Tag Archives: Ornamental

Asparagus setaceus: Asparagus Fern

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Asparagus setaceus, commonly known as Common Asparagus Fern, Lace Fern, Climbing Asparagus, or Ferny Asparagus, is a vine plant in the genus Asparagus. Despite its common name, the plant is not a true fern, but has leaves that resemble one.

It is native to Southern Africa, and is grown elsewhere as an ornamental plant. It has become an invasive species in several locations where it has been introduced. Its specific name is derived from the Latin saeta “hair” or “bristle”, hence “hairy”. Some authorities use the name Asparagus plumosus [plumosus Latin “plumed”, referring to the foliage].

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Asparagus setaceus is a scrambling perennial herb with tough green stems, which may reach several metres in length. The leaves are actually leaf-like cladodes up to 7 mm long by 0.1 mm in diameter, which arise in clumps of up to 15 from the stem, making a fine, soft green fern-like foliage.

Asparagus setaceus is cultivated as an ornamental plant, for planting in garden and containers, and as a house plant. The attractive foliage is also used in floral arrangements.

Photos: Flower Dome, Gardens by the Bay, Singapore [20140425]

Source: Wikipedia

Chrysanthemum pacificum: Yellow Splash

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Synonyms: Ajania pacifica; Dendranthema pacificum

Chrysanthemum pacificum is a flowering plant within the genus Chrysanthemum. It is endemic to the island of Honshū in Japan.

Source: Wikipedia

Photo: Flower Dome, Gardens by the Bay, Singapore [20130316]

Mahonia sp.: Mahonia

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Mahonia is a genus of about 70 species of evergreen shrubs in the family Berberidaceae, native to eastern Asia, the Himalaya, North America and Central America. Mahonia typically have large, pinnate leaves 10–50 cm long with 5-15 leaflets, and flowers in racemes [5–20 cm long].

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Several species are popular garden shrubs, grown for their ornamental, often spiny, evergreen foliage, yellow flowers in autumn, winter and early spring, and blue-black berries. The flowers are borne in terminal clusters or spreading racemes, and may be among the earliest flowers to appear in the growing season. The berries are edible, and rich in vitamin C, though with a very sharp flavor.

Source: Wikipedia

Photo: Sharp Mountain, Jasper, GA [20140111]

Rhodomyrtus tomentosa: Rose Myrtle

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Rhodomyrtus tomentosa also known as Rose Myrtle is a flowering plant in the family Myrtaceae, native to southern and southeastern Asia – India, China, Hong Kong, Taiwan, the Philippines, Malaysia and all the way East to Sulawesi. It grows in coasts, natural forest, riparian zones, wetlands, moist and wet forests, bog margins, from sea level up to 2400 m elevation.

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It is a popular ornamental plant in gardens in tropical and subtropical areas, grown for its abundant flowers and sweet, edible fruit.

Photos: HortPark,  Singapore, 20130126

Source: Wikipedia

Oranges: Part of Chinese New Year tradition.

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It is part of the Chinese New Year’s well wishes. In Chinese the color orange is 橙 chéng & the sound is the same as 成 chéng in 成功 chéng gōng [=success, to succeed]. The orange fruit is called 桔子 jú zi;  桔 jú sounds like 吉 jí means lucky.

Outside of businesses and in homes you can find small trees full of oranges this time of year. Generally these oranges are not eaten, they’re just for decoration.

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There are many varieties of oranges used for this occasion but Mandarin or tangerine are mostly used.

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Ushering the year of Snake 🙂

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This plant arrangement is about 6 feet tall, looks like a bonsai.

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These are big lemons!

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Delicious juicy Calamansi.

The Calamondin bears a small citrus fruit that is used to flavor foods and drinks.

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“Sun-kissed”

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Buddha’s hand. The fruit has an intense fragrance, but very little flesh, juice or seeds.

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Kumquats or cumquats are a group of small fruit-bearing trees in the flowering plant family Rutaceae, either forming the genus Fortunella, or placed within Citrus sensu lato. The edible fruit closely resembles that of the orange (Citrus sinensis), but it is much smaller and ovular, being approximately the size and shape of an olive.

Photo: Flower Dome, Gardens by the Bay,  Singapore, 20130124

Source: Wikipedia

Saraca Thaipingensis: Yellow Ashoka

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This popular ornamental tree grown for its lovely foliage and flowers. The tree is named for its bright yellow and fragrant flowers that gradually turn to orange and then red as they mature.

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SBG, 20120323

Flowers are rich in nectar and attract butterflies, bees and garden birds.

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SBG, 20120323

The Saraca heavy clusters of saffron-yellow flowers grow directly from the branches or trunk.

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SBG, 20120328

The fruits are large, flat reddish pods which will turn purple, containing hard black seeds.

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Photo: Internet

The new leaves are pink or purplish in color, limpy and soft to touch [often hanging in long pendulous form] that is why, the tree is also called ‘The Handkerchief’ tree.

Schaueria flavicoma: Golden Plume

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This showy plant grows as a 3-4 ft shade to partial shade shrub. Produces 4 inch yellow brush-like bracts with pale yellow-white flowers.

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Singapore Botanic Gardens 20120313

This is a fairly new introduction to Singapore. I found this plants in Singapore Botanic Gardens and HortPark. Originating from Brazil, the Schaueria flavicoma or Golden Plume belongs to the Acanthaceae family of plants.

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HortPark Singapore 20120323