach to surfaces, facilitating dispersal.

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Devil's Beggarticks

Bidens frondosa

Easy 💧 5 days ☀️ Direct sun

Bidens frondosa, commonly known as Devil's Beggarticks or Devil's Pitchfork, is a fast-growing annual wildflower native to North America. It belongs to the Asteraceae family and thrives in moist, sunny environments such as riverbanks, ditches, and disturbed grounds. The plant produces small golden-yellow to orange disc flowers from late summer through fall, followed by distinctive barbed seed heads that cling to clothing and animal fur — giving rise to its colorful common names.

524

Blackjack

Bidens pilosa

Bidens pilosa, commonly known as blackjack or hairy beggarticks, is an annual herb in the Asteraceae family, native to tropical America and now naturalized as a common weed across the globe. It grows up to 1.8 m tall, with white-and-yellow daisy-like flowers and barbed seeds that cling easily to clothing and animal fur. It is widely valued in traditional medicine and also eaten as a wild leafy vegetable.

525

Harrison's Bifrenaria

Bifrenaria harrisoniae

Bifrenaria harrisoniae, commonly known as Harrison's Bifrenaria, is a striking epiphytic orchid endemic to Brazil. Found in the Atlantic Forest and Cerrado biomes at elevations between 200 and 1,200 meters, it produces large, waxy, fragrant flowers — predominantly white with a pink-to-burgundy labellum and dark veining — up to 8 cm across. The robust pseudobulbs store water and nutrients, enabling the plant to withstand seasonal dry periods.

526

Billbergia (genus)

Billbergia

Billbergia is a genus of bromeliads native primarily to South America, widely cultivated as ornamental plants for their evergreen rosettes and colorful tubular flowers. The most popular species, B. nutans, is commonly known as Queen's Tears.

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Queen's Tears

Billbergia nutans

Billbergia nutans, commonly known as Queen's Tears or Friendship Plant, is an epiphytic bromeliad native to Brazil, Argentina, Uruguay, and Paraguay. It forms tubular rosettes of arching grey-green leaves with serrated margins, producing pendant flower spikes with vivid rose-pink bracts and petals combining blue-violet, green, and yellow. It is considered one of the easiest bromeliads to grow and thrives both indoors and outdoors in mild climates.

528

Flaming Torch

Billbergia pyramidalis

Medium 💧 3 days ☀️ Partial shade

Billbergia pyramidalis, commonly called flaming torch or foolproof plant, is an epiphytic or terrestrial bromeliad native to northern South America and the Caribbean. It forms a compact rosette of glossy green leaves and produces a pyramidal scarlet-red inflorescence with violet and yellow highlights, typically in late summer or early autumn. It is a tough, low-maintenance plant popular in tropical gardens and decorative pots.

529

Little Tree Plant

Biophytum sensitivum

A small tropical herb from Asia with a palm-like rosette of feathery leaflets and tiny yellow star-shaped flowers. Its leaflets fold inward when touched, like the sensitive plant. It usually grows 15 to 30 cm tall.

530

Bishopwood

Bischofia javanica

Easy 💧 10 days ☀️ Bright indirect

Bischofia javanica, known as bishopwood, is a fast-growing evergreen tree native to tropical and subtropical Asia, Australia, and the Pacific. It features trifoliate leaves that emerge bronze-red and mature to glossy green, small greenish-yellow flowers in hanging clusters, and round berry-like fruits that turn brownish-orange. In its native range it can exceed 30 m in height, though cultivated specimens are usually smaller. It is valued as a fast shade tree but has become invasive in some regions such as Florida and Pacific islands.

531

Bismarck Palm

Bismarckia nobilis

Hard 💧 14 days ☀️ Direct sun

Bismarckia nobilis, commonly known as the Bismarck Palm, is one of the most majestic and sculptural palms in the world. Native to Madagascar, it stands out for its massive fan-shaped leaves with a unique silvery-blue hue. It is a slow-to-moderate growing plant that becomes the focal point of any garden due to its imposing stature and dense foliage.

