John&Jacq~s Garden

Articles on tropical plants, arranged by posting dates. For plant search, it’s easier to refer to the A-Z categories located at the top left sidebar.

Posted by Jacqueline on August 30th, 2011

Hemigraphis alternata (Red Flame Ivy, Red Ivy, Cemetary Plant, Metal-leaf) An attractive and colourful low-creeping herb that’s sure to draw one’s attention, especially mine! I do admit to being a sucker for just about any plant with variegated leaves! We were somewhat mesmerized when we first sighted those lovely ground-cover plants, less than two years [...]

Posted by Jacqueline on July 22nd, 2011

Yucca aloifolia (Spanish Bayonet, Aloe Yucca, Dagger Plant) How marvelous! We recently sighted a flowering Yucca aloifolia for the first time, on June 30th. Not from our own top-heavy potted plant which has been residing at our front yard since year 2005. Humph… I wonder whether it’s about time to bid it sayonara? Spotted this [...]

Posted by Jacqueline on July 17th, 2011

Licuala grandis (Vanuatu Fan Palm, Ruffled Fan Palm, Palas Payung) If you’re looking for a slender and exotic tropical fan palm to grace your garden or landscape, Licuala grandis will be well worth considering! An excellent small-sized palm tree that is perfect, both for container planting or grown on the ground, and ideal too for [...]

Posted by Jacqueline on July 1st, 2011

Pseuderanthemum reticulatum (Golden Pseuderanthemum, Yellow-vein Eranthemum, Golden Net-bush) These stunning sun-loving flowering shrubs, growing at the The Little Sisters of the Poor St. Francis Xavier Home for the Elderly in Cheras K.L., certainly caught our eyes. Golden Pseuderanthemum simply adores the sun. From afar, we saw smiling and sunny faces, reverberating in the sunlight that [...]

Posted by Jacqueline on June 28th, 2011

Alternanthera ficoidea (Joseph’s Coat, Parrot Leaf, Calico Plant, Sanguinarea) Simply gorgeous! A non-stop riot of fall colours greeting us each day ever since we planted these dazzling Alternanthera ficoidea plants as ground covers in our garden beds last March! Being in tropical Malaysia, we do not have the joy of watching the autumnal turning of [...]

Posted by Jacqueline on June 23rd, 2011

Agave desmettiana (Smooth Agave, Dwarf Century Plant, Smooth Century Plant) Wouldn’t you be captivated with this 3-meter tall flowering beauty if you chance upon it? We were very impressed, indeed! And, captured a lot of pictures too as we monitored its blooming progressively for several months. A pity though that Agave desmettiana is monocarpic and [...]

Posted by Jacqueline on June 14th, 2011

Ricinus communis (Castor Bean Plant, Castor Oil Plant) Cruising our neighbourhood one afternoon late last year, we came across this lovely shrub flourishing along the roadside and were hypnotized momentarily by its eye-catching foliage. The Castor Bean Plant was adorned with beautiful leaves that were uniquely coloured. A purplish-maroon shade that is rarely seen in [...]

Posted by Jacqueline on May 23rd, 2011

Bismarckia nobilis (Bismarck Palm, Bismark Palm) is a striking and spectacular palm that has become an absolute craze among landscapers in tropical and sub-tropical regions this last two decades. Majestic and domineering in appearance, the all-time favourite Bismarck Palm will brighten any landscape or scenery, be it day or night, with its brilliant silvery blue [...]