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ORNAMENTAL
PLANTS IN THE
PHILIPPINES
Page 2
Adenium obesum.
Desert Rose. According to Warren, this succulent plant, a native of arid Arabia and East Africa,
grows to 1 meter. It has a swollen, pale grey trunk. Its leaves are glossy and club-shaped. It bears
trumpet-shaped flowers almost continuously. It has a highly toxic sap. As can be expected from a
native of dry Arabia, it does not like too much water and should not be grown in moist places. It
is often used as a decorative pot plant.
LIST OF COMMON ORNAMENTAL PLANTS IN THE PHILIPPINES
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Adiantum raddianum.
Delta maidenhair. Origin: tropical and subtropical South
America. The maidenhair likes full shade in a humid area and
moist but well-drained soil. Despite its fragile looks, this is a
hardy plant under proper growing conditions. Dead and
damaged fronds should be removed to enable new ones to grow.
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Allamanda violacea
Purple allamanda. Vine or climbing shrub with year-round 8 cm
funnel-shaped flowers that are reddish-purple fading to pink.
While it can cover a trellis or clamber over a wall, it can also be
pruned into a free-standing specimen. Regular pinching will
keep it in bounds, but too much pinching removes flower buds
which form on new growth. All parts of the plant are toxic.
The allamanda grows in full sun. It is propagated by woody
cuttings, but grows best when grafted on A. cathartica (Yellow
Allamanda). I have two varieties: one is more vigorous than the
other, has bigger flowers and is more floriferous (photo on top).
Althernanthera ficoidea
Cucharita (green and white). After nearly two years, my
cucharita grew leggy and was fading away under the shade of
the palmeras where they had been planted. My gardener took
some cuttings, put them aside overnight and stuck them in the
soil the next day. They have now taken root and were doing
well in mid-December 2004. They are still thriving.
Alpinia purpurata
Red ginger. According to Madulid, the red ginger, native to the
Pacific Islands, is a recent introduction to the Philippines. Its
bright red bracts cover small white flowers. It likes full sun or
partial shade, moist but well-drained soil and requires protection
from strong winds. Propagated by root division. By December
2004, my plant has disappeared completely: probably defeated
by the strongly-growing raphis among which it had been planted
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Alpinia vittata
Plant for moderate light conditions. A member of the ginger
family, A. vittata is native to the Bismarck Archipelago in the
Solomon Islands. It is a plant of the forest understory which is
hot and moist climate all year round. A clumping plant, it can
rise to 1.5 meters in height outdoors and has 20 cm long lanceshaped leaves edged and banded from the centre to the margin
with cream or white stripes. It can bear pendulous pink flowers
but rarely does so in cultivation.
Alpinia vittata thrives in medium light or filtered direct sunlight.
Keeping it in too dark a position will reduce variegation and
make the leaves greener. Prolonged direct sunlight can cause
foliage to scald, brown or bleach. High humidity is essential.
The plant should be watered regularly but should be allowed to
dry out between waterings. It is moderately drought tolerant
when established.
This Alpinia grows vigorously and where they outgrow their
allotted space, rhizomes should be dug up, split and replanted.
The tallest stalks can be trimmed off to keep this plant to a
lower size.
The rhizomes should be planted as soon as possible. It is
recommended to establish the plant in a pot before planting it in
garden. The rhizome should be planted with the top up, no more
than 3-4cm under the soil. Avoid planting them too deep to
prevent them from rotting. Also, freshly planted rhizomes need
oxygen to grow new roots and will die if the planting medium is
too dense or too wet.
Companion plants: Alpinia vittata makes a striking contrast
when planted in along with: Cordyline species, Schefflera
arboricola (Green Arboricola), Nephrolepis biserrata cv.Macho
Fern (Macho Fern), Brugmansia species (Angels Trumpet),
Strelitzia nicolai (White Bird of Paradise), Tibouchina
heteromalla (Silverleafed Princess Flower) and Agapanthus
species. (Source: http://www.plantsrescue.com/alpinia-vittata/)
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American rose
Plant vendors in the Philippines have no idea what the scientific
names of these roses are and sell them under the all-enveloping
term American rose
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Aptenia cordifolia
Baby Sun Rose. A native of the coastal plains of South Africa,
this plant makes an excellent ground cover. It reaches a spread
of 2 feet or more and a height of 4 to 6 in. It blooms throughout
the year and its flowers are 1 in across, purplish red and
resemble daisies. Its leaves are small and thick.
