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 blue evergreen hydrangea (Hydrangea febrifuga*)* is a beautiful shrub that can serve as an accent or hedge in your garden landscape. The plant attracts wildlife such as birds and butterflies. Its specific epithet is derived from the Latin words 'febris' and 'fugare 'which mean 'fever' and 'to expel,' as this plant is a widely known traditional medicine in Asia.

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.

Pigeon pea (Cajanus cajan) is a woody perennial shrub that will grow to 4 m tall. Flowers attract butterflies and bees. Edible seeds, seedpods, stems and shoots. A nitrogen-fixer, it improves the quality of the soil where it is planted. Grows in full sun with moist, well-drained soil. It is drought-tolerant and will grow in a variety of soil conditions.

Found in Central and South America and the Caribbean, yellow velvetleaf has been naturalized to various parts of South and Southeast Asia, where it has gone feral in several regions. It grows in the shallows of swamps and wetlands, and can sometimes be found invading rice fields as a weed. It is sometimes used as a planting in freshwater aquariums, but has been banned for sale in several regions.

Common buckwheat is a plant that grows abundantly and has many uses for both humans and insects. In the West, it is regarded as a necessary ingredient in the preparation of rice and pastries. Aside from humans, bees receive pollen and nectar from this plant's white flowers, which can be utilized to make honey.

Cycas tropophylla is a slow-growing, perennial cycad characterized by a stout, cylindrical trunk and a crown of stiff, pinnate leaves that emerge in a rosette arrangement. The leaves radiate graciously, reminiscent of a fern or palm, showcasing a primitive elegance. With its ability to withstand drought by storing water in its trunk, cycas tropophylla has adapted well to its arid natural habitat, signifying resilience. This species' ability to thrive in rocky soils and under direct sunlight speaks to its hardy nature, positioning it as a living remnant from ancient times.

Woolflowers is native to the Americas and Africa, where they are pollinated by bees, wasps, and sometimes hummingbirds. It has a long flowering season, and the flowers dry very well, making them excellent for water-free arrangements. Its species name, "spicata," means "spiked" in Latin.

Widgeongrass is an aquatic species that lives in fresh and brackish waters. Despite its given specific epithet, it cannot survive ocean levels of salinity. Widgeongrass is an important food source for waterfowl while fish commonly eat the drupes and help it spread its seeds.

African basil (Ocimum gratissimum) has an accurate name since it is a member of the basil family native to Africa, although you'll now find it in many tropical and subtropical climates as an introduced species. This aromatic herb is used in cooking to flavor foods. It is also grown commercially because it's widely used as an essential oil.

Pepper elder (Peperomia pellucida) is a perennial flowering plant that blooms all year. The entire pepper elder plant is edible and can be eaten raw or cooked.

Commonly grown as an ornamental plant in gardens, the wax mallow is native to Central America. It’s cultivated in sunny or shady areas to attract hummingbirds and butterflies. The showy and bright red flowers remain close and resemble a Turkish Turban, hence its other name, Turk’s Cap. The individual blooms generally last for about two days but contain enough nectar to attract birds.

Burford presents as a hardy shrub with small, deep green, ovate leaves that have a distinctive leathery texture. It boasts tiny, inconspicuous flowers followed by bright, ornamental berries. This plant thrives in well-drained soils, often found in understories or margins of forests, where it has adapted to flourish under dappled sunlight.

Royal poinciana (Delonix regia) is also known as the “peacock tree” or the “flamboyant tree.” It’s a Madagascar native and is known for its brilliant crimson or red-yellow flowers. It grows exceedingly fast, reaching its maximum height of around 12 m in a short amount of time.

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.

Java plum (Syzygium cumini) is a plant species native to Asia and Australia. Java plum grows in moist, riverine habitats. This species is valued for its fruit and timber. Its fruit is consumed by animals including jackals and fruit bats. The fruits, called Jambolan fruits, are edible, have a sweet and acidic flavor, and can be made into sauces and jams.

Oryza rufipogon is a perennial herb with elongated and spongy rhizomes, with ascending or deciduous geniculate stems (culms) up to 1.5 to 4 meters tall. The leaves have a smooth, glabrous sheath, with auricles, a membranous ligulus 1.2 to 1.7 cm long, a blade 20 to 40 cm long and 5 to 10 mm wide, with a scabrous surface.

With its self-supporting growth form, the Setaria helvola has simple, broad leaves with white flowers. It's widely known as a common weed that grows in lawns, sidewalks, and other places. It can grow from 20 cm to well over a meter. All of its leaf blades are hairless on the upper surfaces and can measure up to 30 cm long.

African blood lily (Scadoxus multiflorus) is a plant species native to Africa. African blood lily is also called the “African Blood Lily,” “Ball Lily,” “Low Lily,” “Monsoon Lily,” and “Powderpuff Lily.”

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.