Azalea — Azaleas are flowering shrubs making up part of the genus Rhododendron. Originally azaleas were classed as a different genus of plant, but now they are recognised as two of the eight sub-genera of rhododendrons – subgenus Pentanthera (deciduous), and subgenus Titsushi (evergreen). One major difference between azaleas and the rest of the rhododendron family is their size. Another …

Aster — Aster is a genus of flowering plants in the family Asteraceae. The genus once contained nearly 600 species in Eurasia and North America, but after morphologic and molecular research on the genus during the 1990s, it was decided that the North American species are better treated in a series of other genera. After this split there are roughly …

Asparagus — Asparagus officinalis is a flowering plant species in the genus Asparagus from which the popular vegetable known as asparagus is obtained. It is native to most of Europe, northern Africa and western Asia. It is now also widely cultivated as a vegetable crop. Asparagus is a herbaceous perennial plant growing to 100-150 cm tall, with stout stems with …

Arum — Arum is a genus of about 25 species of flowering plants in the family Araceae, native to Europe, northern Africa, and western Asia, with the highest species diversity in the Mediterranean region. They are rhizomatous, herbaceous perennial plants growing to 20-60 cm tall, with saggitate (arrowhead-shaped) leaves 10-55 cm long. The flowers are produced in a spadix, surrounded …

Aphelandra — Aphelandra, known as the zebra plant, Aphelandra squarrosa, is an evergreen shrub belonging to the ACANTHUS family, Acanthaceae. It has shiny, large, dark-green leaves with creamy-white stripes along the leaf veins. Yellow flowers grow at the top of the main stem. Aphelandra is a genus of about 170 species of flowering plants in the family Acanthaceae, native to …

Anemone — Anemone is a genus of about 120 species of flowering plants in the buttercup family Ranunculaceae in the north and south temperate zones. They are closely related to Pasque flower (Pulsatilla) and Hepatica (Hepatica); some botanists include both of these genera within Anemone. The plants are perennial herbs with an underground rootstock, and radical, more or less deeply …

Amaryllis — Amaryllis is a monotypic (only one species) genus of plant also known as the Belladonna Lily or naked ladies. The single species, Amaryllis belladonna, is a native of South Africa, particularly the rocky southwest region near the Cape. It is often confused with the Hippeastrum, a flowering bulb commonly sold in the winter months for its propensity to …

Amaranth — Amaranthus, collectively known as amaranth or pigweed, is a cosmopolitan genus of herbs. Approximately 60 species are presently recognised, with inflorescences and foliage ranging from purple and red to gold. Members of this genus share many characteristics and uses with members of the closely related genus Celosia. Although several species are often considered weeds, people around the world …

Alyssum — Alyssum is a genus of about 100-170 species of flowering plants in the family Brassicaceae, native to Europe, Asia, and northern Africa, with the highest species diversity in the Mediterranean region. The genus comprises annual and perennial herbaceous plants or (rarely) small shrubs, growing to 10-100 cm tall, with oblong-oval leaves and yellow or white flowers (pink to …

Aloe — Aloë, is a genus containing about four hundred species of flowering succulent plants. The genus is native to Africa and is common in South Africa’s Cape Province and the mountains of tropical Africa, and neighbouring areas such as Madagascar, the Arabian peninsula and the islands off Africa. The APG II system (2003) placed the genus in the family …