The ashoka is a rain-forest tree. Its original distribution was in the central areas of the Deccan plateau as well as the middle section of the Western Ghats in the western coastal zone of the Indian subcontinent. The ashoka is prized for its beautiful foliage and fragrant flowers. It is a handsome small erect evergreen tree with deep green leaves growing in dense clusters. Its flowering season is around winter to spring. The ashoka flowers come in heavy lush bunches. They are bright orange-yellow in color turning red before wilting. As a wild tree the ashoka is a vulnerable species. It is becoming rarer in its natural habitat but isolated wild ashoka trees are still to be found in the foothills of the central and eastern Himalayas in scattered locations of the northern plains of India as well as on the west coast of the subcontinent near Mumbai. There are a few varieties of the ashoka tree. One variety is larger and highly spreading. The columnar varieties are common in cultivation.

Chinese aconite is an award-winning flowering garden plant. Its flowers are similar to other species in the genus except for its late blooming time, which provides nectar for bees after other plants are no longer flowering. It is important to note that all parts of plants are poisonous and should always be kept away from young children.

Popular in South American gardens, chipilín is often grown for its bright flowers and edible leaves, and it’s considered an invasive plant in Hawaii and the continental United States. Take care and talk to a healthcare specialist before ingesting anything new.

Marlberry is a rare tree that is native to the Philippines. It is listed as vulnerable by the World Conservation Monitoring Center. The fruit and flowers of marlberry are used to flavor fish dishes.

Lipa tree is a robust, stinging nettle with heart-shaped leaves and saw-toothed edges. Its notorious for its painful sting, which is delivered through tiny hairs covering the plant. Thriving in forested, tropical climates, it grows into a tall shrub or tree, exhibiting clusters of small, greenish flowers that are essential for its reproduction.

Bauhinia racemosa commonly known as the Bidi leaf tree is a rare medicinal species of flowering shrub with religious significance. It is a small crooked tree with drooping branches that grows 3–5 metres (10–16 ft) tall and flowers between winter and spring. It is native to tropical Southeast Asia.

Japanese glorybower (Clerodendrum japonicum) is a flowering species native to Asia. Also known as the red glory blower and the bagflower. It is a perfect plant in freeze-free gardens which blooms throughout summer into fall. It attracts hummingbirds and butterflies as a pollinator.

Rose glory bower (Clerodendrum bungei) is an evergreen shrub that produces fragrant, rosy pink flowers. Rose glory bower forms colonies that can become invasive. The hardy roots of this species can survive freezing temperatures. This species grows best in full sunlight or partial shade.