Category Archives: Flowering plants

Plants that flower, usually ornamental, exotic and common…

Brugmansias in HortPark

Posted on September 5, 2009 | Leave a comment

Keneric Ng, my colleague in NParks recently disseminated a message that announced the flowering of a Brugmansia versicolor cultivar to all staff in the organisation. Commonly known as the Angel’s Trumpet, the plant we had is grown in a large pot and was moved to the patio of Lifestyle Corner in HortPark for all to appreciate when it flowered. Below is the account which he shared with all of us…

Started out as a tiny cutting, the plant was cared for and grown at Pasir Panjang Nursery since 11 Feb 2009. Exactly 200 days later, it has done what it does best … ‘trumpetize’!

Easily propagated by stem-cuttings, Brugmansia does best in a sheltered, part-shade area and it is a famous heavy feeder. Be generous with fertilizer application, combined with consistent watering and one shall be rewarded with loads of trumpets. There are several cultivars with different coloured flowers e.g. pink, that gradually deepened over time.

There are 20 blooms now and more are coming up! For this cultivar, new trumpets are white, gradually deepening into a sweet mellow peach. It is however a pity that each flower only lasts about 2 days locally. By the end of the second day, the trumpet starts to wilt in the heat of the tropics.

Other than the current display at Lifestyle Corner, different cultivars of the plant are also planted at various locations of HortPark i.e. Water Garden, Home Garden, Floral Walk, Butterfly Garden and Golden Garden. Of which, do keep an eye on those growing at Water Garden…as they are likely to be the next to bloom. To see a yellow flower variegated leaf cultivar, do check out the Gardens-By-The-Bay Prototype Glass House.

So, you do know the best venue to be at if you want to get trumpetized! Enjoy and help us blow the trumpet if you like them!

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What smells like banana but is not a banana?

Posted on August 28, 2009 | Leave a comment

If you are looking for a fragrant shrub that will produce a fragrance that will become a talking point, you may want to try to get your hands on Michelia figo, which is a relative of the white champaca (Michelia x alba). Commonly known as the the banana shrub, port wine magnolia or chenille copperleaf, Michelia figo originated from south-eastern China.

A member of the magnolia family, Magnoliaceae, it is widely cultivated mainly as ornamental shrub, which can attain a height of about 2 m. Some internet sources state that it can grow up to 4 m. As a plant, it exhibits a compact, profusely branched growth habit and several individuals can be grown closely together to form a hedge. Its branches seem to grow in a zigzag-like manner and densely covered with fine brown hairs. The leaves of this shrub are evergreen, lustrous and dark green in colour and like the rest of the plant, they also have brown hairs on the undersides. Even the flower buds feel furry!

Unfortunately, Michelia figo is not a prolific bloomer in Singapore. When it flowers, it produces magnolia-like flowers that measure about 5 cm in diameter. They first appear almost white in colour which gradually turn into a darker shade of yellow before fading away. The flowers of Michelia figo have a very interesting fragrance. To me, they seem to emit a pleasant odour reminiscent of bananas. Some may think the fragrance resemble more like ripening honeydew melons.

The fragrance of one flower needs to be appreciated at close proximity and to enjoy the fragrance of this shrub, one should grow several individuals so that the delightful perfume from a larger number of flowers can permeate the garden space. But be warned – it can become overwhelming to some people!

Not surprisingly, the flowers of this shrub are also used in hair lotions. The extraction of fresh flowers and distillation of the leaves yield two different fragrant essential oils which are used in high-quality perfumes. In China, scented ‘yulan’ tea is prepared with the flowers of the white champaca (Michelia x alba) and Michelia figo.

This plant can be grown in containers. It prefers to be grown in a sunny location although it is said to be able to grow in shade. In shadier locations, it is described to develop a more open growth habit but I think flowering will also be less frequent and profuse. Like most other shrubs, it should be planted in a well-draining location with fertile soil. Mulch the base of plants with compost to keep the roots cool and to supply organic matter which will help to retain moisture and release nutrients as it breaks down. It is seldom bothered by pests but may be bothered occasionally by scale insects and sooty mould.

