time as the mother plant produces offsets, so plant in an area with room for naturalization.

Alocasia ‘Borneo’s Giant’ – Stunning. Huge. That pretty much sums up this giant Alocasia, often referred to as Elephant Ears. If your landscape can support the mature size of this plant, it will undoubtedly be noticed by visitors. Easily reaching 6 feet or more in its first year, a mature specimen exceeds heights of 10-12 feet with individual leaves as big as 6 feet. The heart-shaped leaves are held firmly upright by the hefty stems making the size more manageable in the landscape. A hard winter could potentially kill ‘Borneo’s Giant,’ so protect it during the first winter of establishment by cutting back the foliage after the first freeze and mulching for the winter.

Cyathea cooperi ‘Australian Tree Fern’ – I fell in love with this plant when I saw the enormous specimens native to Hawaii. I had one for several years in a container, wishing I had the courage to attempt growing it in the ground. After overcoming my fear of losing it to winter frost, it has been in the ground for two years now and doing well. I pile mulch around the trunk and keep it well watered through the winter. The fronds get damaged by freezes but they grow back quickly. Tree ferns benefit greatly from fertilizer for acid-loving plants, but the fronds are unforgiving if not watered often enough. As a trunk develops, water both the ground and the trunk.

Begonia ‘Dragon Wing’ – When you said you currently use begonias in your landscape, I’m assuming you’re referring to the common Wax Begonias. While Dragon Wing Begonias are most frequently sold as a hanging basket plant, you are missing a stellar performer if you do not use it in your landscape. I have seen Dragon Wings survive our mild winters, but I suggest using them as part of an annual bed where they can be replaced by fall color at the appropriate time .

Brunfelsia – More commonly known as ‘Yesterday, Today and Tomorrow’ because the fragrant flowers change colors from violet to lavender to white in a 3 day period. Compact varieties grow to 3-5 feet, and non-compact varieties usually range from 6-8 feet. Plant in rich soil and feed with slow release fertilizer, supplementing at least once each year with a water-soluble fertilizer for acid-loving plants. While mostly considered to be evergreen, it can be damaged by frost if not planted in a protected area. This plant is poisonous if ingested, so it may not be a good choice if you have

Coleus ‘Kong’ – The leaves on Kong Coleus will get 9 inches wide, and the plant itself reaches a height of about 2 feet. The bold colors and size of the foliage make it stand out in any shaded area. Of the four colors in the series, I prefer Rose because of the vibrant contrast of colors. If stems or leaves get damaged by wind or insects, simply cut off the damage, and enjoy the ensuing flush of new growth. Because coleus is grown for its foliage and texture, flowers should always be removed as soon as you see them for two reasons: 1) they are not particularly attractive, and 2) when the plant is putting all of its energy into flower and seed production, the foliage suffers in both size and color. The same rule applies to caladiums.

Ligularia ‘Gigantea’ – While I like other Ligularia cultivars, ‘Gigantea’ is my favorite. It is not spotted like some others, but the leaves get well over a foot wide and are so dark green and glossy that they hardly seem real. Each clump gets 2-3 feet tall and 3-4 feet wide and is evergreen in our area. While it does produce a yellow daisy-like flower in the fall, I personally find the flowers unattractive. This plant is grown for its foliage, and I can virtually guarantee it will be one of your favorites, too. While it is tolerant of some direct sun, it needs to be shaded in the afternoon.

Oxalis ‘Charmed’ – This is not like the weed oxalis you do everything to keep out of your landscape, although they are related. The Charmed series is the best ornamental oxalis I ’ve seen. There are three colors in the series: Wine has purple foliage; Velvet has darker, nearly black foliage; and Jade has green leaves with a silver sheen to them. All have shamrock-shaped leaves and pink flowers in slightly different hues. This oxalis is a clumping perennial, reaching heights of 12-15 inches, and looks best planted in mass groupings.

Torenia ‘Summer Wave’ – This trailing variety of torenia beats other varieties in both flower size and vigor. There are four colors available in the series, all shades of pink, blue, purple or white. Summer Wave Torenia would make an excellent flowering groundcover for your filtered-light landscape because it is tough enough to handle our summer conditions and bloom all season. Consider torenia an annual although it is not uncommon for it to survive our winters or reseed itself.