Nicandra physaloides

The Shoo-fly Plant (Nicandra physaloides), also known as the Apple of Peru, is an annual plant native to Peru. It is the only species in the genus Nicandra. They are known for their property of repelling insects.

Plants grow to 1 metre tall and are vigorous with spreading branches and ovate, mid-green, toothed and waved leaves. The flowers are bell-shaped and 5 cm or more across, they are pale violet with white throats, and are produced from July to September. The flower will become lantern like towards the end of its time, it is a hardy annual that means it will last one season from seed to seed.

Kalmia (Mountain Laurel)

Kalmia is a genus of about 7 species of evergreen shrubs from 0.2-5 m tall, in the family Ericaceae. They are native to North America and Cuba.

Kalmia is named after the Finnish botanist Pehr Kalm, who collected it in eastern... more >>>

Veratrum

Veratrum is a genus of coarse highly poisonous perennial herbs of the Melanthiaceae family. In English they are usually known as the False hellebores. Members of Veratrum are known both in western herbalism and traditional Chinese medicine as... more >>>

Macrozamia

Macrozamia is a genus of 38-40 species of cycads, in the family Zamiaceae, endemic to Australia. The majority of the species occur in eastern Australia in southeast Queensland and New South Wales, with one species in the Macdonnell Ranges of... more >>>

Yushania

Yushania is a genus of bamboo always of the family Poaceae and now of the woody bamboo tribe Bambuseae and the supertribe Bambusodae which have both been experiencing many name changes. The species of Yushania are evergreen, spreading,... more >>>

Freesia

Freesia is a genus of 14-16 species of flowering plants in the family Iridaceae, native to Africa. Of the 14 species, 12 are native to Cape Province, South Africa, the remaining two to tropical Africa, one species extending north of the... more >>>