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.

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.

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.

Mexican marigold (Tagetes minuta) has become naturalized around the world ever since Spanish colonization. It needs full sun to flourish, and planting it around your garden will resist deer, yet attract butterflies and hummingbirds for you. People with sensitive skin should avoid touching it as its irritant sap can cause contact dermatitis.

Graptopetalum mendoza is a small fleshy plant that spreads in clumps. Its pale green and tiny leaves grow in groups that eventually form into a circular pattern called a ‘rosette’. Its star-shaped flowers are attractive and white. It makes an excellent plant to grow in a rock garden.

Mexican fireplant is native to tropical America, but it has been naturalized in other tropical and subtropical regions in the world. *Euphorbia heterophylla* is a poisonous plant to humans and livestock. It contains a toxic milky sap which can cause strong skin irritation.

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.

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.

Nosegay tree (Plumeria alba) is a deciduous shrub native to Central America and the Caribbean. Although it is native to these regions, it has become most widely cultivated in southeast Asia. Nosegay tree is the national flower of Laos. In Laos, this species is a symbol of luck and called Dok Champa. Nosegay tree is often cultivated as an ornamental plant, especially in Cambodian pagodas.

Swollen fingergrass (Chloris barbata) is a common grass in tropical and subtropical regions including the Pacific islands. It spreads rapidly in disturbed land, overgrazed fields, and road verges and can grow in saline soils. Although it is not highly palatable, cattle will eat the young grass.

Purple rice (Portulaca gilliesii) is a flowering succulent that grows best in full sunlight and sandy soil. Purple rice is often cultivated and collected as an ornamental species. This species does not require regular watering. It grows natively in India and the Middle East.

Another name for floating Primrose Willow (Ludwigia peploides) is creeping water primrose. This secondary name is all too apt. That's because this aquatic species native to the Americas has invaded much of the world. Wherever this noxious weed goes, waterways get clogged. France has suffered from horrible ecological devastation because of it.

The chaste tree (Vitex agnus-castus) is a flowering shrub that thrives in subtropical regions. While it prefers full sun, it can grow with partial shade and tolerate temperatures as low as -23 ℃. The chaste tree has been cultivated in Europe dating back to Ancient Greece. Modern use focuses on creating essential oils from the leaves and fruits.

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.

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.

The honduras mahogany (Swietenia macrophylla) is a towering giant of a tree capable of stretching skyward up to 61 m! The height isn't the only great thing about this tree; it can also live to be 350 years old or even more. It is most famous for its stunning lumber, which has been harvested and loved since the 1500s.

Samurai orchid is an epiphytic orchid, naturally growing upon deciduous trees. It is prized for its enticing scent and attractive flowers, which are also alluring to butterflies. Samurai orchid is said to have been the first orchid grown as a houseplant in Japan and only samurai warriors were permitted to grow it – hence its common name.

The flame azalea is a shrub native to the Appalachian area of the United States. It has dark green foliage and blooms ranging from red and pink to orange and gold. The common name for the flame azalea is appropriate, as this shrub comes with several warnings. It carries a high flammability rating, and all parts of the plant are poisonous to humans.

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.

Pygmy date palm (Phoenix roebelenii) is a palm species native to China, Laos, and Vietnam. Pygmy date palm is commonly cultivated as an indoor houseplant. This plant requires direct sunlight for optimal growth. In nature, it grows alongside rivers.