A few plants in our shop don't fit a genus guide of their own. Here's the short version on each.
Snail vine – Cochliasanthus caracalla (Vigna caracalla)
Say it: kok-lee-ah-SAN-thus. A tropical bean from South and Central America, famous for lavender-purple flowers coiled like a snail shell and scented like hyacinth. A fast climber that covers a trellis in a season. Perennial in zones 9–11, an annual elsewhere. Full sun, regular water, rich soil. Seed: soak overnight, sow after frost, germination in 1–3 weeks. Snail vine seeds
Sarcostemma viminale (Cynanchum viminale)
Say it: sar-koh-STEM-uh. A leafless milkweed relative from Africa, Asia and Australia, with pencil-thick green stems that trail and scramble for yards, and clusters of small cream star flowers. Tough and fast; full sun, little water, keep above about 40°F. Sap is irritating. Rooted plant
Lenophyllum guttatum 'Variegata'
Say it: len-oh-FILL-um. A small Mexican relative of Sedum with fleshy, spotted leaves splashed cream and pink in this variegated form, and sprays of yellow flowers. Easy; bright light, water when dry, above about 35°F. Leaves root readily. Plant
Silver squill – Ledebouria socialis
Say it: led-eh-BOR-ee-uh. A South African bulb that grows above the soil in purple clusters, with silver-spotted leaves and small green-and-white flowers in spring. Nearly indestructible as a houseplant: bright light, water when dry, above about 40°F. Divides easily. Bulb cluster
Espostoa hybrid
Say it: es-pos-TOH-uh. Peruvian “old man” cacti wrapped in long white hair, forming columns 6–10 feet tall with age. Full sun, regular summer water, dry in winter, above about 30°F. Slow to moderate. Plant
Cylindropuntia hystrix
Say it: sil-in-droh-PUN-tee-uh HISS-trix. A cholla from Cuba, critically endangered in the wild, with slender branching stems and dense spines. Slow for a cholla. Full sun, sparing water, protect from frost. Cuttings root easily after drying. Plant and cuttings