An important subsistence crop, pearl millet is hardy and drought-tolerant. Also known as Cenchrus americanus, it grows well near deserts where the rainfall is low. It has been cultivated in the United States since the 1850s and there are records of this important crop being grown since 2000 B.C.

The bottle tree can reach up to 8 m tall and is a succulent tree. It has sharp spines like a cactus, drops all its leaves when it's the flowering season, and contains a sap so toxic that hunters in its native Africa traditionally used it to make poison arrows. Additionally, the trunk acts as a water store for the plant.

Argemone mexicana has been naturalized in many parts of the world. It is extremely tolerant of drought and poor soil, but is poisonous to grazing animals. Its seed pods secrete a pale yellow latex when cut open. In India, the mexican prickly poppy is used in the Holika Dahan festival, in which adults and children worship by offering flowers.

The milky white flowers of the red spikethorn (Gymnosporia senegalensis) grow at intervals along its red branches. Despite its unpleasant spines, it is an important food source for African animals, with monkeys, rhinos, birds and even larval butterflies depending on its fruit, bark and leaves.

The balsam tree is usually found in hot, dry areas like savanna woodlands or dry river valleys. This tree is an important food source for animals and has been used traditionally by indigenous peoples in South Africa, the timber is good for construction, and the twigs make decent toothbrushes.

Watermelon (Citrullus lanatus) is a flowering plant with a vine-like appearance native to Western Africa. Watermelon bears fruit that are widely cultivated and consumed across the world. Watermelon grow in tropical and temperate climates and requires warmth to grow. There are 1000 varieties around the world.

Vlei lily is a flowering bulb plant displaying striking, funnel-shaped blooms atop slender, leafless stems. Its petals often showcase a vibrant pink hue with delicate ruffling, attracting pollinators in its native habitat. This perennial thrives in well-drained soil, symbolizing its resilience and ability to adapt to rock-strewn terrain or sloping landscapes.

Tree tobacco (Nicotiana glauca) is a wild tobacco species native to South America. On other continents, tree tobacco is considered an invasive species. All parts of this plant are poisonous.

Desert rose is widely cultivated as a houseplant or as bonsai for its beautiful flowers. As a succulent plant originating from the Sahara and tropical Africa and Arabia, it requires a minimum temperature of 10 ℃ to survive. Its sap was used to poisoning arrows in Africa.

Bay biscayne creeping oxeye (Sphagneticola trilobata) is a perennial ground cover that will grow to 25 cm tall. Native to Mexico, it is a member of the daisy family and produces sunflower-like blossoms that bloom throughout the year. Thrives in full sun and spreads rapidly. Considered invasive in Pacific coastal regions. Commonly found growing as a weed along roadsides, canals and streams. Cultivated as an ornamental ground cover.

Cowpea (Vigna unguiculata) is an annual grain legume that is an important crop in many regions. The plant has been used as forage for animals and for cow feed. It can be short and bushy or grow as a long vine up to 2 m tall. The edible seeds and seed pods are very small and kidney-shaped.

Egyptian riverhemp is a fast-growing shrub popular both for foraging and for encouraging plant growth. Because egyptian riverhemp is nitrogen-fixing, it can provide nitrogen to neighboring crops, helping farmers increase their yield. Elsewhere, it has been used to help reclaim soil that has become too saline for crop growth.

Moringa (Moringa oleifera) is a fast-growing, deciduous tree that can reach impressive heights. In its native country of India, the moringa is popularly cultivated and harvested for its fruit and leaves. These components of the tree are then used as a source of food and oil extracted from the tree can be incorporated into cosmetics.

Peanut (Arachis hypogaea) is an annual that can grow from 46 to 61 cm tall. It is a legume crop grown mostly for its edible seeds. Golden yellow flowers bloom in spring and seed begins to develop after flowers fade. The peanut pods grow underground. Cultivated and harvested peanuts and peanut oil are used in a variety of products.

It is a deciduous tree usually growing to 16 m tall with dark brown bark and a high wide-crowned canopy of shiny compound leaves. In favoured wetter locations the trees are typically about 18–19 m tall. The leaves appear at the time of the flowers or shortly afterwards. They are alternate deep green imparipinnate with 11-19 subopposite to alternate leaflets the leaflets 2.5–7 cm long and 2–4.5 cm broad. It produces an abundance of scented orange-yellow flowers in panicles 10–20 cm long; flowering is in the spring. In southern Africa this is usually just at the end of the dry season often about mid-fall. The pod is 2–3 cm diameter surrounded by a circular wing 8–12 cm diameter reminiscent of a brown fried egg and containing a single seed. This brown papery and spiky seed pod stays on long after the leaves have fallen. In poorly drained locations the tree can still grow but it becomes more open in shape with leaves on the end of long branches - a 'stag-headed' appearance.

Australian cowplant (Gymnema sylvestre) typically grows in tropical forests, which explains its Latin name, 'sylvestre', which means 'of the forest'. Australian cowplant is sometimes grown in home gardens and thrives in well-drained nutrient-rich soils.

Solanum lichtensteinii is a resilient shrub native to the savannas and rocky terrains of southern Africa. It flourishes under full sun, adapting to dry conditions with its thick, spiny leaves that limit water loss. The purple-tinged flowers and yellow-orange berries of solanum lichtensteinii attract various pollinators and are visually distinctive amongst the sparse vegetation of its habitat.

Cleome foliosa is distinguished by its lush, green foliage and the delicate appearance of its flowers with long, spindly stamens, creating a spider-like silhouette. Thriving in well-drained soils and sunny locations, this plant exhibits an affinity for warm climates. Its growth form is typically upright, with leaves arranged in a unique palmate fashion, adding a textural element to gardens or as a wildflower in its native habitat.

Baobab (Adansonia digitata) is indigenous to Africa, Australia, Madagascar, and the Arabian Peninsula. It thrives in areas that are dry and hot. It lives longer than virtually all other living things, and there are specimens alive today that are 3,000 years old or more. It has a large, water-filled trunk that is 28 m or more in circumference.

The bashful plant forms dense, hostile thickets in damp areas. It tends to take over river and lake shorelines and also regularly invades rice paddies. As a result, bashful plant is considered one of the top 100 most invasive species in the world.