Aptenia cordifolia needs full sun and well-drained soil. A
drought-tolerant (and salt-tolerant) plant, it should be watered
only when it is thoroughly dry. An internet source does not
recommend the use of fertilizer with this plant. Stringy stems
should be removed to promote growth.
In addition to its use as ground cover, it makes a good pot plant
and can be used at the foot of taller plants in pots and allowed to
climb over the pot rims. (Info sources: various interset sites)
Artabotrys hexapetalus (L.f.) Bhand
Climbing ylang-ylang. Described by internet sources as a
woody climber with a spiny trunk. Bears fragrant six-petal
fleshy flowers that are greeny yellow at first, turning yellowgreen as they age. The leaves, up to 15 cm in length, are dull
green. Also said to bear fleshy yellow berry-like fruit in clusters
of up to 25.
Synonym: Artabotrys odoratissimus.
Ylang-ylang climber; hara-champa. Described by the Web as a
2-3.5 metre woody climber which climbs with a curved hook
developed from flower stamens. Can be allowed to become a
dense evergreen shrub bearing fragrant light green flowers
which turn yellow with age. Main flowering season: summer
and the rains. Needs the full sun to flourish. Propagated by seed
or ripe cuttings.
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Asplenium musifolium
Giant birds nest; dapong babae, pakpak lawin babae. Epiphytic
fern similar to A. nidus but with much longer and much wider
leaves. (My plant has leaves that are about 170 cm long and 23
cm at their widest point.) Will adjust to full sun but prefers light
shade. Tolerates a dry spell but does best with frequent
watering. Propagation is by spores, which often sprout in moist
areas around the parent plant.
Asplenium nidus L
Birds nest fern, dapong lalaki, pugad lawin. Epiphytic fern.
Requires abundant moisture and shade for optimum growth.
Propagated by spores. Garden centres say that they can get used
to the sun.
Atriplex halimus
Silver dust; Mediterranean saltbush. The variety that is known
as Silver Dust in the Philippines has attractive silver-grey
leaves and small light purple flowers. It is drought resistant and
can be pruned quite closely.
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Bougainvillea
Sources of plant: the national road that goes through Bae,
Laguna is lined with bougainvillea garden centres. They offer
young plants as well as old, shaped ones with trunks the size
of fists. Prices can drop to a third during the non-flowering
(rainy) season, and may begin at Pesos 25 for new plants. I
have seen a magnificent specimen selling for P10,000.
Beaumontia grandiflora
Easter lily vine, heralds trumpet, Nepal trumpet flower.
Woody vine from the Himalayan tropics. Has large fragrant
white flowers resembling lilies. A strong growing climber, it
can reach 6 m in full sun. The flowers appear on mature
plants (about two years old) on year-old wood in trusses
particularly during the cool season. The large leaves are
glossy and dark green on the upper surface, pale and hairy
underneath. Requires copious watering and well-drained soil.
Propagation: take cuttings from firm new growth, apply
rooting hormone, stick in well-drained soil and mist. May
take 25-50 days to root.
Brugmansia versicolor Peach
1 at P150. In time, this can become a small tree. It has oblong
smooth-edged leaves and pendulous flowers which are
fragrant at night. The corollas are pale yellow at first, turning
white and then peach as the flowers age; the teeth are long,
flaring and recurved. Propagated from seed and by stem
cuttings (these root quite easily and will do so even in water).
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Caladium humboldtii
Plant for the shade (but see also below). Graceful herb to 20
cm. tall. Leaves are heart-shaped, green with dominant white
patches. Native to Brazil.
A perennial that can be used as ground cover, it can grow in
partial to full shade as well as in the sun. Another one of
those rare plants that can grow anywhere. It should be
watered regularly but should not be overwatered. It is
propagated by dividing rhizones, tubers, corms or bulbs.
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Calathea zebrina
Calathea Zebra Plant. Plant for the shade. The Calathea
zebrinas bright green leaves grow on the tips of their stems,
are boldly striped in a striking feather-like pattern and are
red-purple underneath. They can reach a length of 2 feet. The
plant itself can grow to 1 meter. It bears insignificant flowers.
