Category Archives: Tropical ornamentals

All about tropical, ornamental plants, exotic and common…

Hort Colloquium & Plant Decor by my Team

Posted on December 2, 2009 | Leave a comment

The inaugural Hort Colloquium was held on 1 Dec 09 at HortPark’s Multi-Purpose Hall. Aimed as an avenue and platform for the sharing of horticultural and field observations, experiences and knowledge, the sharing session for National Parks Board (NParks) staff was organised by the division I work for, Hort Excellence, in collaboration with various divisions, namely Streetscape, Gardens-By-The-Bay, Parks & Conservation Divisions.

The inaugural Hort Colloquium’s stage decor conceptualised and implemented by the Hort Outreach team.

Throughout the two and a half hour long session, the audience was kept captivated by topics close to our hearts – native plants, butterflies & butterfly gardens, transplanting of trees, plus a special insight to plants and gardens in Indonesia. Besides the presentation, participants also had the opportunity to come up close and personal with some of the native plants, butterfly-attracting plants as well as caterpillars of various butterfly species that were on display at the back of the hall.

Also known as the mangrove fan palm (Licuala spinosa) is one of the palms that is native to this part of the world. Two similar colonies shown here flanked both sides of the projector screen on top of the stage. 

My team (Hort Outreach) was involved in the Hort Colloquium’s stage decoration work. In line with one of the topics that was being presented on native plants, my colleagues and I brainstormed and later decided to put together a landscape consisting of plants that are native to Singapore and around this part of the world.

The focal point of the entire stage decor was made up by three bird’s nest ferns.

I have always aimed to put up naturalistic-looking decoration that is in sync with the theme of the event. In this particular case, we created a stage decor that is reminiscent of one walking along a path near to the edge of a forest. Instead of lawn edging or coconut coir, we used cork bark to hide the pots which the plants were grown in. Some dried leaves were scattered in a random manner to simulate natural leaf litter. We also  inserted name tags for the native plants used which turned the stage decor an educational plant showcase too!

One of the ferns used in the stage decor – mangrove fern (Acrostichum speciosum).

One of the most of noticable group of plants used in this decoration would be native ferns. We showcased species such as the mangrove fern (Acrostichum speciosum), elephant fern (Angiopteris evecta), bird’s nest fern (Asplenium nidus), giant sword fern (Nephrolepis biserrata) and the rabbit’s foot fern (Davallia denticulata). The focal point of the entire stage decor was made up by three bird’s nest ferns. With reference to the picture above, the bird’s nest fern with lighter green leaves on the left is Asplenium nidus (which is native) whereas the other two are A. australiasicum (native to Australia and Pacific Islands). These latter two plants are often mislabelled and thought to be A. nidus. These two species are distinguishable via the appearance of leaves and cross-section of their leaf’s mid ribs.

Another species of fern used in this decor – elephant fern (Angiopteris evecta).

We also included some spathoglottis orchids to add bits of colour to the largely green stage decor. Many such orchids seen locally are hybrids. The original species (Spathoglottis plicata) is in fact an orchid that is also native to this part of the world. It should be planted more widely and easier to maintain than most of us thought. It does not need frequent fertilisation and will still flower! This native orchid thrives in a sunny area that has well drained soil.

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The variegated Gardenia – for flowers or leaves?

Posted on November 28, 2009 | 2 Comments

Gardenia jasminoides (also known as Gardenia augusta) is a fragrant flowering  shrub with attractive shiny green leaves and produces fragrant white summer flowers. It is a widely cultivated garden and houseplant and can be grown in pots or outdoors in the ground as a fragrant hedge. Many varieties are now available – there those that are compact and low-growing, flowers are available in both single and double forms, as well as, plants with variegated and non-variegated leaves.

