Moringa oleifera

Moringa oleifera is a fast-growing, drought-tolerant tree that is native to the Indian subcontinent. It is also known as the drumstick tree, the horseradish tree, or the miracle tree. Moringa is a highly nutritious plant that is packed with vitamins, minerals, and antioxidants. It has been used for centuries in traditional medicine to treat a variety of health conditions.

Moringa is relatively easy to cultivate and is recommended for USDA Zones 9-11, or it can be grown as an annual crop in colder climates. It prefers full sun and well-drained soil. The trees will quickly grow to a height of 10-20 feet. To encourage leaf production and to make harvesting easier, keep the trees topped to force a more bushy habit. Moringa trees can be harvested for their leaves, flowers, seeds, or pods throughout the year.

Moringa leaves and flowers can be eaten fresh, cooked or dried. They can also be made into a powder or tea. The leaves have 7 times more vitamin C than oranges, 10 times more vitamin A than carrots, 17 times more calcium than milk, 9 times more protein than yoghurt, 15 times more potassium than bananas, and 25 times more iron than spinach, according to the National Institute of Nutrition in India (Gopalan C., B.V. Rama Sastri & S.C. Balasubramanian. 1981. Nutritive values of Indian foods. National Institute of Nutrition, Indian Council of Medical Research, Hyderabad, India).

The tender young pods can be eaten raw or cooked.

Moringa seeds can be eaten raw or roasted. They can also be pressed for oil that is high in oleic acid, a monounsaturated fatty acid.

Some of the benefits of using moringa include reduced blood sugar levels, lowered cholesterol levels and boosted immunity. It has also been shown to have anti-inflammatory properties.

Alpinia hainanensis

Alpinia hainanensis is a large, fast-growing species of ginger. At first glance, one might assume it is a shell ginger, but there are several key distinctions. 

This species grows about 6 feet tall and tolerates sun or shade. Flowers appear in spring at the top of all mature canes. The inflorescence is an arching cluster of a couple dozen flowers, opening in sequence. 

The floral buds are soft pink and open to reveal a reddish throat and large, bright yellow lip marked by red striations.

Pollinated flowers develop into round green fruits that develop over the summer. 

By late summer, the seedpods mature and turn bright orange. They keep good color throughout the winter. It is these orange fruits, and the seeds inside, that are grated and used as a cardamom substitute.

Alpinia hainensis multiplies by long rhizomes that spread out underground from each cane. 

This results in a fast-spreading plant with canes spaced a foot or more apart. The canes are evergreen and will live for several years.

The leaves are about 30 inches long, and glossy, with distinctive ruffled edges. The leaves and stems are highly fragrant when brushed against.

The native region of Alpinia hainanensis is south-east Asia. It is one of the hardiest of the Alpinias, surviving underground in USDA Zone 8, although flowering won't occur where the canes freeze back.

Propagation is normally by division of the rhizomes, but it is also easily grown from seed.

There is a horticultural cultivar sold under the name 'Pink Perfection'.

Senna mexicana var. chapmanii (Bahama senna)

Among all the species in the Cassia/Senna group, Senna mexicana is one of the most desirable to grow. It flowers nearly continuously throughout the year, providing plenty of color in the landscape. It also generally grows no more than 3 to 4 feet tall, making it easier to manage in small landscapes and butterfly gardens.

Yes, this is a great butterfly plant, serving as a larval food plant for the Cloudless Sulphur, Orange-barred Sulphur, and Sleepy Orange butterflies.

Senna mexicana is native to Central and South America, the Caribbean, and South Florida.
It is recommended for USDA Zones 9b - 11, but stays small enough to be container-grown anywhere.

It will grow in full sun to light shade. Although flowering is probably best in full sun, mine bloom well with only a couple of hours of late-afternoon sunlight.

The evergreen leaves are alternate and pinnate. Flowers are followed by flat, dry pods that turn brown when mature.

Established plants are drought-tolerant, and they are also salt-tolerant, making this a good choice for coastal plantings.

Propagation is usually by seed.

Rose apple (Syzygium jambos)

Syzygium jambos is a small tree or large shrub bearing delicious yellow fruits with the flavor of rosewater.
The yellow blooms are borne in clusters at the ends of the previous season's growth. In subtropical locations flowering usually occurs in spring. The flowers consist of numerous stamens and one stigma, and the trees are quite showy when in bloom.

The clusters of yellow fruits ripen 3 months after flowering. Individual fruits are about an inch in diameter. When fully ripe they will drop from the tree, but they can be picked once they have turned from green to solid yellow.

The fruits are hollow and usually contain 1 or 2 seeds. The flesh is slightly crunchy and somewhat dry, but with an amazing aroma and flavor reminiscent of rosewater. They are usually eaten fresh, but can also be made into jams, jellies, or syrup.

The seeds are dark brown, and have a rough, almost sandpaper texture.They are poly-embryonic and may produce 1 to 3 seedlings from each seed.

Syzygium jambos grows to about 20-30 feet tall, often with multiple trunks. Some specimens get much larger. Leaves are opposite, lanceolate, and about 8 inches long by 2 inches wide.

New growth is a coppery-red color, gradually turning dark green as the leaves harden off.

The bark on the trunk is gray and slightly furrowed.

