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.
Pseudopanax crassifolius
Lancewood
A New Zealand tree whose young plants are living sculptures of long, rigid, saw-edged leaves pointing…
- Full sun, Partial shade
- 8–12 m (26–39 ft)
- H4 · Zone 8
Tulipa ‘Queen of Night’
Tulip ‘Queen of Night’
A tall single late tulip with glossy, deep maroon-black flowers in late spring, stunning with pale…
- Full sun
- 50–60 cm (20–24 in)
- H6 · Zone 6
Hedychium coccineum
Red ginger lily
A hardy ginger lily with narrow grey-green leaves and fragrant spikes of scarlet to coral flowers…
- Full sun, Partial shade
- 1.5–2.5 m (5–8 ft)
- H3 · Zone 9
Trachycarpus wagnerianus
Miniature Chusan palm
A compact, wind-resistant windmill palm with small, stiff, neatly pleated fan leaves.
- Full sun, Partial shade
- 4–8 m (13–26 ft)
- H5 · Zone 7
Musa velutina
Pink banana
A compact banana that quickly produces upright pink flower bracts and velvety pink fruits, even in…
- Full sun, Partial shade
- 1.5–2.5 m (5–8 ft)
- H1b · Zone 12
Musa acuminata
Banana
The wild parent of most edible bananas: fast, lush, paddle-leaved and fully tender, for tropical gardens…
- Full sun, Partial shade
- 2.5–4 m (8–13 ft)
- H1b · Zone 12