Commonly known as the cape jasmine or garden gardenia, Gardenia jasminoides is a temperate plant that is native to southern China, Japan, Taiwan and possibly also Sri Lanka. In the tropicals, it is reported to do better at altitudes of 400—1200 m. In Singapore’s hot and humid tropical climate, I noticed it prefers to be grown in a semi-shaded location outdoors. Direct sunshine in the tropics is a little too harsh for this shrub. Heat- and water-stressed plants can shed their leaves or their foliage can sometimes taken on an unhealthy yellow colour. 

In the tropical lowlands, this shrub flowers sporadically with a few blossoms each time. It thrives best in fertile and properly drained soil that is near neutral pH value. Do not let the soil dry out and the root zone should be kept moist at all times. Note that the flowers of this shrub are easily damaged by heavy tropical rains and hence it is better to try grow Gardenia jasminoides in a container which can be easily moved around during the rainy season. Interestingly, this shrub tend to flower during the rainy season and that is not surprising, as that is when the weather is much cooler. Bring a potted flowering specimen under shelter to appreciate the flowers so that the flowers don’t get damaged.

When not in flower, the dark leaves of this plant are glossy and makes an ideal foliage plant. This is achievable only when the plant is grown under semi-shade. There is a variegated version and one can see a colony being grown in HortPark’s Floral Walk. The attractive leaves of this cultivar are splashed with random swirls and patches of yellow. Unforunately, I faced much trouble trying to find and admire the flowers produced by the variegated version Gardenia jasminoides. The white flowers do not contrast well with the variegated folige backdrop. 

Not commonly produced here in Singapore, the fruits of the cape jasmine are used in China and Japan for colouring food yellow. Some extracts are commercially available in Japan and they are used to colour boiled beans, fish eggs, hot cakes, liquor, sweets, ices, noodles, candies and imitation crab. The colouring matter in the fruits contains a glycoside, which is identical with the compound called crocetin found in saffron (Crocus sativus L.). The colouring matter is a type of carotenoid pigment. However, more research is needed to prove the harmless character of the dye. The dye is also used to colour textiles yellow or scarlet.

Do you know that the fragrant flowers yield fragrant essential oils and are used in perfumery? In China, they are used for flavouring tea like the common jasmine (Jasminum sambac). Several parts of the plant are used medicinally. The roots are used against headache, dyspepsia, nervous disorders and fever while the leaves are applied in febrifugous poultices. Besides yielding colouring matter, fruits are also used against jaundice and diseases of kidneys and lungs. The seeds contain starch and an oil which is principally composed of palmatic, oleic and linoleic acid.

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Posted in Flowering plants, Herbs, Houseplants, Tropical ornamentals

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A Flowering Dracaena thalioides

Posted on October 1, 2009 | Leave a comment

A pot of Dracaena thalioides that was on display in HortPark’s Lifestyle Corner was recently in bloom. It produced two erect spikes of pink flowers that were surprisingly fragrant! The fragrance seemed to be emitted in a big way from dusk onwards as the flowers were faintly fragrant during the day. The appearance of the flowers was reminiscent of those produced by the mother-in-law’s tongue (Sansevieria trifasciata). When I touched them, my hands felt sticky afterwards, probably due to the copious amount of nectar the flowers secreted.

Dracaena thalioides is one plant that has an appearance quite unlike its brothers and sisters in the same genus. In my opinion, it looks more like a cordyline due to its very much petiolated lanceolate leaves. Most dracaenas I have come across do not have such a distinctive petiole! It is commonly known as the Lance Dracaena.

Interestingly, the species name of this plant is derived from the genus Thalia, which is a group of water plants belonging to the prayer plant family, Marantaceae, with superficially similar foliar characteristics. Its genus name, Dracaena comes from Greek for female dragon, which was used to refer to the dragon’s blood trees (D. cinnabari and D. schizantha) as these plants exude a red sap when injured.

Dracaena thalioides is currently classified under Ruscaceae but sometimes put into a family of its own, Dracaenaceae. Some of us may recall that Dracaena thalioides and friends were also previously grouped under Agavaceae and even Liliaceae!