The plant should be kept moist, not wet, and it should be
fertilized occasionally with a half-strength solution of liquid
fertilizer. Too much and the plant will grow leggy. These
plants grow in the shaded understory of tropical forests of the
Americas and dont need strong light. Good light is
nevertheless required for the leaves to attain their best colour.
The plant should be divided when there are several rosettes at
the base. A sharp blade should be used to separate the
rosettes which should then be planted each in its own pot.
(Info from several internet sources.)
Calotropis gigantea
Ivory plant, kapal-kapal, crown flower. Shrub, to 4 m tall,
with waxy stems which produce a milky sap when cut. The
leaves are obovate, are about 18 cm long and 12 cm wide;
they are grey-green above and have a whitish powder below.
The white flowers grow from the leaf axils, are star shaped,
and are surrounded by a crown of 5 flesh lobes.
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considered equal to olive oil in quality and is suitable for culinary uses.
Catharanthus roseus, Vinca rosea, Madagascar periwinkle
Chichirica. I started out with 60 of these. Perennial shrub.
Height: 30-60 cm, tends to flop. Produces almost continuous
display of five-lobed flowers that are dark pink, pink, white
or white with red rings. Poisonous. Prefers a sunny, welldrained location. Easily propagated from seeds; self-seeds
freely. Dislikes too much water. Attracts butterflies. The
vincas flowering life can be prolonged by pruning when the
stems grow too lanky and bear fewer flowers.
Cassia alata L.
Akapulco, bikas-bikas. Candle bush. This attractive but
short-lived shrub is named for its flower buds which grow in
a column and look like fat yellow candles each complete with
a flame. It was introduced to other tropical areas from the
Americas and is now widely considered a weed.
The leaves and sap contain a fungicide (an acid) which is
effective against fungal infections such as ringworm, and is
useful in soaps, shampoos and lotions. The plants other
chemical contents enable it to act as a laxative and to expel
intestinal parasites. In Africa, the boiled leaves are used to
treat high-blood pressure. In South America, the cassia is
utilized to treat a wide range of ailments from stomach
problems, fever, asthma to snake bite and venereal diseases.
It is the food plant of some butterfly caterpillars. The plant
recruits bodyguards against these caterpillars in the form of
ants, which are attracted to the nectar produced by the
extrafloral nectarines found near the base of the leaves. As
a short-lived plant which grows commonly in damp
wastelands, it helps to colonize these areas and pave the way
for the regeneration of growth. All in all, an extremely
valuable plant.
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Cestrum nocturnum
Dama de noche; Queen of the Night. This not very pretty
shrub grows quite quickly. It should not be planted near
drains or filters as these can get blocked by the slender
flowers which fall profusely. It blooms several times a year.
In my garden it has flowered in January, March, May, June.
The small greenish flowers have a powerful fragrance which
is released at night, hence the plants name.
Pruning to keep its size within bounds seems to encourage it
to flower again. Propagation is by cuttings.
Chamaedorea seifrizii
Seifrizii. Reed palm. I started with nine of these in pots. An
elegant clump-forming palm with cane-like stems, this is an
ideal pot plant and houseplant. It has been said to grow
quickly to a mature height of 2 m and to seed early. It likes
shade and can be easily propagated by division. The black
seeds on dark orange stems make a striking contrast. The
books say that it should be grown in a shaded, sheltered
courtyard or border.
Chrysalidocarpus lutescens
Palmera. I started with 6 of these planted along the garden
wall.
Page 16
Citrus aurantiifolia
Dayap; lime: variegated cultivar. From India to the Malay
Peninsula to the Philippines. Propagated from seeds or from
cuttings. It is known as a host plant for several species of
butterflies: its leaves provide food for caterpillars.
Citrus maxima
Lukban, pomelo, suha. My suha is still only about 50 cm tall and has not fruited, but it already
plays host to the lime butterfly.
Citrus microcarpa
Kalamansi. In mid-January 2005, this was populated by about 15 caterpillars. It sprung a full coat
of leaves in April-May.
Citrus microcarpa
Kalamansi, variegated form. It fruited fairly well for some
months since then; by December 2004 there were only a few
tiny fruit. The fruit is larger than the common kalamansi and,
like the leaves, it is variegated. This plant always keeps its
full complement of leaves and is obviously not a favourite of
caterpillars. Flowering timidly by mid-January 2005, the
plant was fruiting quite well by April-May.
