Piper sarmentosum (wild betel, lolot)

 Piper sarmentosum is an herbaceous perennial, native to Southeast Asia, but is now cultivated in many tropical and subtropical regions around the world.

It is a popular culinary herb in its native land. The leaves are used to wrap meat and other foods, and they can also be eaten raw in salads. They have a mild herbal flavor that complements a variety of dishes. They are also good in soups and vegetable dishes.

Photo courtesy of one of my customers.

The leaves are dark green and glossy, and about 4 inches across. Thin, erect stems grow to a height of about 2-3 feet, and send out runners that root at each node where it touches the soil.

The plant also produces small, white flowers in spikes.

Piper sarmentosum will grow in sun or shade. The leaves are usually larger and darker green in the shade. Plants in full sun may need additional watering to look their best. This species is recommended for USDA Zones 9-12. Propagation is by transplanting the rooted runners.

 

The plant is known as "wild betel" because its leaves are similar in appearance to the closely related betel leaves, but these have a milder flavor. 

Lolot has a long history of medicinal use. The plant has traditionally been used to treat a variety of conditions, including hypertension, diabetes, cough, fever, and rheumatism. Recent research has confirmed some of these traditional uses, and lolot is now being investigated for its potential to treat other diseases as well. The plant has been shown to have anti-inflammatory, antioxidant, and anti-cancer properties. Lolot is a safe and effective herb for most people, but it is important to consult with a healthcare professional before using it if you are pregnant, breastfeeding, or have any underlying health conditions.

Photo courtesy of one of my customers.

Related reading: Piper auritum

Giant Vine Fern (Stenochlaena tenuifolia)

Giant Vine Fern (Stenochlaena tenuifolia) is an impressive species with large fronds up to 4 feet in length. It makes an excellent tall groundcover for large areas under trees, or a lush background planting for other colorful or flowering plants.

The leaves have heavy substance and are long-lasting as cut greens in floral arrangements. Young fiddleheads are edible if cooked until tender.

Once established, this fern spreads by rhizomes that run along the soil surface. The rhizomes are also able to climb trees, preferably those with rough or fibrous trunks for easier attachment.

Mature specimens of Giant Vine Fern grow a few specialized fertile fronds that produce spores, by which this plant can be propagated, although it's much simpler and faster to use sections of the rhizome. In the next photo you can see a thin, fertile, spore-producing frond compared to the typical foliage.

Here's a closer view of the spores:

This species will grow in sun or shade, and wet or dry conditions. The foliage looks best with at least a little shade in tropical regions. In the sunniest locations moist soil is preferred. I've never had to provide any irrigation beyond our natural rainfall when growing it in morning sun. Its tolerance for adverse conditions also make it a good houseplant.

Stenochlaena tenuifolia is native to equatorial Africa, and is recommended for USDA Zones 9-11. It can be container-grown anywhere.

Buy a rhizome section for planting here!

Longevity spinach (Gynura procumbens)

Longevity spinach (Gynura procumbens) is a leafy vegetable that was relatively unknown in the U.S. until recent years. It has rapidly gained in popularity as more people grow it and become familiar with its health benefits.
In warm climates the plant is perennial, and will provide harvests for many years. The growth habit is spreading, with the floppy stems trailing on the ground.

Overall plant height is usually less than a foot, but the width can be several feet if allowed to grow unchecked. Prostrate stems root as they grow along the surface of the ground making this an excellent edible groundcover. Growth can be kept in bounds by frequent harvest of the longest stems.

The leaves and young stems can be eaten raw or cooked. This is an excellent salad green, or use the leaves on sandwiches in place of lettuce. Stems can be chopped in soups, stews, or vegetable medleys in the same way you would use celery. Leaves hold their texture well when cooked, making this a good choice for those who don't like the mucilaginous texture of many other cooked greens.

Longevity spinach grows well in full sun or part shade. Growth slows or stops in cold weather, and a hard freeze will kill top growth, but in spring the plant quickly regenerates from the root system. 

