Complete Plant Guide

Medium 💧 5 days ☀️ Low light

Tetrapanax papyrifer is a bold, architectural shrub native to Taiwan and southern China, celebrated for its enormous, deeply lobed, grey-green leaves that can reach over 60 cm across. It grows vigorously via underground suckers, creating dramatic tropical-looking colonies in gardens. The plant has been cultivated for centuries, with its pith traditionally used to make Chinese rice paper.

3209

Lizard Vine

Tetrastigma obtectum

Tetrastigma obtectum, known as the lizard vine or Chinese tetrastigma, is a lush evergreen climbing vine from the Vitaceae family. It is native to southern China and parts of Southeast Asia, where it grows on forest edges, along riverbanks, and on cool, moist mountain slopes at altitudes up to 2,000 meters. The plant features characteristic palmate leaves with five lanceolate leaflets and produces small greenish-white flowers in the summer, followed by spherical, grape-like black berries. It is particularly popular as a terrarium plant and indoor ornamental due to its ability to thrive in low light and high humidity.

3210

Germander

Teucrium

Medium 💧 8 days ☀️ Bright indirect

Teucrium is a genus of aromatic sub-shrubs in the mint family (Lamiaceae), native to the Mediterranean region. Its most widely cultivated species, wall germander (Teucrium chamaedrys) and tree germander (Teucrium fruticans), are prized for evergreen foliage, delicate flowers, and excellent drought tolerance, making them popular for low hedges, edging, and xeriscape gardens.

3211

Turtle grass

Thalassia testudinum

Hard ☀️ Bright indirect

Turtle grass is a flowering marine plant (angiosperm) of the Hydrocharitaceae family, forming extensive submerged 'meadows' on shallow sandy and calcareous bottoms of the Caribbean and the Gulf of Mexico. Its long, dark-green, ribbon-like leaves grow from a long, jointed rhizome buried 5 to 25 cm deep in the substrate. It is the dominant seagrass species in much of the region, supporting an entire ecosystem: green sea turtles, parrotfish, surgeonfish, and sea urchins feed directly on it, while its leaves host a film of epiphytes (algae, diatoms, and bacteria) that feeds countless invertebrates. It is not a conventional aquarium or home garden plant — it depends on saltwater, high light, and constant submersion.

3212

Bent Alligator-flag

Thalia geniculata

Thalia geniculata, commonly known as Bent Alligator-flag, is a majestic perennial aquatic plant. Its large, light green oval leaves resemble those of the Maranta but grow on long, erect stems that can reach impressive heights. Its most striking feature is the zigzag inflorescence, which supports delicate small purple flowers, attracting pollinators such as butterflies and hummingbirds.

3213

Columbine meadow-rue

Thalictrum aquilegiifolium

Easy 💧 5 days ☀️ Partial shade

Thalictrum aquilegiifolium (Columbine meadow-rue) is a tall, hardy perennial in the buttercup family, featuring delicate, aquilegia-like blue-green foliage and fluffy plumes of purple to pink—sometimes white—staminate flowers in early summer. It provides an airy and elegant element to semi-shaded borders and works beautifully positioned behind lower-growing plants.

3214

Tree Philodendron

Thaumatophyllum

Easy 💧 7 days ☀️ Partial shade

Thaumatophyllum is a genus of about 20 tropical plants in the family Araceae, native to tropical South America. Formerly classified as Philodendron subgenus Meconostigma, these plants are known for their large, deeply lobed, dramatic foliage. Notable species include T. bipinnatifidum (split-leaf philodendron / selloum), T. xanadu, and T. spruceanum. They can reach up to 2.5 m tall indoors and make bold architectural statements in spacious interiors or tropical gardens.

3215

Xanadu Philodendron

Thaumatophyllum xanadu

Easy 💧 7 days ☀️ Partial shade

Thaumatophyllum xanadu, commonly known as Xanadu Philodendron or Winterbourn, is a tropical plant native to Brazil. It forms compact, bushy clumps with deeply lobed, glossy leaves that give it a lush, jungle-like appearance. The synonym Philodendron xanadu is still widely used in horticulture. One of the most popular plants for both indoor and outdoor tropical gardens.

3216

Stiff Greenthread

Thelesperma filifolium

Thelesperma filifolium, commonly known as stiff greenthread, is a drought-tolerant wildflower native to the Great Plains and prairies of North America, from Texas to the Dakotas. It forms slender, branching stems with thread-like foliage topped by cheerful golden-yellow daisy-like flowers with reddish-brown centers. A winter annual or short-lived perennial, it thrives in dry, sandy, or gravelly soils and full sun, making it a favorite for native wildflower meadows and pollinator gardens.

3217

Thelocactus

Hard 💧 7 days ☀️ Low light

Thelocactus is a genus of about 13 species of globose to short cylindrical cacti that grow wild in the arid regions of central and northern Mexico as well as in the Big Bend region of Texas. The plants are characterized by prominent, often spiraling ribs set with distinct tubercles and star-shaped spine clusters in colors ranging from white and golden to reddish-brown. In spring and summer, large, funnel-shaped flowers bloom from the plant's apex in shades of white, yellow, pink, and purple – often nearly as wide as the plant itself.