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Clerodendrum macrosiphon
Do-re-mi plant; musical note shrub. I started with 6 of these.
Shrub to 2-3 feet. Indigenous to New Guinea and the
Philippines. Grows in primary forests at low and medium
altitudes. The short-lived (they fall in two to three days)
white flowers resemble musical notes in the bud and open to
small flowers with red stamens. The plant blooms
intermittently throughout the year, though January-February
seems to be a dormant period. Slowly coming into flower in
early March 2004.
Clerodendrum philippinum, C. chinense
Shrub, 1.2-2.4 metres tall, with dense terminal heads of
fragrant (often sterile) white-pink-mauve flowers which look
like tight nosegays. The leaves are large (6-10 cm long),
opposite and simple with variable margins. Thrives in moist
and fertile soil. While it tolerates shade, it prefers sunny
locations. It can be invasive and is considered a potential
environmental weed in some countries. Propagated by root
suckers.
Clerodendrum quadriloculare
Bagawak. I started with 2 of these. This tall shrub or small
tree, growing to a height of 5 m, is a Philippine native. The
large paired oval leaves are dark green above, reddish purple
underneath. The flowers are produced in large showy clusters
around 25 cm in diameter, each with a narrow pink tube
about 7 cm long, ending in five white spreading petal lobes.
Nectar-bearing, they are attractive to butterflies. The plant
produces numerous seeds and suckers profusely from the
roots. The fruit is ellipsoid and is up to 1.5 cm in length.
Considered an invasive weed in some countries.
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Clerodendrum thomsonae
Known as Bleeding Heart in the Philippines. Glorybower. A
native of West Africa, this slender woody vine is one of the
few flowering vines for the shade. It has clusters of brilliant
red flowers surrounded by white inflated calyxes, which are
its most distinctive ornamental feature. The flowers are
nectar-bearing and are attractive to butterlifes. It has dark
green ovate leaves 7-10 cm long and soft, slightly wooden
stems. It likes somewhat dry conditions and at least partial
shade. The flowers should be picked off when faded, and the
vine should be pruned as needed. It is propagated from
suckers or green wood cuttings.
Clerodendrum ugandense
Blue butterfly. This scandent shrub with pale and dark blue
flowers grows tall quite rapidly. It is propagated by airlayering or from woody cuttings. It blooms on and off
throughout the year. It was not too floriferous in the rainy
month of July 2003, but came into its own in the drier month
of November.
Clitoria ternatea L.
Blue pea vine, pukinggan. I bought 2 plants for P40 from one
of the nurseries in Barangay Maharlika, Tagaytay. The leaves
consist of five leaflets with short petioles. The flowers are
described as solitary bright blue flowers with yellow
markings on white centres. They are borne in great numbers
throughout the year. The pod is flat, linear, green and up to
10 cm long.
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Crossandra infundibuliformis
Common crossandra. Shrub to 90 cm tall. Native to India,
tropical Africa and Madagascar. Recently introduced to the
Philippines. The yellow-orange flowers are nectar-bearing
and are attractive to butterflies. Propagated by stem cuttings.
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Cymbopogon citratus
Lemon grass, tanglad. I have both the Philippine and the Thai
varieties. To me the Thai variety has the more delicate scent
and flavour. Madulid and internet sources give both varieties
the same scientific name. Both are clump-forming grasses
that grow to 1.8 m. Their flowers are large, compound
panicles with loose slender branches. They are propagated by
division and are said to be native to Sri Lanka and southern
India.
Cyrtostachy renda
Red palm; sealing wax palm. This is a medium-sized tufted
palm, which means that it produces offshoots and grows as a
clump of slender trunks, each with its own crown of leaves. It
has bright red leaf sheaths, which appear down nearly the full
length of the trunks as well as along the leaf stalk. The leaves
are stiff and feather-shaped, and a fully grown clump is not
too large for a small garden. Rises to about 6 m. The red
palm is said to be easy to grow provided it gets a lot of water
and the full sun. Propagation by offshoots. (Idea for planting:
combine with bromeliads with a touch of red in their leaves)
Page 21
of 10 inches.
