The perennial, tropical plant Costus barbatus Suess. 1942, better known as Spiral Ginger, Red Velvet Ginger or Red Tower Ginger, is a member of the order Zingiberales and the most cultivated species of the Costaceae family. The Spiral Ginger (Costus barbatus) is native to Costa Rica, but a very well liked ornamental plant in many [read more...]

The tropical vine or climber Petrea volubilis L. 1753, commonly called Queens Wreath, Sandpaper Vine, Purple Wreath, Fleur de Dieu or Bluebird Vine, is endemic to Central- and South America and the Caribbean Islands. As a tropical plant Petrea volubilis requires a warm – hot climate and a lot of sun. If the plant is [read more...]

The spectacular blooming Garlic Vine (Mansoa alliacea (DC.) A.H. Gentry 1980) got its name, as crushed leaves of the tropical climber smell like garlic. The garlic vine can reach a length up to about 10 meters, but isn´t a unruly plant like some other vines and creepers, which overrun other plants. The evergreen garlic vines [read more...]

The Yellow Poinciana Tree (Peltophorum pterocarpum (DC.) Backer ex K.Heyne 1927), also called yellow flamboyant, yellow flame tree or in India Radhachura, is a deciduous, tropical tree. Yellow Poinciana trees are cultivated for their stunning yellow flowers and as shadow trees and often planted as avenue trees together with the Red Flamboyant (Delonix regia). …