Pachira aquatica

Scientific name: Pachira aquatica

Common name:  Money Tree, Malabar Chestnut, Provision Tree, Wild Cocoa Tree, French Peanut

Chinese name: 馬拉巴栗 (ma-la-ba-li)
Auspicious Chinese New Year name: Money Tree (發財樹 fā cái shù), US Dollar Tree

Family: Bombacaceae

Origin: Tropical America

Category: Tree

Photo taken at: Ah Chui Nursery, Sg Buloh

Mussaenda 'Queen Sirikit'

Scientific name: Mussaenda  'Queen Sirikit'

Common name: Queen Sirikit Mussaenda or Peach Mussaenda

Malay name: Bunga janda Kaya Merah Muda (pink wealthy widow)

Family: Rubiaceae

Origin: Horticultural hybrid of M. philippica 'Dona Aurora' and M. erythrophylla

Photo taken at: The Secret Garden of 1-Utama

This hybrid is named in honour of Queen Sirikit of Thailand to commemorate her first visit to the Philippines in the 1970s.

Murraya paniculata

Scientific name: Murraya paniculata

Common name: Orange Jasmine, Chinese Myrtle, Burmese Boxwood,

Chinese name: Yue Ju (月橘) or 'moon citrus'

Malay name: Kemuning

Family: Rutaceae

Origin: India to Indo-China

Category: Perennial shrub to small tree 

Photo taken at: My home garden

Ruellia tuberosa

Scientific name: Ruellia tuberosa

Common name:   Minnie Root, Waterkanon, Fever Root, Snapdragon Root, Sheep Potato

Family: Acanthaceae 

Origin:  Central and South America

Category: Shrub

Photo Taken at: Roadside rubbish dump in SPPK, Ipoh

 

Notes:

1. Medicinal plant
2. Butterflies such as Lemon Pansy (Junonia lemonias) and Mangrove Buckeye (Junonia genoveva), feed on the leaves of Ruellia tuberosa.

Melastoma malabathricum 'Alba' - Senduduk (White)

Scientific name: Melastoma malabathricum 'Alba'

Common name: Straits Rhododendron, Senduduk Putih (Malay)

Family: Melastomaceae
Origin: South East Asia
Category: Perennial shrub

Nelumbo nucifera - The Lotus Flower

Scientific name: Nelumbo nucifera
Synonym: Nelumbian nelumbo

Common name: Lotus, Sacred Water Lily

Chinese name: Lian Hua (莲花)

Malay name: Bunga Seroja

Family: Nelumbonaceae

Origin: Tropical Asia and Queensland, Australia

Category: Aquatic plant

Photo taken at: Chung Lim Garden nursery, Klang

Notes:

White lotus - national flower of India

Pink lotuses - national flower of Vietnam.

Alpinia galanga - Galangal

Scientific name: Alpinia galanga
Synonym: Languas galanga

Common names: Greater Galangal, Thai/Siamese Ginger, Spice Ginger

Chinese name- Blue Ginger (南姜) or 高良姜
Malay name - Lengkuas, Galangal

Family: Zingiberaceae

 Origin: Tropical Asia
Native to Southeast Asia and Indonesia)

Category: Rhizomatus perennials
Uses : Medicinal herb and spice.

Photo taken at: The ditch garden in my neighbourhood.

For more information about this plant and how to grow, click here.

My NST article about galangal is titled, "Ginger Greats", click here.

Dimocarpus longan var. longan

Scientific name: Dimocarpus longan var. longan

Common  name / Chinese name: Longan (dragon eyes)

Malay name: Pokok Mata Kucing

Family: Sapindaceae (rambutan family)

Origin: China

Category: Tropical Tree
Photograph taken at: The Secret Garden of 1-Utama

Jatropha integerrima - Pink

Scientific name: Jatropha integerrima
Synonym: Jatropha panduraefolia

Common names: Spicy Jatropha, Shanghai Beauty, Rose-flowered Jatropha, Peregrina, Nanyang Cherry
Chinese name: 琴叶珊瑚 (qin ye shan hu - zither leafed coral), 日日樱 (ri ri ying - day cherry)
Malay name: Bunga Jarak Hias, Jarak Ros

Family: Euphorbiaceae
Origin: West Indies
Category: Perennial shrub

Photo taken at: The Secret Garden of 1-Utama.