It should be fertilized montly during the growing season. It is
propagated by dividing up established plants. It should be
dug up, and a shovel driven through its root ball.
The plant is native to Tasmania, Australia. (Info from various
internet sources.)
Dendrobium
According to the American Orchid Society (AOS), these are
the most common orchids in the retail trade. They are
epiphytes or air plants with well-developed water-storage
organs (pseudobulbs), often referred to as canes because they
are upright and leafy. AOS says they should be potted in
porus, free-draining media. There are many types of
denrobiums, but Dendrobium phalaenopsis varieties are the
most frequently encountered. The flowers of these varieties
resemble those of the Phalaenopsis or moth orchids.
Canarium ovatum Engl.
Pili. Marcotted. Obtained from Legazpi City. Indigenous to the Philippines. This tree grows to a
height of 35 m.
The leaves are usually three- to four-paired, ending in a terminal leaflet. The small flowers grow
in clusters and the fruit is ovoid, up to 5 cm long, and is smooth and black when ripe. The tree is
long-lived (the owners of one tree in the Bicol region claim it is 200 years old) and can bear up
to 24,000 fruit at a time. When freshly picked, the ripe whole fruit can be boiled and the soft
thick pulp eaten as a vegetable or salad. The hard-shelled kernel is the well-known pili nut. The
resin extracted from the bark is an export product and has both pharmaceutical and industrial
uses. It is an ingredient in the manufacture of plasters, ointments, paints, varnish, sealants,
lacquers, asphalt, water and fire proofing, linoleum, plastics and printing inks. The oil from both
kernel and pulp is considered equal to olive oil in quality and is suitable for culinary uses.
Page 22
Dianthera candicans
Pink candy justicia. This native of Mexico is a climbing
shrub with lanceolate, dark green leaves. Its bilabiate flowers
are pale red to crimson, with the lower lip divided into three
segments. Propagated from cuttings. I have lost this plant.
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Duranta repens
Golden dewdrop (the name comes from the bright orangeyellow berries that follow the flowers); Sky flowers; Pigeon
berry. The duranta can be grown as a shrub which can arch to
25 feet; it can also be grown as a tree. Either way, it requires
frequent pruning to keep in shape. It likes the full sun and
frequent deep watering. It is easy to root from cuttings, and
can be propagated from seeds. It flowers continuously
throughout the year. Nectar-filled, the flowers are attractive
to butterflies.
Dypsis madagascariensis lucubensis. Chrysalidocarpus
madagascariensis
Becc. Madagascar palm. 1 at P200. A handsome, mediumsized solitary palm (there is also a clumping form), to about
15m, with a thick, closely ringed grey trunk. It has a
tristichous leaf arrangement, long thin leaflets, and slightly
plumose leaves. Needs full sun and regular watering.
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Erythrina crista-galli
Cockspur coral tree. My plant cost P1,000. A medium-sized
tree (to 4 m) native to Brazil, the Erythrina has long drooping
sprays of coral red flowers at branch ends, and trifoliate
leaves with backward-pointing prickles along the stem. It
bears flowers in waves throughout the year, and it is said to
bloom best after a period of drought. All plant parts are
poisonous. It likes the full sun and rich, well-drained soil. It
should be pruned hard immediately after flowering to
produce flowering stems for the following season. In some
countries it develops galls, but these do not seem to harm the
tree. More troublesome is a boring insect which enters at
branch tips; the branch should be cut below the borer as soon
as an infestation becomes visible. The Erythrina will
eventually develop a gnarled trunk. It self-seeds freely, and is
propagated easily from seeds, semi-hard wood cuttings and
by marcotting.
Etlingera elatior
Torch ginger. Belonging to family of the Zingeberaceae and
a native of tropical Asia, E. elatior is one of the most
beautiful of flowering tropical plants. Growing from
underground rhizomes, its tall leafstalks can reach a height of
4-5 m. The flower torches, rising to about 1 m, also emerge
from the ground on long stalks. The most common form has
bright red flowers; there is a form with pink flowers. The
flower heads are eaten raw in Malaysia, before the bracts
begin to open, as are the young shoots and fruits. The torch
ginger likes full sun or light shade and rich, well drained soil,
with plenty of water and protection from strong winds. It
LIST OF COMMON ORNAMENTAL PLANTS IN THE PHILIPPINES
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