Fittonia albivenis (F. verschaffeltii) in a marvelous mosaic display
Fittonia albivenis (Mosaic Plant, Nerve Plant, Painted Net Leaf) No wonder this showy Fittonia species is aptly nicknamed Mosaic Plant! Its intricately-designed leaves with contrasting coloured veins will provide a marvelous mosaic display that will attract and captivate all season through! These beautiful ornamental foliage plants make great houseplants, especially if displayed on bathroom shelves [...]
Clivia miniata (Bush Lily) with catchy flower clusters
Clivia miniata (Bush Lily, Kaffir Lily, St John’s Lily) An attractive plant with clusters of brightly coloured trumpet-shaped flowers, standing tall above its elegant and symmetrically arranged foliage. It’s considered as the ‘Queen of Houseplants’ for its striking beauty, durability and reliability. Typical floral colour is a brilliant orange with yellowish throat that contrast fabulously [...]
Quisqualis indica (Rangoon Creeper), simply spectacular!
Quisqualis indica (Rangoon Creeper Vine, Drunken Sailor, Scarlet Ragoon, Chinese Honeysuckle) An extremely spectacular vine that just loves showing off throughout the year in our tropical heat! When in full bloom, this beauty will be dramatically covered with large trusses of tricolored flowers that are very showy and truly a traffic stopper. Similar to another [...]
Brighten up with colourful Cordyline terminalis (Ti-plant)
Cordyline terminalis (Ti Plant/Tree, Hawaiian Ti, Good Luck Plant/Tree) We’re definitely going to reintroduce Cordylines to our garden again. Gosh, we didn’t realize how gorgeous they can be until we saw this striking variegated pink/maroon beauty at Felda Residence Hot Springs recently! It sure would brighten up our plot, adding contrast and interest to our [...]
Hylocereus undatus (Red Pitaya, Dragonfruit), the uniquely flamboyant cactus!
Hylocereus undatus (Red Pitaya, Dragonfruit, Night Blooming Cereus, Belle of the Night) What a stunning beauty, most deserving to be named ‘Belle of the Night’. John and I felt blessed indeed to have enjoyed the rare appearance of two flowers one lovely night more than a year ago on the Hylocereus undatus that is planted [...]
Gouty stem of Jatropha podagrica (Buddha Belly Plant)
Jatropha podagrica (Gout Plant, Buddha Belly Plant, Bottleplant Shrub) Here is another unique and fascinating herbaceous perennial plant like the Adenium obesum (Desert Rose), that will develop an attractively swollen and knobby caudex as it ages.
Marvelous colors of Hibiscus rosa-sinensis (Tropical Hibiscus)
Hibiscus rosa-sinensis (Tropical Hibiscus, Chinese Hibiscus, China Rose, Shoe Flower) Hibiscus rosa-sinensis, the single form with the 5-petaled blood-red blooms, is Malaysia’s national flower. It is locally known as ‘Bunga Raya’ in the Malay language. Hence, it is no surprise that this spectacular ornamental shrub is popularly and abundantly grown in our country, especially along [...]
Cheerful Marigolds (Tagetes erecta, Tagetes patula)
Tagetes erecta, Tagetes patula (Marigold, African/American Marigold, French Marigold) Though we don’t quite fancy annuals, Marigold like Butter Daisy and Globe Amaranth are the few exceptions that we favor to adorn our tropical garden every once in a while with bright intense colors. Colorful, stunning and inexpensive too! In the tropics, Marigold is a year-round [...]
Chlorophytum laxum ‘Bichetii’ or is it Chlorophytum bichetii?
Chlorophytum laxum ‘Bichetii’ (Bichetii Grass, Siam Lily, False Lily Turf, Wheat Plant) – This lovely lime-green foliage plant is another of our potted garden babies. It goes by the cultivar name, ‘Bichetii’ or ‘Variegatum’ and is the commonest variegated form of Chlorophytum laxum in cultivation. Popularly grown in home gardens, this petite herb plant is [...]
Bright sunny flowers of Allamanda cathartica
Allamanda cathartica (Yellow Allamanda, Golden Trumpet, Buttercup Flower) Bright, sunny and cheerful! That’s how the showy trumpet-shaped flowers of Allamanda cathartica adorn its bush or vine, bountiful in terminal cymes and shining radiantly in rich yellow. An outstanding ornamental shrub that is ever-blooming, grows easily and requires minimal care.