Pronounced (mi-kro-bi-oh-ta  de-cus-sa-ta)
Fast facts:

• commonly known as 'Siberian Carpet Cypress'
• hardy zones 2-8
• has a dense and mounded habit that is suitable for a rock garden

Blue-green in tone, the foliage of this low growing cypress turns colors of copper and maroon as the season changes to fall and keeps that shade through winter. New growth in spring appears as bright green, and darkens in shade during summer. Maturing at 1' in height and 4-5' in width, it is a suitable choice for an easy ground cover, and grows best in part sun with moist and well-draining soil. Is adaptable to poorer soil and different sun conditions, but may not reach its maximum potential. Fairly tolerant of pests and diseases and can be propagated by rooted stem cuttings. Will flower as well as fruit, but are largely inconspicuous among the heavy foliage. 

Pronounced: (cal-uh-thee-ah mah-coy-ahn-uh)
Fast facts:

• commonly known as 'peacock plant' or 'cathedral windows'
• a flowering tropical evergreen low shrub that is native to Brazil
• non-toxic to cats and dogs
• member of the family 'marantaceae' of which prayer plants are also a member, though in a different genus (maranta)

A revered genus, Calathea are truly a crowd pleaser that will not fail to impress with their showy foliage. The peacock plant, as well as other members of this genus, love high humidity environments and its important to be mindful of not placing them directly in front of heating or air conditioning vents. They will not appreciate the dry air! Small ways to increase humidity are by placing bowls of water near plants, grouping plants together, or setting plants on a tray of water filled with pebbles so that water is underneath plants, but not touching the pots. Medium-to-low lighting conditions are best, and the soil would like to be moist to touch, but not soggy. To achieve this, it can be helpful to plant into a medium with proportional amounts of peat moss and perlite. Fertilizing these plants on alternating weeks during the growing season will aid in healthy growth. Browning at tips is somewhat common in a home environment, and is usually due to a lack of humidity, or fluoride present in the water. In happy conditions, the peacock plant will reward you with blooms of small purple flowers!

Pronounced (schef-lera el-e-gan-tiss-i-ma)
Fast facts:

• Schefflera genus is comprised of tropical evergreen shrubs and small trees and known colloquially as 'umbrella trees'
• Schefflera elegantissima has also been categorized as 'Plerandra elegantissima' or 'Dizygotheca elegantissima', and it seems all genus names may be used interchangeably
• Common name is 'false aralia' or 'spider aralia'
• Native to New Caledonia and hardy zones 10-12

With eye-catching foliage, Schefflera elegantissima has easily become a shop favorite. Though there are no cultivars or varieties of this species rather, foliage will differ depending on maturity of the plant. Juvenile plants will have more textured leaves while adult specimen with have deeper lobes, a mature specimen is pictured above. In your home, false aralia's will prefer bright and indirect light, and prefer to have some air circulation, as well as good drainage in their planting mediums. It likes to be moist but not soggy, so a blend of perlite and peat moss can make a good baseline for planting, ensuring humidity will also help to ensure a happy houseplant. Leaf drop will occur with these plants if they are not receiving frequent enough waterings, so be sure the soil does not dry too much in between waterings. These plants are not pest tolerant, and it is important to check in with them frequently, especially in winter, to catch an infestation early. Feeding needs are on the lighter side, and the false aralia can be fed with a gentle fertilizer 1-3 times during the planting season. Though slow growing, these houseplants will reach 5-8 feet in height with maturity. 

​