Paint Index

I react to touch.

My leaves look like rocks.

These are leaves!

flowering stones

No one would fault you for mistaking these petite succulents for a pile of pebbles. Also called lithops, the plant is known for its uniquely marked gray, brown, or rust-color leaves, which grow in a rounded, pebble-like shape. Plant it in well-draining soil in a sunny spot (indoors or out), and water sparingly only when it flowers, which is usually in fall.

I change color.

confederate rose

Despite its name, this flower isn’t a rose at all but a hardy hibiscus. Growing as tall as 15 feet, it boasts blooms that start white but morph to pink in as little as 12 hours. Although the flowers die after they darken in color, you’ll often see them in multiple shades at once, since they start blooming at different times. The flowers have hardly any sun or water preferences and easily grow from seeds.

sensitive plant

Brush your fingers against or blow on this annual and you’ll see how it earned its name. The plant’s delicate fernlike leaves fold inward when touched, shaken, or moved in any way. Give them about an hour and they’ll spring back open. To keep the plant healthy, place it in a sunny area, and water regularly. It grows puffy pink flowers in the summer.

I smell like root beer.

‘gingersnap’ iris

Take a whiff of this tall, bearded iris and you may not believe your nose. Its distinctive spicy-sweet fragrance is more typical of a soda shop than a garden. Known for its rich coloring as much as its signature scent, this perennial features bronze petals with reddish orange highlights. Plant the bulb in a sunny spot in late summer to early fall, and water well. It will bloom the following spring.

I snack on insects.

Please don’t eat me!

I’m bigger than a basketball.

pitcher plant

You’ve probably heard of the Venus flytrap, but what about the pitcher plant? Made up of purple- and red-tinged leaves curled into tubes, this perennial lures its prey by releasing a sweet nectar that actually traps and digests bugs, including flies and ants. Grow it in a pot that gets full sun, keeping it in standing water so the soil stays consistently wet.

smooth hydrangea

With its poufy, globe-shaped blooms, this is not your average hydrangea! In fact, its flower heads can grow up to 12 inches in diameter, bigger than any other hydrangea. Expect green blooms that fade to white as the growing season progresses. Cold-hardy and adaptable, it thrives in most locations, but prune it in late winter to keep it lush.

I grow superfast.

I bloom in the afternoon.

four o’clock

Pretty, short-lived blooms—they open in the late afternoon and die by the morning—are the signature of this sweetsmelling annual. You can find it in a variety of colors, including magenta, white, yellow, red, and striped versions. Sometimes you’ll see several different-color blooms on a single plant. Sow seeds in spring and you’ll have flowers from midsummer to the first frost.

hops

You don’t have to brew beer to appreciate this fast-growing vine, which can climb one foot a day before topping out at about 25 feet. Known for its vibrant foliage and yellowgreen cones (the key beer ingredient), this perennial does best in sun. Train it over a fence or trellis as a privacy screen—just make sure it’s well supported since the vines can become heavy as they mature.