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 [...]

Solanum macranthum with gorgeous tri-coloured blossoms

Solanum macranthum (Potato Tree, Giant Star Potato Tree) Truly an exotic and impressive tropical specimen! This Giant Potato Tree is a large bushy shrub that can grow into a medium-height tree, and be beautifully adorned with stunning flowers all year round! A rare treat indeed to see purple blossoms on a tree! And more amazing [...]

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 [...]

Mid-year 2010 in our tropical garden, Malaysia

The last few months from mid-May were spent giving our garden a facelift, trimming off excess fat so to speak. Hmm…still can’t get used to its slim look but what must be done has to be done! After facelift: a major section of our frontyard garden in July 2010

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 [...]

Our belated garden news for March 2010

Humph! A very much delayed post…blame the lightning that snuffed out our computer and rendered it unserviceable for more than 3 weeks! Nevertheless, better late than never, yes? Kalanchoe uniflora (probable ID) : Lovely unexpected addition to our garden! We walked into a nursery mid-March, hoping to get a pot of Christmas Kalanchoe blossfeldiana at [...]