This species is believed to be native to Southeast Asia, but is grown in tropical and subtropical climates around the world. It is recommended for USDA Zones 9b-11.

Propagation is generally by seed, but air-layers are also possible. Cuttings have a low success rate.

Syzygium jambos is commonly known as Rose Apple.

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!

Katuk (Sauropus androgynus)

Katuk is an edible leafy shrub that thrives in tropical or subtropical climates. It's botanically known as Sauropus androgynus.

Nearly all parts of the plant can be eaten raw or cooked. The leaflets are easily stripped from the petioles and added to salads, sandwiches, soups or stir-fries. Tender young shoots are usually steamed, and the flowers and fruits can be added to salads or vegetable dishes.

The leaves are very nutritious. Compared to spinach, katuk has 10x the protein, 20x the vitamin C, 6x the iron and 3x the calcium!

The pinnate leaves can reach up to 2 feet in length, and the overall plant height can be 6-7 feet or more if not kept cut back. The tall, thin stems seldom branch and easily fall over in wind or heavy rain. It's best to keep them cut back to 3-4 feet in height to form a more sturdy bush. The trimmed parts can be eaten.

Some cultivars show a silvery mottling on the leaflets that may be randomly scattered or in attractive patterns, depending on the individual plant.

Katuk prefers a little shade in hot climates, but will grow in full sun as long as the soil is kept moist. An evenly moist soil is also conducive to faster, more lush, growth.

The unusual flowers form on the underside of the leaves in the spring and fall. The fruits develop quickly after pollination.

Some cultivars may require cross-pollination with another cultivar in order to set fruit. Others appear to be self-fertile. The fruits are creamy-white, marble-sized balls that hang from the leaf on a short stem.

When fully mature, they split open to reveal up to 6 black angular seeds.

For propagation, the seeds should be sown immediately, and usually take at least 2-3 months to germinate.

Katuk is native to Borneo, and is recommended for USDA Zones 9b-11. Elsewhere, it can be container-grown and protected from the cold.

Sauropus androgynus is also sometimes known as Sweetleaf or Cinnamon leaf.

Tithonia diversifolia (Bolivian sunflower)

Bolivian sunflower is sometimes known as Mexican sunflower, but that common name also applies to another Tithonia species, so to be completely accurate, just call it Tithonia diversifolia! Some sources also list tree marigold as a common name.

This species grows fast and large, so give it plenty of space in the landscape. Plants can easily grow to 12 feet tall and wide in a single year.

The bright yellow, 6-inch diameter flowers can appear anytime there is active growth, but bloom production peaks in late summer and fall. There is a slight, pleasant fragrance if you put your nose right up to the flower. They need a full sun location for best flower production, but the plants will also tolerate some shade.
The leaves are large, hairy and deeply lobed. They can reach up to a foot in length.

Stems are rough and covered with prominent lenticels.

Stems often form aerial roots. If they bend over and touch the ground, they'll start a new plant.

The inside of the stem is filled with a lightweight, spongy xylem.

This quality makes the cut stems decompose quickly and is why Tithonia diversifolia is frequently used as a "chop and drop" plant; the chopped leaves and stems can be used as a nutrient-rich mulch or compost. In poor soils, the chopped leaves and stems can be used as an alternative to commercial N-P-K fertilizers. Inter-cropping with Tithonia has a positive effect on crop yields, provided you prevent it from taking over the other crops.

The base of the plant becomes trunk-like with age.

This species is native to Central America and Mexico, but has spread throughout tropical and subtropical regions world-wide. It is recommended for USDA Zones 9-11, but can be grown as a perennial in Zone 8.

The leaves are suitable fodder for cows and goats, and deer also love to browse on the nutrient-rich leaves.
Propagation is by seed or cuttings. The variety I grow is a sterile cultivar, so there's no worry about it spreading out of control.

An infusion of Tithonia diversifolia leaves has been used in some folk medicines as a treatment for a wide range of maladies, including diabetes, cholesterol, sore throat and measles. Lab studies indicate both positive and negative results. Another study shows promising results as an anti-inflammatory and analgesic. Still other studies have indicated a potential treatment for malaria and also use as a topical mosquito repellent.

Schefflera arboricola

Schefflera arboricola (shef-LEER-uh ar-bor-ih-KOLE-uh) is a widely-grown houseplant that is also a durable landscape plant in tropical and sub-tropical regions. It is sometimes known as dwarf schefflera or Hawaiian schefflera. The palmately-compound leaves are glossy and dark green, with a diameter of about 6-8 inches.

Stems are thick and sturdy. On lower portions of the plant they often send out aerial roots that thicken after reaching the soil to become prop roots.

Plants can grow up to 15 feet tall and wide, but are easily trimmed to any size or shape desired. In late summer there are greenish, almost inconspicuous flowers on the ends of the branches.

These develop into round berries that turn a showy orange-red in the fall, giving the plant great seasonal appeal.

Schefflera arboricola is native to Southeast Asia and is very drought-tolerant once established.
It is recommended for USDA Zones 9B to 11, in exposures ranging from full sun to deep shade,
and can be grown anywhere as a container plant or houseplant. This species is easily propagated by stem cuttings or seeds.
There are many different cultivars available including this one with variegated leaves.