3218

Cacao tree

Theobroma cacao

The cacao tree is a tropical evergreen tree native to the deep regions of the Amazon basin. It is world-renowned for producing the fruits whose seeds are processed to create chocolate. The plant exhibits a rare botanical phenomenon called cauliflory, where flowers and fruits grow directly from the trunk and main branches. Its leaves are large, leathery, and bright green, providing a lush appearance.

3219

Portia Tree

Thespesia populnea

Medium 💧 10 days ☀️ Direct sun

The Portia tree (Thespesia populnea) is an evergreen tree in the Malvaceae family, common in tropical coastlines worldwide. It features heart-shaped leaves and yellowish flowers with a maroon center that transition to shades of purple throughout the day. Highly resistant to wind, salt, and drought, it is widely planted along shorelines and as a shade tree. Its wood is valued for woodworking, and the species has various uses in traditional medicine.

3220

Ahouai

Thevetia ahouai

Thevetia ahouai, also known as Cascabela ahouai, is a perennial tropical shrub in the Apocynaceae family. It features leathery, dark green, glossy leaves with a lanceolate shape. Its flowers are yellow, tubular, and lightly scented, followed by fleshy fruits that turn from green to red and finally black when ripe. The entire plant contains a milky white latex and cardiac glycosides, making it extremely toxic if ingested.

3221

Florida thatch palm

Thrinax radiata

Easy 💧 14 days ☀️ Bright indirect

The Florida thatch palm (Thrinax radiata) is a species in the Arecaceae family, native to the Florida Keys, the Yucatán Peninsula, the Caribbean, and Central America. It is a solitary, slender-trunked palm, without a crownshaft, that can reach between 6 and 9 meters in height, although it grows very slowly. Its leaves are palmate (fan-shaped), bright green on the upper side and silvery on the underside. It produces white inflorescences that can bloom year-round, followed by small white fruits. It inhabits coastal scrublands and calcareous soils, which makes it very tolerant to salinity and drought. In Florida, it is listed as an endangered species in the wild.

3222

Common Tamarisk Moss

Thuidium tamariscinum

Easy 💧 3 days ☀️ Partial shade

Thuidium tamariscinum, commonly known as Common Tamarisk Moss, is a feathery, evergreen bryophyte that forms lush, bright-green mats on forest floors, rocks, and fallen logs. Native to Europe and now widespread across temperate regions worldwide, it does not flower and reproduces via spores. It thrives in shaded, humid environments and is ideal for terrariums, shade gardens, and natural ground cover.

3223

Eastern Arborvitae

Thuja occidentalis

Easy 💧 7 days ☀️ Direct sun

Thuja occidentalis, commonly known as Eastern Arborvitae or Northern White Cedar, is an evergreen conifer native to eastern North America. It grows in a dense pyramidal form, reaching up to 18 meters in the wild. Scale-like foliage releases a characteristic aromatic scent when crushed. WARNING: foliage and essential oil contain thujone, a toxic compound if ingested by humans, cats, or dogs.

3224

Oriental Arborvitae

Thuja orientalis

Oriental Arborvitae (Thuja orientalis, accepted name Platycladus orientalis) is an evergreen conifer native to northeastern Asia, particularly China and Korea. It forms a naturally pyramidal or egg-shaped silhouette with distinctive vertical, flat, scale-like foliage arranged in book-like planes. Widely used as a hedge, windbreak, specimen tree, and popular bonsai subject, it has been cultivated in Chinese gardens and near temples for centuries due to its association with longevity and resilience.

3225

Western Red Cedar

Thuja plicata

The Western Red Cedar (Thuja plicata) is an impressive evergreen coniferous tree in the cypress family (Cupressaceae), native to the Pacific Northwest of North America—from southeastern Alaska to northern California. In its natural habitat, it can reach heights of up to 60 meters and live for over a thousand years. Flat, fan-like branchlets are covered with aromatic, scale-like leaves that have an intense scent reminiscent of pineapple. The wood is lightweight, soft, exceptionally durable, and rot-resistant, which for centuries made it one of the most valuable building and crafting materials for the indigenous peoples of the Northwest Coast. For many Salish tribes and other indigenous groups, the Western Red Cedar is the 'Tree of Life'—a symbol of strength, longevity, and renewal. It is the official provincial tree of British Columbia.

3226

Bush Clockvine

Thunbergia erecta

Easy 💧 7 days ☀️ Direct sun

Thunbergia erecta, commonly known as Bush Clockvine or King's Mantle, is a fast-growing evergreen shrub native to West Africa. It produces stunning deep purple to blue tubular flowers with creamy yellow throats throughout summer and fall, making it a prized ornamental in tropical and subtropical gardens.