532

Red Bistort

Bistorta amplexicaulis

Easy 💧 5 days ☀️ Bright indirect

Bistorta amplexicaulis (syn. Persicaria amplexicaulis), commonly called red bistort or mountain fleece, is a clump-forming herbaceous perennial in the buckwheat family (Polygonaceae), native to the Himalayan region from Afghanistan to China. It forms bushy mounds of pointed, heart-shaped leaves that clasp the stem (the epithet 'amplexicaulis' means 'stem-clasping'), topped from midsummer to early autumn by narrow, bottlebrush-like spikes of tiny red, pink or white flowers that are highly attractive to bees and butterflies. Fully hardy and easy-going, it is a mainstay of cottage gardens, borders, pond margins and bog gardens.

533

Annatto

Bixa orellana

Easy 💧 10 days ☀️ Direct sun

Bixa orellana, commonly known as annatto or the lipstick tree, is a fast-growing tropical shrub or small tree native to Brazil and tropical America. It is prized for its spiny reddish seed pods containing bixin-rich seeds, a natural orange-red pigment widely used as a food coloring and in cosmetics. The plant produces beautiful pink flowers and is equally valued as an ornamental and as a commercial crop.

534

Yellow-wort

Blackstonia perfoliata

Yellow-wort (Blackstonia perfoliata) is a low-growing annual wildflower in the gentian family, native to the Mediterranean Basin and extending into northwestern Europe, including Britain, Ireland and Iberia. It grows 10-50cm tall on stiff, branching stems, with distinctive bluish-green waxy leaves that fuse together in opposite pairs to form a shallow saucer around the stem. From June to October it produces clusters of bright yellow, star-shaped flowers with 6-8 pointed petals that close in the afternoon. It is a classic indicator of chalk and limestone grassland, thriving on sunny, lime-rich, nutrient-poor soils where it self-sows freely.

535

Quil-quil

Blechnum hastatum

Medium 💧 4 days ☀️ Partial shade

Quil-quil (Blechnum hastatum) is a fern native to Chile, from Coquimbo south to Chiloé and the Juan Fernández Islands, and to the humid fringe of southern Argentina. It grows from sea level up to 2,500 m in the Andes, in open spots under shrubs and near springs and streams. It is a small fern with divided fronds whose segments have finely toothed edges, usually hairy stalks and spores in short lines near the margin. Size and texture vary a lot with habitat. Of Chile's Blechnum ferns, it is the one that needs the least moisture.

536

Membranous Hard Fern

Blechnum membranaceum

Medium 💧 5 days ☀️ Partial shade

Blechnum membranaceum, commonly known as the Membranous Hard Fern, is a small Neotropical fern in the family Blechnaceae. Native to Central and South America, it produces delicate, thin fronds with a distinctive membranous texture, thriving in humid, shaded forest understories. Now reclassified as Austroblechnum membranaceum, it retains its historic trade name in horticulture.

537

Soft Water Fern

Blechnum minus

Medium 💧 7 days ☀️ Low light

Blechnum minus, commonly known as the Soft Water Fern, is a beautiful shade-loving terrestrial fern native to Australia, New Zealand, and Tasmania. It thrives in moist, riparian environments along creek banks and sheltered forest floors, forming dense, bushy clumps of glossy green fronds that reach 40–70 cm in length. As a member of the Blechnaceae family (synonyms: Lomaria minus, Parablechnum minus), it is a slow-growing evergreen fern prized for its graceful, arching fronds and adaptability to shaded garden positions.

538

Blepharocalyx

Blepharocalyx is a small genus in the myrtle family, Myrtaceae, with four species from South America and the West Indies. The best known is Blepharocalyx salicifolius, called arrayán or anacahuita in Argentina and Uruguay and murta in Brazil, where it grows from Ceará down to Rio Grande do Sul. It is an evergreen tree that can pass 20 metres in forest, though on its own it usually stays lower and branches into several trunks. The leaves are opposite, long and narrow like willow leaves, glossy dark green and fragrant when crushed. In spring it opens small white to cream flowers, about 1 cm across, in groups of two or three. The round berries ripen slowly from yellow to reddish purple, so the tree carries fruit of several colours at once.

539

Pine-pink Orchid

Bletia purpurea