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The Garlic Vine

Posted on August 6, 2009 | 1 Comment

The garlic vine is a woody, flowering climber that is often featured in tropical garden books. A member of the Bignoniaceae family, known via a range of synonymous botanical names but best referred to as Mansoa hymenaea. This flowering vine is native to tropical South America, from Mexico to Brazil. In Costa Rica, it can be found growing from sea level to 900 m in elevation. Interestingly, it is not related to the common edible onion or garlic at all!

In its native habitat, it is said that the garlic vine attaches itself around the trunk of a large tree for support as it climbs skywards to reach for sunlight. The terminal leaflet of this plant is often modified into a tendril that helps the vine to cling onto a support. Because of its large size, it is only practical to grow the garlic vine in outdoor gardens with a trellis. It is a vine with a moderate growth rate and one need not worry that is will become an unruly resident in the garden.

The garlic vine is well known for its leaves that emit a garlicky smell only when crushed. Its blossoms also give off a faint garlic odour but one need not worry about the garden smelling like the kitchen spice when in flower. Because of this characteristic, it is not surprising that the plant can be used as a substitute for garlic in the kitchen. The entire plant such as roots, stems and leaves have medicinal uses and are used to reduce fevers, treat colds, throat, and respiratory troubles.

The plant is a climbing vine that turns woody and heavy over time. Hence it is recommended to grow it on a strong timber trellis in an exposed area where it can receive direct sunshine for most of the day. It is best to grow it in well-drained soil that is mulched at the base with compost to keep the roots cool and moist. Keep it well-watered so that plants do not shed its lower leaves which can make vines look straggly. 

Like many other flowering vines, the garlic vine should not be overly pruned as flower buds appear on new growth. Many gardeners make this mistake by pruning away the vines to keep new growth in check and as a result, plants refuse to produce flowers. Semi-hardwood cuttings can be taken for propagation. Each stem should have at least 3 nodes and can be stuck into a mixture of sand and compost to start the rooting process, after removing some leaves to reduce water loss. Rooting hormone powder is usually not needed.

This vine is not a constant bloomer. It occasionally produces flowers here in Singapore and whenever it decides to do so, the flowering is often described as profuse. The entire vine can be covered with flowers. Flowers are trumpet-shaped and produced in dense clusters. Each starts off purple and changes to a lighter shade of lavender with age and finally fading to white before it turns brown and drops off from the vine. At any one time, one can see three different floral colours on the plant.

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The Elephant Vine

Posted on July 25, 2009 | 1 Comment

Argyreia nervosa, referred to via a range of common names including elephant climber, elephant creeper, elephant vine and silver morning glory, is a member of the Convolvulaceae (morning glory) family. Native to India and Burma, it was once a popular landscaping candidate in Singapore.

This perennial vine is particularly valued for its rapid growth rate and large size that it can grow into. The young shoots of this plant can extend several centimeters daily and the plant can grow up to 15 m long. Hence, Argyreia nervosa is often used to quickly cover up an area, such as a trellis or a long series of railings of a boardwalk. The visitor to the coolhouse at the National Orchid Garden in Singapore would have noticed this plant.

Argyreia nervosa is a distinctively furry plant. Its mature leaves are heart-shaped and have a light velvety feel. New growth of this vine is densely covered with fine, silver hairs that it appears as if they have been silver-plated. It is no wonder that it is a plant that is featured in HortPark’s (Singapore’s gardening hub) Silver Garden.

A friend shared with me that one can actually pick a young leaf still adorned with its silvery coat and press it between the pages of a thick book. The silver colour of the leaf will be preserved and can be laminated with a piece of cardboard to make a nice bookmark or greeting card.

Argyreia nervosa is reported to be very well adapted to a dry tropical climate such as areas near rivers and creeks but with a distinct wet and dry season. It is not naturally found in the wet, humid tropics. The silvery hairs found on the new growth is perhaps an adaptive mechanism that the plant has evolved to reduce water loss in such a climate.

This vine also produces pretty flowers at the vine tips. Hence it is advisable to not frequently cut back the growth of this plant if one desires to see its flowers. Each flower is shaped like a trumpet and resembles those produced by the common morning glory. When in flower, the blossoms add interest by punctuating the largely green background of leaves with lavender.

Besides ornamental value, Argyreia nervosa possesses medicinal properties. The roots of this flowering vine are traditionally used to treat rheumatism and arthritis whereas its leaves are applied to wounds and abscesses. Its seeds possess psychedelic effects.

