Asian Rice is one of the world's most important staple crops. This annual grass, which was first domesticated in China centuries ago, accounts for a significant portion of the diet of half of the world's population. Aside from food, this plant is grown for use in wines, medicines, and cosmetics. It is also used in crafts and religious ceremonies worldwide.

The golden pothos (Epipremnum aureum) is a popular houseplant that is commonly seen in Australia, Asia, and the West Indies. It goes by many nicknames, including "devil's ivy", because it is so hard to kill and can even grow in low light conditions. Golden pothos has poisonous sap, so it should be kept away from pets and children.

False christmas cactus gets its name from its flowering season; producing red purple pink or white flowers from fall to winter. Native to a small coastal strip on the east of Brazil this cactus prefers the shade and humidity of jungle conditions. In the wild hummingbirds pollinate the flowers.

A gorgeous houseplant, the rattlesnake plant, is the easiest of the Goeppertia lancifolia to grow. Known for its stunning tropical foliage, this plant is marked by various shades of green with wavy stripes. This plant prefers warmth, bright indirect light, and consistently moist but not soggy soil.

Cardboard palm (Zamia furfuracea) is a tropical shrub that is not a true palm, but a cycad. Cardboard palm is an ancient plant that lived during the age of the dinosaur. It is often planted as a houseplant and needs moderate to bright light. The entire plant is poisonous, but the seeds are deadly and should be kept away from pets.

Guava (*Psidium guajava*) is a fruit-producing evergreen shrub that grows natively in the Caribbean region and South America. Guava attracts the honey bee and other insects, and guava fruit is edible. Additionally, guava wood is used for smoking meat.

Madagascar palm (Pachypodium geayi) is a bottle-shaped tree often cultivated for decorative purposes. Madagascar palm is considered hardy and tolerates very dry, hot environments. This species originates from southwest Madagascar and grows in various environments in the wild, including limestone, sandy soils, and dry forests. This species has a trunk that facilitates water storage, similar to the body of a cactus.

Silver ribbon fern (Pteris parkeri) is a species of fern that is native to many parts of eastern Asia. It is often cultivated as a house plant for its foliage. The plant produces many long leaves that are silvery in color and have a crinkly or ribbon-like appearance. As with most ferns, it grows best in partial shade and strong, but indirect light.

The garden croton is a showy tropical display that does well indoors or in warm climates. Known for its attractive foliage, this plant can have both color and structural variations in its leaves. Leaf colors can include orange, yellow, scarlet, white, and green, and many times all are present on one plant.

Dwarf umbrella tree (*Schefflera arboricola*) is an evergreen, multi-stemmed shrub native to China. It is commonly grown as a houseplant or a garden plant in milder climates for its decorative palmate compound leaves. The leaves contain calcium oxalates, which can damage internal organs when ingested. It shouldn't be confused with the Australian umbrella tree, *Schefflera actinophylla*.

Flax (Linum usitatissimum) is a slender straight and narrow-leafed annual that produces sky-blue flowers in summer. After blooming each flower produces a seed pod of 4 to 10 seeds. Flax is cultivated for its fiber linseed oil and edible seeds. It prefers full sun and cool weather and will grow from 61 to 91 cm tall.

Giant taro is native to Southeast Asian rainforests. It was first cultivated in the Philippines. Its massive leaves resemble elephant ears. If cooked for a long time, these leaves are edible; however, the sap from the plant might hurt the skin. This plant is toxic to dogs, cats, and horses.

The peacock plant sports large, thin leaves in varied shades of green. The plant thrives in warm, humid environments such as its native Brazil. It is a classic example of a "prayer plant," meaning its leaves appear to close up at night and open again in the morning.

Grape Leaf Begonia can easily be cultivated and has decorative flowers. These flowers are the main reason why people cultivate this plant. It has succulent stems which enables it to store water for drought. It is distinct for having glossy features and symmetrical leaves.

Chinese plum-yews are shrubs that can grow into smaller trees. Its leaves are glossy and have a similar appearance to palm trees. Their fruits look like olives or plums with almond-shaped seeds. It is a dioecious species which means a male and a female variety of this plant can grow separately but needs both to pollinate.

Watersprite (Ceratopteris thalictroides) is a species of aquatic fern that grows in swamps, marshes, and man-made ponds. It has a widespread, pantropical range in the wild and is also often used as an aquarium plant. It prefers very wet, high-PH soil and can grow prolifically in these conditions.

The egyptian lotus (Nymphaea nouchali var. caerulea) is an aquatic plant native to Africa. Showy blue flowers bloom in summer amid wide, floating leaves. The roots anchor into the mud of the pond floor below. They can also be planted in backyard ponds or wide pots. Many species of fish appreciate the shade these floating plants provide.

Flossflower (Ageratum houstonianum) is a low-growing annual that attracts butterflies bees and birds. Fragrant aster-like flowers blooming from spring to fall are usually vibrant blue but can also be white or pink. This plant prefers full sun to partial shade is resistant to deer and rabbits and makes a colorful addition to any garden. 15 to 30 cm in height.

Thread agave (Agave filifera) is a flowering agave species indigenous to Mexico. Thread agave is valued in ornamental outdoor gardens where it can be grown in containers. This species grows optimally with minimal handling by gardeners.

Holy basil (Ocimum tenuiflorum) is a fragrant herb that’s indigenous to India. It’s a popular ingredient in Thai cuisine. When used for this purpose, it’s called Thai holy basil. Adherents of the Vaishnava strain of Hinduism use it in religious ceremonies. Holistic practitioners worldwide place immense value on the aromatic essential oil derived from the plant.