It is what you would term as ‘something old and new’ as it was a popular houseplant back in the past and disappeared after some time when it fell out of fashion. Lately, Dracaena thalioides resurfaced again and I am beginning to see it being offered for sale at some nurseries and being used for landscaping indoors and outdoors.

This slow-growing plant is admired for its lush and attractive foliage which are held erect in loose spiral arrangement. To some of us, it may appear as if the leaves are opening up like a fan. It is a plant that thrives in a semi-shaded location and can be used for mass planting to achieve a lush, tropical look in an outdoor garden.

Like many other dracaenas, it makes a good indoor plant too. It can tolerate deep shade inside the house for short periods of time as a display plant but would appreciate if it can be shifted to an area, such as next to a window or balcony, where it can recuperate while being exposed to filtered sunshine for at least 6 hours daily.

Indoors, Dracaena thalioides can be displayed singly as a specimen plant but more frequently, one often sees several short plants with full crowns of leaves are grouped together inside a long planter box. Grow this plant using soil that is rich, well draining potting mix that is kept most at all times and feed using balanced, slow-release fertiliser pellets. It can be propagated via stem-cuttings, crown division and seeds.

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Posted in Houseplants, Tropical ornamentals

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Introducing the Mickey Mouse Plant!

Posted on September 29, 2009 | 4 Comments

The Mickey Mouse plant appears to be around in Singapore’s garden landscape for quite a long time. This plant can be grown as a shrub or allowed to grow into a small tree but usually, a colony of this plant are pruned to form a hedge that has been sheared to various heights. For a long time, I have never taken notice of Mickey Mouse plant as it appeared to me as a rather boring foliage shrub most of the time. The mature foliage of this plant is dark green and slightly glossy while newly formed leaves taken on a coppery colour tone.

My opinion of this plant took a turn recently when I saw it in flower and that took place when I was on my way to work. There was a hedge of Mickey Mouse plants which were used to line the metal railing near the entrance to HortPark’s Floral Walk and those plants were adorned with numerous bright yellow flowers. Each flower has five petals and a clump of stamens positioned in the center. Some sources cited that the flowers are fragrant but I did not notice any scent at close proximity when I snapped pictures posted on this blog. The Mickey Mouse plant seems to have a seasonal blooming habit as it is seldom in bloom most of the time.

A plant that is native to southeastern Africa, the Mickey Mouse plant is botanically known as Ochna kirkii and is a member of  a rather obscure plant family, Ochnaceae. Its is sometimes referred to via another synonymous botanical name, O. thomasiana. Ochna is Greek for the wild pear (a species of Pyrus) because leaves of this plant resemble those of the pear tree. The specific epithet kirkii was given in honour of Sir John Kirk (1832 – 1922) who was a British doctor, naturalist and diplomat. He accompanied Dr David Livingstone on this second botanical expedition to Central Africa in 1858.

This plant’s common name ‘Mickey Mouse plant’  has always raised a question mark in my mind as I failed to connect black fruits and the red sepals to Mickey Mouse’s face. The common name was reportedly derived from the appearance of its ripe fruits which is similar to the face of Disney’s Mickey Mouse, complete with a pair of black ears and a red nose. In reality, the fruits of the Mickey Mouse plant are rather small and oval in shape and they turn black  when ripe. The black berries are held erect on a waxy red base formed by the enlarged sepals.

Besides being a good hedging candidate and at times, a flowering ornamental shrub, the seeds of the Mickey Mouse plant can be pressed to yield oil that is used to dress the hair by African tribes. Other Ochna species have medicinal uses. It is said to be a source of hard, dense, durable wood and wood from other Ochna species have been used for making wheel spokes, utensil handles and engraving plates.

The Mickey Mouse plant is often planted in locations with semishade to full sun. Like most woody shrubs, one can expect it to prefer to be grown in soil that is fertile and well-draining that is also kept moist at all times. It is said to be easily transplanted and relatively easy to grow and maintain. Common pests include scales, mealybugs and thrips.