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Posted in Flowering plants, Herbs, Tropical ornamentals

Lobster Claws Anyone?

Posted on July 23, 2009 | 2 Comments

Ruellia colorata is a spectacular flowering shrub that belongs to the Acanthaceae family and same genus of another flowering shrub, Ruellia brittoniana. It is native to Brazil and is well suited to growing in tropical Singapore. Not widely planted in Singapore at present, one can visit HortPark to take a look at this plant. A colony of this plant can be seen being grown just behind the black metal gates that lead to the gardening hub of Singapore. 

It is known via a range of common names which include colorama, wild petunia and lobster claw. For those of us who have seen its flowers, one would feel that the last common name - lobster claw – seems to fit the profile of this plant best.

This plant produces striking inflorescences terminally at the tip of each growing point. Each inflorescence is rather large in size and covered with large bracts that are orange-red in colour. Without the need to imagine, each inflorescence resembles a cooked lobster claw. 

Similar to the many other ornamental flowerings shrubs from the same family, the true flowers of this plant peek out from the back of each bract but are rather short-lived. The enduring beauty of inflorescences is due to the durability of the floral bracts. Ruellia colorata have leaves that are glossy and lanceoate in shape with a distinct sharp tip.

Despite its beautiful flowers, Ruellia colorata can be a difficult candidate to manage in a landscape. This plant is a scandent shrub and adopts a trailing growth habit. It sheds its lower leaves after some time which reveals an unsightly tangled mess of stems  at the base of the plant. Hence it is essential to prune back this plant after each flowering. This operation will encourage the plant to produce side shoots which will help to maintain a bushy growth habit.

Ruellia colorata is a candidate that can be planted in a semi-shaded location where it can receive some filtered sunshine. I read before on a website that it can be grown in shade outdoors! In HortPark, this shrub is grown under canopy of a taller tree and seems to perform relatively well and flowers.

Like many other woody flowering shrubs, Ruellia colorata should be planted in a well-draining location with fertile soil that is kept moist at all times. It benefits from having a layer of compost as mulch around the root zone which keeps the roots cool and moist, and decomposes to release nutrients over time.

Note that this plant does not tolerate waterlogged conditions. After pruning, fertilise plant with a balanced fertiliser to encourage vigorous growth of foliage. Once the foliage is well developed, add a dose of flowering fertilizer to promote the production of the lobster claws.

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My Roselle Article on My Green Space

Posted on July 17, 2009 | Leave a comment

My contribution to the second edition of the e-newsletter of the National Parks Board (NParks) was published recently. I wrote on the roselle plant (Hibiscus sabdariffa), which is quite a commonly encountered plant nowadays. It is so-called the famed ‘Ribena Plant’ in Singapore because its calyces are picked and boiled in water to yield a sourish drink that tastes like the real thing.

To read this article, click on the following link which will lead you to the page of the e-newsletter where the article is featured:

http://www.nparks.gov.sg/cms/nparksenewsletter/issue2/gardening/gardening-discoverroselleplant.html

There are several articles that focussed on Lifestyle and Conservation. Click on the following link to read further:

http://www.nparks.gov.sg/cms/nparksenewsletter/issue2/index.html

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Ornamental Flowering Shrubs from Acanthaceae on the Serangoon Newsletter

Posted on June 23, 2009 | Leave a comment

My contribution to the May 09 issue of the bimonthly Serangoon newsletter focussed on four selected beautiful flowering plants from the Acanthaceae family. The Acanthaceae family consists of numerous ornamental shrubs that feature rather long-lasting, showy and colourful inflorescences. The durability of inflorescences is due to the bracts and not the often insignificant, tubular flowers that the plants produce. Some members of this family of plants are also medicinal.

The four plants that were featured include the shrimp plant (Justicia brandegeana), lobster claw (Ruellia colorata), Golden Plume (Schaueria flavicoma) and lollipop plant (Pachystachys lutea). They can all be found growing in various parts of HortPark (NParks’ Gardening Hub for Singapore) such as the Home Garden and Golden Garden.