3227

Blue Trumpet Vine

Thunbergia grandiflora

Thunbergia grandiflora, commonly known as the Blue Trumpet Vine or Sky Vine, is a vigorous, woody-stemmed evergreen climber native to India and Southeast Asia. It produces an abundance of large, trumpet-shaped lavender-blue flowers with pale yellow or white throats, blooming from summer through fall and year-round in tropical climates. Its heart-shaped, velvety dark green leaves and fast-growing twining stems make it a spectacular choice for covering fences, trellises, arbors, and pergolas.

3228

Laurel Clockvine

Thunbergia laurifolia

Easy 💧 7 days ☀️ Bright indirect

Thunbergia laurifolia is a vigorous, evergreen climbing vine native to the Indomalayan region (India, Thailand, and Malaysia), prized for its glossy, laurel-like leaves and pale blue to lavender trumpet-shaped flowers with a creamy-yellow throat. It grows rapidly, often covering trellises, fences, and pergolas within a single season, and blooms nearly year-round in warm climates. In Southeast Asian traditional medicine, its leaves are used to make a detoxifying herbal tea (rang jeud). Because of its fast growth and tuberous root system, it has become an invasive weed in parts of Brazil, Australia, and other tropical regions, so it should be planted with care and contained.

3229

Mysore Trumpetvine

Thunbergia mysorensis

Medium 💧 5 days ☀️ Bright indirect

Thunbergia mysorensis, commonly known as the Mysore Trumpetvine or Indian Clock Vine, is a spectacular evergreen climbing plant native to the tropical regions of southern India, particularly Karnataka. It belongs to the family Acanthaceae and is celebrated for its dramatic pendulous racemes of bicolored flowers—vivid yellow with maroon-red rims—that cascade like strings of exotic jewels. A recipient of the Royal Horticultural Society's Award of Garden Merit, this fast-growing vine can reach up to 6 meters and is a favorite in tropical and subtropical gardens worldwide.

3230

Thyme

Thymus

Thyme (Thymus) is a genus of approximately 350 species of aromatic perennial herbs and subshrubs in the family Lamiaceae, native to the Mediterranean region, North Africa, and southwestern Asia. These low-growing woody plants feature tiny aromatic leaves and small tubular flowers in pink, lavender, or white. Widely grown as a culinary, medicinal, and ornamental herb, thyme is a cornerstone of Mediterranean cuisine and herbal medicine.

3231

Mediterranean Thyme

Thymus longicaulis

Easy 💧 7 days ☀️ Direct sun

Thymus longicaulis, also known as Mediterranean thyme or long-stemmed thyme, is a low-growing, mat-forming perennial herb from the Lamiaceae family. The plant is native to southern Europe and grows naturally on dry, rocky slopes and in Mediterranean scrubland. It forms dense, prostrate mats with sparse, twig-like stems that can reach up to 4 inches (10 cm) in height and spread up to 16 inches (40 cm) wide. The leaves are lanceolate, dark green, and aromatic. In spring and summer, the plant produces clusters of pale pink flowers that attract bees and other pollinators. Like all thyme species, Thymus longicaulis contains essential oils with antibacterial and antifungal properties.

3232

Broad-leaved Thyme

Thymus pulegioides

Thymus pulegioides is a low, mound-forming evergreen sub-shrub in the mint family (Lamiaceae), native to Europe. It has broader, more rounded leaves than common thyme, often marked with reddish tints, and produces clusters of small rose-purple to pale lilac flowers in summer. It is prized as a culinary herb, groundcover, and pollinator-friendly garden plant.

3233

Wild Thyme

Thymus serpyllum

Wild Thyme (Thymus serpyllum) is a low-growing, creeping perennial herb from the Lamiaceae family, native to Europe and Western Asia. The plant forms dense, aromatic mats of small, dark glossy leaves and is covered in tiny purple-pink flowers in summer. It thrives in full sun, lean, well-draining soils, and is extremely drought-tolerant and hardy down to -15°C. Thymus serpyllum has a long history as a medicinal and culinary herb and is closely associated with symbols of courage and love.

3234

Common Thyme

Thymus vulgaris

Easy 💧 12 days ☀️ Direct sun

Thymus vulgaris, commonly known as common thyme or garden thyme, is a fragrant evergreen herb native to the Mediterranean region. A member of the Lamiaceae (mint) family, this small woody-stemmed perennial has been cultivated for thousands of years for its culinary, medicinal, and ornamental virtues. It produces tiny aromatic leaves and delicate pink to purple flowers that attract pollinators.

3235

Lemon thyme

Thymus x citriodorus

Lemon thyme is a woody-based perennial subshrub that is primarily grown as a culinary herb for its intense lemon-scented foliage. It forms a low, spreading mat of tiny, oval, dark green leaves that may be variegated with gold or silver depending on the cultivar. During the summer, it produces small, nectar-rich lavender to pink flowers that are highly attractive to pollinators like bees and butterflies.

3236

Spanish Thyme

Thymus zygis