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Keneric’s Post on Ipomoea lobata

Posted on September 15, 2009 | Leave a comment

My colleague, Keneric Ng, wrote and disseminated yet another article on an interesting flowering vine which he grew from seeds given to him by a friend. Read on and enjoy!

Any warm colours one could possibly imagine, one would be able to find it on the flowers of Ipomoea lobata (syn. Mina lobata), commonly known as the Firecracker Vine or Spanish Flag. It is impossible not to feel the warmth just by looking at this highly ornamental plant from the Morning Glory family (Convolvulaceae). With no typical funnel-shaped corolla, one might not be able to associate this with the Morning Glory family right away but indeed it is, and that is the thrill in the discovery.

Often mistaken as an annual, this fast-growing, sun-loving vine can however be cultivated as a tender perennial in the tropics. Since it is very easily propagated by seeds, one can choose to grow new batch of plants once every few months to keep up the vigor. The young plant starts branching vigorously within 2 to 3 weeks after germination, so pinching is not required to obtain a well spread specimen. By the 5th week, the plant would have covered the support with its numerous trilobed leaves and reddish vines. But do not be alarmed if the plant is not ready to give you flowers just yet. Be patient, and just when you are bored of seeing those leaves/vines…many tiny little spikes (inflorescences) start emerging. And before you know it, the plant is on fire!

On close observation, along with some imagination, each individual inflorescence resembles a skewer. Strange that it has never been commonly known as the Skewer Plant or Skewer-on-the-Grill Plant? Those would have been interesting names to call them.

So, if you want to feel the (oil-free, nectar-rich) sizzle, do pop by the patio of the Lifestyle Corner at HortPark. The plant will be on display there. Catch it while it is sizzling HOT!

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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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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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The Beautiful Persian Shield

Posted on July 9, 2009 | Leave a comment

The Persian shield is a magnificent foliage shrub that appears to be a relatively new introduction to the landscapes of Singapore. Still not widely planted, this plant is only available for sale in a few nurseries in Singapore and remains a plant collector’s item . I remember having seen this plant featured on some houseplant books published overseas eons ago.

A native of Myanmar, the Persian shield is an evergreen plant with non-woody stems that can grow up to 1.2 m tall with a slightly smaller spread. Its stems are square in cross-section which are characteristic of plants belonging to the Acanthaceae family. The leaves of the Persian shield are oval in shape with a sharp tip and occur on opposite sides of a stem. They have an interesting texture and admired mostly for their beautiful variegation.

Depending on the prevailing light conditions, its leaves usually have two broad, silvery-metallic purplish-pink bands that run along the length on opposites of the mid-rib, which shimmer with iridescence. The undersides of the leaves are purple in colour.  Although I  have not seen it in flower, the blossoms of the Persian shield are said to be funnel-shaped, pale violet that are produced on short, erect spikes.

Persian shield is one of the few foliage shrubs that do well under semi-shade. It can be grown as a colony as a focal plant or as a border plant around a planted bed. With such light requirements, I foresee that the Persian shield can also be grown in an apartment where one can place it at a bright location such as a balcony or corridor where it can receive filtered sunshine for at least half a day.  

Because it is a semi-herbaceous plant, the Persian shield, in general, is not drought-tolerant and should be watered to keep the soil moist at all times. It should not be allowed to dry out. Feed with a balanced fertiliser and prune back the plant periodically to ensure a compact and bushy growth habit. Plants can becoming unkempt-looking and straggly if allowed to grow unchecked. It is easily propagated via stem-cuttings.

Botanically known as Strobilanthes dyerianus, it is a member of the Acanthaceae family. The genus name of this plant, Strobilanthes, is derived from two Latin words, ‘strobilos’ and ‘anthos’, which have the meanings of ‘cone’ and ‘flower’ or ‘shoot’, respectively. Its specific epithet dyerianus  is given in honour of Sir William Turner Thieselton-Dyer, a professor of botany at the Royal Colleage of Science and director of the Kew Gardens.

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