Gynura procumbens is native to the Philippines, Thailand and Indo-China. It is recommended for USDA Zones 9-11, but can be grown as an annual in colder locations.

In spring the plants go through a flowering cycle when little leafy growth occurs, but the plant is covered in orange blooms, attracting Monarch butterflies to the nectar. This plant is in the same genus as Okinawa spinach (Gynura crepiodes) and the houseplant known as Purple Passion (Gynura aurantiaca), and the flowers are clearly similar.

Many healthful claims have been made for this vegetable and it has been used in folk medicine for generations in SE Asia to treat inflammation, rheumatism and viral infections. Scientific studies have shown strong anti-inflammatory action and an ability to reduce type 2 diabetes.

Buy longevity spinach cuttings! 

Sensitive plant (Mimosa pudica)

One of the most entertaining plants to own is Mimosa pudica. Whenever the leaves are disturbed, they quickly fold up. Here's a video that shows more than words can describe.

The leaves unfold again after only a few minutes.

Plants have a spreading habit, and make a thick groundcover if allowed to spread. They grow about 1.5 feet tall and several feet wide. Stems will root as they creep along the ground and young plants will spring up from fallen seed. The plant can become invasive in warm climates.

Although the foliage has a soft, ferny texture, the stems and petioles have numerous small, prickly thorns that would be hazardous to bare feet.
In late summer through fall, the plants are covered with lavender-pink flowers.

Mimosa pudica is native to tropical America, but has become naturalized throughout warm regions of the world.

Plants prefer full sun to part shade and established plants are very drought-tolerant. They can be grown as annuals anywhere, or as perennials in areas that receive only brief freezes.

One theory about why Mimosa pudica evolved its sensitivity is that it was a way to avoid being eaten by herbivores. Grazing animals would brush by the plant and, after all the leaves folded, it would appear there was nothing there to eat, so the animals would move on to more lush and leafy plants.

Buy seeds of this plant!

Trachelospermum asiaticum

Trachelospermum asiaticum is a durable vine or ground-cover plant with fragrant white flowers in the spring. It grows in sun or shade, and is drought-tolerant once established.
It makes a nice evergreen ground-cover that can be mowed short a couple of times a year if it starts looking unkempt. The dense growth will prevent most weeds from sprouting, and provides excellent erosion control on slopes. This plant is also a good low-maintenance grass alternative for your lawn. The semi-woody stems can spread beyond the area where they're planted, so you may want to surround the planting bed with landscape edging to keep it in bounds.

Flowering will be best on stems that are allowed to vine up, or drape over some other object. The 2-inch long leaves are a dark glossy green, and have a leathery texture.
Trachelospermum asiaticum is not a true jasmine, but is sometimes called Yellow Star jasmine, or more commonly, Asiatic jasmine. It is native to Korea and Japan, and is recommended for USDA Zones 8-10.
There are some cultivars available with variegated or bronze foliage.

Walking Iris (Neomarica gracilis)

Walking iris is a stunning spring bloomer for warm climates.  The bright blue and white flowers are about 3 inches across.  

An entire bed of these iris will bloom on the same day and for only one day.  The spectacle is repeated every few days throughout the spring months.

After flowering, a new plant starts to form on the end of the flower stalk.

The weight of the developing plant causes the stalk to bend over and touch the ground, where the plantlet will take root. 

This is where the common name "Walking Iris" comes from.  The plants "walk" across the landscape (very slowly).  The long narrow leaves are arranged in a fan shape, typical of other members of the Iris family.  They are thin and droopy, giving mass plantings a soft billowy texture.  There is a related species with yellow flowers that has a more upright habit.
Neomarica will grow in mostly sun to full shade.  USDA Zones 8 to 11 (native to Central and South America).  The higher the zone you're in, the more shade you should give them.  Plants generally grow about 18" to 2 feet tall.  They make a nice evergreen groundcover under small trees where they'll get a little shade.