Costus woodsonii (Red Button Ginger) with exotic torpedo-shaped blooms

Costus woodsonii (Red Button Ginger, Scarlet Spiral Flag, Red Cane, Panamanian Candle Ginger, Dwarf French Kiss) This stunning and colourful plant that displays exotic and vibrant red torpedo-shaped inflorescences, rising above a sea of lush green foliage as if ready to be launched into space, is definitely an attention grabber and demands notice. No wonder [...]

Our tropical garden update for August 2011

Hmm… we thought that we’ll run out of garden news eventually since our garden plants were greatly reduced due to health problems (i.e. John’s suffering from lumbar spondylosis that impairs his gardening activities). But it appears there are still leftovers that aren’t willing to be categorized as run-of-the-mill as yet. Some plants just want to [...]

Alternanthera ficoidea (Parrot Leaf) in a non-stop riot of fall colours

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 [...]

Aglaonema cv. ‘Valentine’, an attractive pink Thai hybrid

Aglaonema cv. ‘Valentine’ (Thai Aglaonema, Chinese Evergreen) About 13 months ago, we received a 4-inch tiny pot of the most beautiful pink Thai Aglaonema we’ve ever seen! This wonderful gift came sweetened with a box of mouth-watering cheese cake too from Cheah of No-Frills Recipes in Ipoh in appreciation of blogging help/tips rendered by me. [...]

Impatiens walleriana: flowers/foliage in psychedelic colours

Impatiens walleriana (Impatiens, Busy Lizzy/Lizzie, Touch-me-not, Jewel Weed, Sultana) When mixed varieties are group-planted in garden borders, parks and the like, Impatiens will hold you spellbound with its carpet of psychedelic floral colours! It is one of the most popular and best known bedding plants worldwide for its profuse flowering year round and ease of [...]

Pyrostegia venusta, ablaze with radiant orange blossoms

Pyrostegia venusta (Flame Vine, Flaming Trumpet, Orange Trumpet Creeper, Golden Shower) With such brilliance in its flaming orange-coloured blossoms, it’s inevitable that Pyrostegia venusta has been reputed as one of the most spectacular flowering vines in cultivation. A vigorous and rambunctious climber with tendrils, Flame Vine will produce abundant clusters of brightly coloured trumpet-shaped flowers [...]

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 [...]

Gerbera jamesonii (Barberton Daisy), in an explosion of dazzling colours!

Gerbera jamesonii (Gerbera Daisy, Transvaal Daisy, Barberton Daisy) Want an attractive and colourful floral display in your home? Choose the Gerber Daisies that will surely lend beauty and brightness, inside the home or out in the garden. They’re such a cheerful and vibrant lot and you’ll be spoilt for choice of floral colours that come [...]