Saussurea japonica (Saussurea japonica) is named after its habitat since Japonica is Latin for Japan. This member of the thistle family has attractive purple flowers that are pollinated by insects including bees.

Tall saw-wort (Saussurea amara) is a relatively unassuming plant that can be best seen when its purple flower tufts bloom during summer. The plant occupies many habitats, including river shores, steppes, forests, and sand dunes.

Saussurea is a genus of about 300 species of flowering plants in the thistle tribe within the daisy family, native to cool temperate and arctic regions of East Asia, Europe, and North America, with the highest diversity in alpine habitats in the Himalayas and East Asia. Common names include saw-wort and snow lotus, the latter used for a number of high altitude species in East Asia. They are perennial herbaceous plants, ranging in height from dwarf alpine species 5–10 cm tall, to tall thistle-like plants up to 3 m tall. The leaves are produced in a dense basal rosette, and then spirally up the flowering stem. The flowers form in a dense head of small capitula, often surrounded by dense white to purple woolly hairs; the individual florets are also white to purple. The wool is densest in the high altitude species, and aids in the thermoregulation of the flowers, minimising frost damage at night and also preventing ultraviolet light damage from the intense high-altitude sunlight. De Candolle named the genus after Horace-Bénédict de Saussure (1740-1799) and Nicolas-Théodore de Saussure (1767–1845).

Brahma kamal is a high-altitude perennial native to the Himalayan region, thriving in the challenging cold, rocky environment. It has a distinctive crown of purple-pink bracts enveloping its heads, mimicking petals. Bell-shaped and heavily veiled by hair, these bracts protect its small, dome-shaped cluster of flowers from the extremes of its alpine home.

Saussurea grandifolia is a robust perennial. Smartly donning a rosette of large, deeply lobed leaves, it presents a striking figure. Atop sturdy stems, regal, purple flower heads announce its presence in alpine meadows. These inflorescences, key for attracting pollinators, hint at a resilience that allows saussurea grandifolia to thrive in high-altitude, harsh environments.

Saussurea gracilis is a resilient alpine herbaceous perennial known for its slender, erect stems and clusters of small, fluffy purple flowers. Adapted to cold, rocky environments, its dense tufts of narrow leaves provide insulation against harsh weather, while its deep roots anchor it in sparse soils. This plant flourishes in high-altitude conditions where its muted tones blend with the rugged landscape.

Dracaena are popular house plants that are easy to grow. They can tolerate low-light conditions and require little watering. Their leaves range from variegated to dark green. Their characteristic traits include woody stems that grow slowly but offer a striking appearance for small spaces such as apartments or offices.

Fig trees have been cultivated in many regions for their fruits, particularly the common fig, F. carica. Most of the species have edible fruits, although the common fig is the only one of commercial value. Fig trees are also important food sources for wildlife in the tropics, including monkeys, bats, and insects.

Brambles are members of the rose family, and there are hundreds of different types to be found throughout the European countryside. They have been culturally significant for centuries; Christian folklore stories hold that when the devil was thrown from heaven, he landed on a bramble bush. Their vigorous growth habit can tangle into native plants and take over.

The popular tree family known as maples change the color of their leaves in the fall. Many cultural traditions encourage people to watch the colors change, such as momijigari in Japan. Maples popular options for bonsai art. Alternately, their sap is used to create maple syrup.

Prunus is a genus of flowering fruit trees that includes almonds, cherries, plums, peaches, nectarines, and apricots. These are often known as "stone fruits" because their pits are large seeds or "stones." When prunus trees are damaged, they exhibit "gummosis," a condition in which the tree's gum (similar to sap) is secreted to the bark to help heal external wounds.

Nightshades is a large and diverse genus of plants, with more than 1500 different types worldwide. This genus incorporates both important staple food crops like tomato, potato, and eggplant, but also dangerous poisonous plants from the nightshade family. The name was coined by Pliny the Elder almost two thousand years ago.

Most species of roses are shrubs or climbing plants that have showy flowers and sharp thorns. They are commonly cultivated for cut flowers or as ornamental plants in gardens due to their attractive appearance, pleasant fragrance, and cultural significance in many countries. The rose hips (fruits) can also be used in jams and teas.

Oaks are among the world's longest-lived trees, sometimes growing for over 1,000 years! The oldest known oak tree is in the southern United States and is over 1,500 years old. Oaks produce an exceedingly popular type of wood which is used to make different products, from furniture and flooring to wine barrels and even cosmetic creams.