Dig into the joy of a life outdoors
Find peace and purpose by reconnecting with nature, creativity and the joy of making things in your own patch of paradise.
Discover extraordinary, unusual, and beautiful plants from around the world — each with growing and care tips to help you cultivate these weird and wonderful species in your own space.
Hedychium gardnerianum
Kahili ginger
Tall, lush ginger lily with heavily scented spikes of lemon-yellow flowers and red stamens late in…
- Full sun, Partial shade
- 1.5–2.5 m (5–8 ft)
- H2 · Zone 10
Ensete ventricosum
Abyssinian banana
A fast-growing, single-stemmed ornamental banana with huge upright paddle leaves and a red midrib.
- Full sun, Partial shade
- 2.5–4 m (8–13 ft)
- H2 · Zone 10
Alocasia macrorrhizos
Giant taro
Giant upright elephant ears on stout stems, a tender aroid for summer patios and tropical gardens.
- Partial shade
- 1.5–2.5 m (5–8 ft)
- H1a · Zone 12
Tetrapanax papyrifer
Chinese rice-paper plant
A suckering shrub with huge felted, deeply lobed leaves that brings bold jungle drama to sheltered…
- Full sun, Partial shade
- 4–8 m (13–26 ft)
- H3 · Zone 9
Colocasia esculenta
Taro
The original elephant ears: huge heart-shaped leaves on long stalks for moist, sheltered, tropical-style planting.
- Full sun, Partial shade
- 1–1.5 m (3–5 ft)
- H1b · Zone 12
Roscoea purpurea
Purple roscoea
A hardy Himalayan ginger relative with leafy stems and exotic, orchid-like purple flowers in late summer.
- Partial shade
- 20–50 cm (8–20 in)
- H5 · Zone 7
