Delightful surprises in our tropical garden, August 2010
Gardening is food for our body, heart, mind and soul! We just love surprises! Garden plants simply love throwing surprises and we simply enjoy receiving them! Such cheerful givers they are! Oxalis triangularis : Our potted plant was dead! We were pretty sure of that and thus just discarded the pot with its soil still [...]
Dieffenbachia bowmannii Carriere: a floriferous beauty!
Dieffenbachia bowmannii Carriere (Dumb Cane, Spotted Dumbcane, Leopard Lily ) Dieffenbachias are very much loved as houseplants for homes and offices, simply because of their irresistible foliar beauty and their great tolerance for shade. Their splendid foliage variegation is so extensive that gardeners are now spoilt for choice! One cultivar worthy of mention is Dieffenbachia [...]
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 [...]
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 [...]
Isn’t Calathea makoyana (Peacock Plant) beautiful inside out?
Calathea makoyana Peacock Plant (Peacock Plant, Cathedral Windows) Undoubtedly, the foliage of Calathea makoyana is striking and beautiful to say the least, giving it the accolade of being called the Peacock Plant or Cathedral Windows! Haha, it itself seems to know that for a fact too! From morning to late afternoon on bright sunny days, [...]
Grow Hostas for beauty, longevity and durability!
Hosta (Corfu Lily, Day Lily, Plantain Lily, Funkia) Hostas are popularly grown as ornamental plants for their attractive and beautiful foliage. But, we hadn’t known before researching for this article how extensively varied are their shapes, sizes, textures and colors! The right image, courtesy of Mark @ http://www.flickr.com/photos/markescapes/3554195218/ presents two fabulous variegated form, so beautifully [...]
Garden surprises in June 2009
Bauhinia kockiana has always been a baffling vine for us. It is most elusive. Grows fast and vigorous with beautiful bright green and luxuriant foliage yet rarely flowers! We seldom get to enjoy their blooms in large stunning clusters, that are so often seen in most home gardens around our neighborhood or elsewhere. Just have [...]
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 [...]
Epipremnum aureum (Pothos) is both beautiful and useful!
Epipremnum aureum (Pothos, Devil’s Ivy, Silver Vine) A top favorite house plant, worldwide! Money Plant, another of its common name, always ignites fond memories for me. As far back as a teenager, I had loved placing a glass of ‘Jade Pothos’ on my desk and later, a vase of either ‘Golden Pothos’ or ‘Marble Queen’, [...]
Colorful hybrids and cultivars of Episcia cupreata
Episcia cupreata (Flame Violet, Carpet Plant) An outstanding plant, widely grown as much for its attractive foliage as its brilliant flowers. Excellent for hanging baskets or as ground cover.