These four flowering shrubs should be grown in an area with direct sunshine for at least half a day that has soil that is fertile and well-draining. They will not thrive in waterlogged areas. Do also prune periodically when plants start to look straggly as this will help to ensure a compact and attractive growth form and rejuvenate them. Fertilise shortly after a hard prune to give plants a good kickstart again.

From what I have noticed, they fare better outdoors probably due to longer availability of direct sunshine. When grown in on a sunny balcony, plants can receive direct sunshine ranging from 4 to 6 hours daily. That is likely to be insufficient as apartment gardeners I have come across had lamented that their plants tend to grow rather straggly and etiolated and flower production had been poor. 

Readers are to note there are some errors in the article due to my late returns to my Editor. The corrected article is shown above and its corresponding pdf file can be downloaded via the following link:

http://www.greenculturesg.com/articles/may09/acanthaceae_SGNL.pdf

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Alpinia galanga in bloom!

Posted on June 11, 2009 | 1 Comment

Alpinia galanga is a member of the true ginger family, Zingiberaceae. The fresh underground rhizomes of this ginger are readily available for sale in Singapore markets. Two types of rhizomes are available for sale. The tender younger rhizomes which appear pale pink, have a less intense flavour compared to the very tough, older and beige coloured ones. The rhizomes of this ginger are too spicy to be eaten raw and are used in slices, chunks or pounded to give a paste and used to flavour various curries and other dishes. Besides the rhizomes which have uses in the kitchen, the immature lateral shoots and unopened flower buds of this ginger are edible when steamed.

The rhizomes of Alpinia galanga are also used widely in folk traditional medicine. According to the profile found in Plant Resources of South-East Asia (PROSEA), the rhizomes are used in the treatment of skin diseases, respiratory diseases, as a stomachic after childbirth, for intestinal problems and as an expectorant and aphrodisiac. The seeds are prescribed in Peninsular Malaysia in colic, diarrhoea, vomiting and herpes. An infusion of the leaves is taken as a post-partum medicine.

Botanically, Alpinia galanga is sometimes referred to as Languas galanga. The common name Alpinia galanga is the greater galangal or lengkuas. Its Chinese names include “大高良姜” and “红豆蔻”. Singaporean Chinese here call the rhizomes simply as “lam kew”, which translates into “blue ginger”, although no part of this ginger is blue in colour!

A native of South Asia and Indonesia, the Alpinia galanga  plant is easily grown from rhizomes and is a commonly grown ginger plant in the gardens in Singapore. One can always find it in any herb and spice garden here. The plant is not exactly ornamental although it features rather lush, green, leafy shoots with lanceoate leaves that grow in a tight clump. Each shoot can grow up to 1.5 to 2 m in height. The plant is not exactly invasive.

When left to grow, an Alpinia galanga plant will actually produce flowers. Numerous flowers are borne on an erect spike. Each flower is rather small, reportedly to be fragrant and pale yellow in colour with a distinctive white lip that is adorned with a red center and a prominent pale green or white stamen. Although seldom seen to produce fruit here, the plant is reported to bear red coloured fruits that are used in traditional Chinese medicine and has a flavour similar to its rhizomes.

 Although most ginger plants are thought to grow better in semishaded locations, Alpinia galanga is one plant that thrives when given more light. I have observed that this plant will tend to produce more sturdy leafy shoots when grown under full sun. Previously, I have some plants that were growing in semishaded locations and they were observed to put forth rather floppy leafy shoots.

Newly acquired plants may need some time to adapt to higher light levels. Initial planting will experience some burnt leaves. It is essential to provide plants with ample moisture at the roots when they are grown out in the open. Some organic mulch placed around the root zone will be beneficial.

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A pretty vine to grow

Posted on June 3, 2009 | 2 Comments

Mexican flame vine is a pretty flowering vine that is still not very widely grown in Singapore at present. Botanically, it is known as Pseudogynoxys chenopodioides currently. It is a member of the daisy family, Asteraceae and was previously referred to via a synonymous botanical name, Senecio confusus.

This tropical vine is valued for the generous bunches of vividly coloured flowers it produces. Daisy-like flowers are produced in a bunch where they first appear bright orange and gradually darken until they are red before they fade away. When fully opened, the ray florets of each flower are reflexed backwards, making each flower look like an umbrella that has been blown inside out on a windy day!

