The focal point of a dieffenbachia is the beautiful look and patterns of the foliage, which are often variegated. This plant has showy white blooms, but only flowers in perfect conditions. Use caution, because the dieffenbachia is poisonous; if the sap is ingested it can cause muteness for up to two weeks by numbing the throat and vocal cords.

The heart of jesus is a poisonous leafy plant. Its paper-thin, heart-shaped leaves lend the plant its common nickname, along with names like "angel wings" and "elephant ear." Though native to South America, its primary hub of cultivation is now around Lake Placid, Florida, where it has become a popular centerpiece for an annual festival.

A flame violet (Episcia cupreata) plant is widely cultivated and desired for its cheerful-looking flowers and variegated green and coppery leaves. The genus name, Episcia, comes from the Greek word that means ‘shaded’; referring to its usual habitat. This plant crawls and trails and is ideal for a hanging basket, container, and ground cover.

The pepper are commonly used for cooking in places such as the Southern U.S. and Central America. Most are moderately spicy, though because there are so many variants, the spice level can vary dramatically. Cayenne powder is also a popular seasoning product made from pepper plants.

The artillery plant is often utilized as a groundcover or an ornamental in many landscapes. It's commonly named the "artillery plant" because the males generally produce pollen in an explosive way. It grows best in a humid environment in partial shade or indirect sunlight. It's a particularly popular plant in indoor rock gardens.

Four o'clock flower (Mirabilis jalapa), also known as the marvel of Peru, is a perennial, herbaceous, bushy plant with fragrant, showy flowers, commonly cultivated for ornamental purposes. During bloom time, its flowers are closed most of the day; they open between four and eight o'clock, hence the common name four o'clock flower.

The common lantana is a flowering plant that grows best in tropical environments. It spread outside the Americas when the Dutch brought it to Europe. The plant is generally regarded as an unwanted weed that reduces biodiversity. Additionally, it is toxic to livestock and harms the output of farmland.

Cassava (Manihot esculenta) comes from South America but has become a major source of carbohydrates for many peoples around the world. This is especially true in low-income areas since it is cheap to grow. Only when properly cooked the starchy root of it is edible. The rest of the plant is poisonous if eaten. Cassava's natural starches are also useful in laundry products, and it is under investigation as a source of biofuel as well.

Golden trumpet (Allamanda cathartica) is a plant species native to Brazil. Golden trumpet is mentioned in Flora Brasiliensis. It is the official flower of Canovanas, Puerto Rico. If this plant is not pruned, it can grow to a height of 6 m.

One look at the blooms on a sunset bells plant, and you'll understand why it earned its name. Colors of flowers are a red and yellow combination, with the yellow interior flower lasting only a few days, while the red outer section (calyces) lasts much longer. The leaves are large and dark-colored, with tinges of purple and add to the beauty of this Chrysothemis pulchella.

The great bougainvillea is best known for its bright flowers. It has spread around the world as a garden plant. This plant thrives in warm environments. The great bougainvillea is a woody, climbing plant that winds its way around other plants as it grows. It also has thorns that aid in its climbing habit.

Portulaca oleracea, colloquially known as common purslane, is an annual succulent species with reddish stems and tiny yellow, five-petal flowers. It is used for culinary purposes in various parts of the world, most often raw, in salads. Common purslane is also a good companion plant for crops that thrive in moist soils.

Star of Bethlehem (Hippobroma longiflora) is a perennial, herbaceous plant whose blossoms look similar to jasmine flowers but are not fragrant. Produces a milky white sap that is highly toxic and irritating to the skin. Contact with the eyes can cause blindness. Avoid handling this plant with bare hands.

The brazilian joyweed is a flowering plant native to Central and South American forests and grown as an ornamental plant. Locals gather this plant for food and medicine as well. The brazilian joyweed is designated an environmental weed in some parts of Australia.

You can expect to see west indian pinkroot in ornamental gardens because of its showy flowers, which bloom in mid-summer, with red exteriors and cream-colored interiors. The plant is poisonous. This plant grows in the wild at locations such as wasteland, rice fields, and riverbanks at altitudes up to 600 meters.

The bitter melon, which originated in Africa, is cultivated worldwide for its edible fruit. The bitter fruits come in various shapes and sizes and are commonly used in Asian cuisine. The fruits are sliced, sprinkled with salt, and then steeped in water to decrease their bitterness. For centuries, this climbing vine has been utilized as an herbal medicine throughout Asia and Africa.

Papaya is a fruit-bearing plant that originates from Central America. The fruits are edible and sweet and juicy when ripe. An enzyme collected from the milky sap is used as a meat softener, which if ingested may be toxic. Keeping a papaya plant in your garden will welcome many birds to your landscape.

Common passionfruit (Passiflora edulis) is a vine species that produce fruit and is native to Brazil and Paraguay. It is useful for its edible fruit, which is sweet and eaten raw or juiced. Its flowers are showy too.

While most Morning Glories are vines, the pink morning glory (Ipomoea carnea) is a shrub native to much of the tropical Americas. In Brazil, it is known as "canudo-de-pito", which translates to "pipe cane", as its hollow tubes were used to make tobacco pipes. The stems can be used to make paper.

Tree-of-life (Mauritia flexuosa) is an extremely useful plant that is widely used by the indigenous people in the region between Orinoco and Amazonas as a basis for food, clothes, and shelter. The leaves and trunks of the tree are used to create shelters.