European crab apple (Malus sylvestris) is a plant species that can live to be one hundred years old. European crab apple is native to Europe and its latin name Malus sylvestris means forest apple. Caterpillars of the twin-spotted sphinx feed on the leaves of european crab apple. This species has been considered an important ancestor of the domestic apple.

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.

The common name, garden Catchfly, refers to the plant’s sticky stems, which may indeed catch small insects. These perennials were imported to the US from Europe for gardens, but have naturalized across the new continent and are listed as invasive in Alaska.

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.

Alfalfa (Medicago sativa) is a perennial flowering plant in the legume family of Fabaceae. The common name alfalfa is mainly used in North America. In the rest of the world, this crop is called "lucerne." This plant looks similar to clover due to its purple flowers.

Painted-leaf begonia (Begonia rex) is a flowering perennial native to tropical climates in Central America and South America. Painted-leaf begonia is cultivated inside as a houseplant in temperate climates and grown outside in cooler climates.

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*.

Butter-and-eggs (Linaria vulgaris) is a flowering toadflax species native to Europe and Central Asia. The plant gets its unusual nickname from the yellow color of its flowers. The butter-and-eggs is mildly toxic for livestock to consume. Because of the curved, semi-closed shape of its flowers, it needs strong pollinators like bumblebees.

Tree gloxinia (Kohleria amabilis var. bogotensis) is a flowering plant native to Honduras and Columbia that has become popular as an ornamental. It blooms exotic spotted flowers in spring and summer.

Hottentot fig (Carpobrotus edulis) is a ground-creeper native to South Africa. Hottentot fig is also sometimes called the highway ice plant, the pigface, and the sour fig. This species is pollinated by honey bees, carpenter bees, and beetles. Antelope and baboons are fond of eating hottentot fig flowers. This species is considered invasive in California and Australia. Hottentot fig has edible leaves and fruit, which can be made into a tart jam.

Cape leadwort is a flowering plant native to South Africa. Its Latin name, Plumbago auriculata, is derived from the word auriculata meaning "with ears," referring to the shape of its leaves. The leaves serve as food for the caterpillar of the Hummingbird hawk-moth. The plant's sticky sepals, on the other hand, can grab animals as small as a housefly.

Evergreen spindle(Euonymus japonicus) is a popular ornamental evergreen shrub with numerous cultivars. Due to its superb adaptability and decorative looks, evergreen spindle can be found in parks and gardens all over the world. Its flowers produce a lot of nectar, which makes this plant very attractive to bees.

Butterbur (Petasites hybridus) is native to the wetlands of Europe and northern Asia. It produces pale pink flower spikes in early spring before its enormous leaves begin to grow. These leaves were once used to wrap and store butter in warm weather. Though they no longer serve that purpose, the common name, "butterbur," has not fallen out of fashion.

Jerusalem thorn is a deciduous shrub native to the Mediterranean region. In the Bible, it is mentioned as the plant from which the crown of thorns was made that was placed on Jesus' head prior to his crucifixion. In the garden, it is often used as a hedge or border plant due to its thorny branches, which can help to deter animals and intruders. It is also a popular choice for xeriscaping, or landscaping in dry regions, as it is drought-tolerant and can thrive in poor soil conditions.

Catmint (Nepeta faassenii) is a flowering hybrid plant often found in conservatories and gardens. Catmint originates in the Netherlands where it was first cultivated. Catmint is valued for its pleasing aroma and drought tolerance.

Common asparagus fern is not a true fern but does resemble one. This perennial clumping herb gets its Latin name, *Asparagus setaceus*, from the Latin '*seta*', which means hair or hairy. The leaves of the common asparagus fern are often described as hairy or lacy. The flowers are greenish-white and bell-shaped.

Parlor palm (Chamaedorea elegans) is a palm tree native to Mexico and Guatemala which grows in rainforest environments. Parlor palm is widely cultivated as a houseplant and grows well in light soil out of direct sunlight.

An unusual plant, exploding cucumber is aptly named. When ripe, this plant shoots out a stream of liquid containing its seeds. Although it looks like a small cucumber, this plant is poisonous.

While the black locust may have a bad reputation in many areas of the US due to its opportunistic and rapid growth, there are benefits to this tree. The black locust is an important food source for honey bees and is a good choice for windbreaks since it grows so quickly (91 to 122 cm per year). Its wood also resists rot, so it is used in fenceposts. The plant is highly toxic, though, and should never be consumed.

Sea daffodil (Pancratium maritimum) is a bulbous perennial species native to the Canary Islands, the Mediterranean region, and the area surrounding the Black Sea. The sea daffodil grows on beaches and coastal sand dunes. This species is often cultivated as an ornamental plant and requires full sunlight and well-drained soil to grow well.