This vine is herbaceous to start with that gradually turns woody with time. Each leaf on the vine is shaped like an arrowhead with serrated edges and as a result, one can mistaken this beautiful vine to be the locally invasive vine, Mile-A-Minute Weed (Mikania micrantha). Dark green in colour, the leaves form a background where the vine’s fiery coloured flowers can be effectively shown off. In some occasions, the leaves are seen to take on a purplish tinge. The reason behind this observation is not clear at present. It maybe due to nutrient deficiency.

After the flowers fade, the plant goes on to produce seeds and expected of a member belonging to the daisy family, the Mexican flame vine’s seedheads that resemble those of a dandelion’s. Each seed has some ‘fluff’ attached on one end which help them to be dispersed by wind.

Such a mode of seed dispersal may ring an alarm in some of us, because it reminds us of how the noxious weed which we call lalang here (Imperata cylindrica) spreads. To date, even though the Mexican flame vine sets seeds in Singapore, it is not observed to spread to new areas via this dispersal method.

HortPark is a good place to visit to see how the Mexican flame vine can be used in a garden landscape. There, it can be found growing on the Carpark Garden’s trellises. In the same way, one can grow this vine up a trellis at home or allow it to climb on a fence or low swing and so on.

In terms of location, grow the Mexican flame vine in a sunny place so that production of flowers is ensured. It is reported to be not particular about soil conditions but it is best to grow it in a well-drained location with moisture-retentive and fertile soil. Do not over-fertilise with plant food that is rich in nitrogen! A plant that has been fed excessively with nitrogen will concentrate on the production of vegetative growth over flowers!

Water newly planted, young vines regularly until they become established. Established vines can take care of themselves as they can be quite drought-tolerant. Plants grow at a manageable pace and can be cut back to check its growth but do note that they flower on new growth. Hence excessive and overly frequent pruning will set back flowering substantially. The Mexican flame vine is most easily propagated by stem-cuttings. Stems that have rooted on the surfaces where they grow on can also be cut and planted separately.

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The Beautiful Butterfly Pea Tree

Posted on May 24, 2009 | 1 Comment

I first encountered Clitoria fairchildiana outside the Pasir Panjang Nursery office where I now work. It is a beautiful tree that is also known via another synonymous botanical name, Clitoria racemosa. There is very little information about this tree on the Internet and I got to know more about it when I flipped the pages of a National Parks Board (NParks) publication entitled ‘Trees of our Garden City – a guide to the common trees of Singapore’ that was edited by Tee Swee Ping and Wee Mei Lynn.

Clitoria fairchildiana is referred to via a handful of common names which include the butterfly pea tree and Philippine pigeonwings. It is an evergreen, small- to medium-sized tree that attain a height of 15 m. The crown is umbrella-shaped with numerous branches that take on a weeping habit. In Singapore, Clitoria fairchildiana is planted along roadsides, in parks, garedns and open spaces. It can be used to achieve a ‘closed forest effect’ by planting in groves.

It is a fast- and large-growing legume belonging to the bean family, Fabaceae and has those characteristic trifoliate leaves.  Largely distributed in Brazil, Clitoria fairchildiana produces beautiful flowers handing from pendant spikes that can be white, pale blue or purple in colour.

The flowers of this tree resemble those produced by the blue pea (Clitoria ternatea) which is a related species. The flowers of the latter plant better know for being traditionally used to colour various Peranakan (Straits Chinese) confectionaries. Interestingly, Clitoria fairchildiana is a large tree whereas Clitoria ternatea is a small, wiry vine.

The fruits of Clitoria fairchildiana are large woody pods that can measure up to 20 cm long. I once kept a few mature dry brown pods in my room and I was startled late one night when one of them suddenly split open! When that pod split, it emitted a loud crackling noise and the flat, disc-like seeds were purged in various directions.

You may have noticed the strange-sounding genus that this tree has. The genus name Clitoria was indeed derived from the word clitoris! Linnaeus, who coined the name, was inspired by the appearance of flowers produced by plants belonging this particular genus, which resembled that certain part of the female anatomy!

Special thanks go to my colleague, Keneric Ng, who has helped to take the excellent photos of the Clitoria fairchildiana tree that is growing outside our office.

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