Orchids

There are more than 25,000 species of this rare and beautiful cone-shaped flower. Some of them are extremely expensive and hard to come by, but other varieties are affordable, available and simple to grow at home.

Hibiscus

There are 10,000 named varieties of the tropical Hibiscus flower. These beautiful and colorful flowers are emblematic of the tropical environments they come from, such as Florida, Hawaii, Jamaica and India. Hibiscus are wonderful for decoration because the flowers will not wilt until their natural time to close -even without water. Opening buds may be picked early in the day, stored in a cool place and brought out for the evening. Storing Hibiscus in the cold slows down the flowers closing by a few hours.

Torenia

Also known as the Wishbone Flower, these annuals and perrenials originate in tropical Asia and Africa. Torenia grow to be about a foot tall, with toothed, ovular leaves. Torenia produce a striking amount of beautiful pouched flowers that can grow to be an inch across. Torenia flowers are noted for their wide array of beautiful colors, such as white, blue, purple, mauve or lilac. Tornias can be grown with proper care in an environment that has a temperature of 70 degrees or more.

Lamium

Also know as White Nancy, Lamium is a beautiful ground-covering plant with white heart-shaped leaves and short spikes of pink flowers. Lamium blooms in the summer, grows up to eight inches tall and can tolerate a wide variety of soil conditions. It does best in shady woodland areas.

Portulaca

Portulaca is a group of annual flowers that comes in several varieties. Native to Brazil, Portulaca grow spiraling stems up to five inches long and have cylindrical leaves and bright, colorful flowers up to an inch in diameter at the end of the stems. The flowers can be purple, yellow, pink, scarlet and many other colors. To cultivate Portulaca successfully you need to place them in a spot with plenty of sunlight and sandy soil.

Pentas

Simple to cultivate, easy to care for, and beautiful to behold, Pentas is a wonderful choice for your garden. Pentas is native to tropical Africa and its beautiful red, pink, white and lavender blooms are well-known for attracting hummingbirds. The plant grows up to three feet tall and wide and does well indoors, potted in a sunny spot or outside in warmer climates.

Lavatera

Though named for a Swiss botanist, Lavatera are native to the Himalayan Mountains, Siberia and Australia. These plants come in several varieties, both perennial and annual, with bush-like growth or tall straight stalks. Their large, beautiful flowers last only a day or two before wilting, but the plant produces new flowers for an extended period of time.

Sedum

Sedum, which come in hundreds of varieties, are easy to grow, late-blooming, hardy and beautiful plants. Sedum plants have thick stems, fleshy leaves, and flower heads that resemble lavender broccoli. These plants do best in well-drained soil and can tolerate both droughts and rainy weather. Because they bloom so late in the year, they often remain attractive through the winter.

Abutilon

Also known as the Flowering Maple, the Abutilon is a beautiful plant that does well indoors. Abutilon's lovely blossoms range from reds, yellows, blues and shades of orange, and its foliage is usually pale green. Depending on how much space it has to grow, Abutilon plants can grow to be very large, which is why the plant is best kept indoors in a small to medium sized pot.

Gazania

Gazania, native to South Africa, is a beautiful, perennial ground cover with colorful daisy-like flowers. Gazania tropical flower boom in late spring to early summer and come in shades of yellow, orange, white and pink. Gazania thrive in sunny locations with well-drained soil.