Ipomoea purpurea - Common Morning Glory

Scientific name: Ipomoea purpurea

Common name: Common Morning Glory 
Malay name: Seri Pagi

Family: Convolvulacee
Origin:  Mexico and Central America
Category: Herbaceous perennial climber

Photo taken at: My home garden

Hippeastrum reticulatum - Hippy Lily

Scientific name: Hippeastrum reticulatum

Common name: Hippy Lily  

Family: Amaryllidaceae

Origin: Brazil

  Category: Bulbs

Photo taken at: My home garden

How to grow:

Light : Full to partial sun

Water : Regular, High 

Propagate :  Bulbs

Features :There are many hybrids and cultivars 

Heliconia chartaceae 'Sexy Pink'

Scientific name: Heliconia chartacea 'Sexy Pink'

Common name: Pink Flamingo Heliconia

Family: Heliconiaceae

Order: Zingiberale

Origin: Guiana and Brazil

Category: Tropical perennial herb

Photograph taken at: Floria 2010

Euphorbia milii - White

Scientific name: Euphorbia milii

Synonym: Euphorbia splendens

Common name: Crown of Thorns, Christ Plant

Family: Euphorbiacceae

Origin: Horticulture 

Category: Succulent climbing shrub

Photo taken at: The Secret Garden of 1-Utama

Euphorbia milii - Pale Pink

Scientific name: Euphorbia milii

Synonym: Euphorbia splendens

Common name: Crown of Thorns, Christ Plant

Family: Euphorbiacceae

Origin: Horticulture 

Category: Succulent climbing shrub

Photo taken at: The Secret Garden of 1-Utama

Euphorbia milii - Deep Pink

Scientific name: Euphorbia milii

Synonym: Euphorbia splendens

Common name: Crown of Thorns, Christ Plant

Family: Euphorbiacceae

Origin: Horticulture 

Category: Succulent climbing shrub

Photo taken at: The Secret Garden of 1-Utama

Clitoria ternatea - Blue Butterfly Pea

Scientific name: Clitoria ternatea

Common name: Butterfly Pea, Asian Pigeonwings, Blue Pea

Malay name: bunga telang

Family: Fabaceae

Origin: tropical equatorial Asia

Category: Perennial herbaceous climber

Photograph taken at: My home garden

Chlorophytum bichetii

Scientific name: Chlorophytum bichetii

Family: Liliceae

Common names: Bichetii Grass, Siam Lily, False Lily Turf, Wheat Plant, Loose Leaf Chlorophytum

Misapplied names: Dwarf Spider Plant, Variegated Spider Plant

Origin/Native of: West Africa

Category: Evergreen perennial plant

Photo Taken at: My home garden

Ceiba petandra - Kapok Tree

Scientific name: Ceiba pentandra

Common name: The Kapok Tree, Silk Cotton Tree, Java cotton, Java kapok

Family: Malvaceae (previously Bombacaceae)

Category: Tree

Native plant of : South America and Africa

Photographs taken at: SPPK Ipoh

Cassia fistula - Golden Shower Tree



Scientific name: Cassia fistula

Common name: Golden Shower Tree, Indian Laburnam, Purging Cassia, Golden Chain Tree,
Amaltas (India), Sausage Tree, Pudding Pipe Tree, Cassia Stick Tree

Malay name: Bereksa, Tengguli, Dulang

Chinese name: 阿勃勒 (Abole)

Family: Fabaceae

Origin:  India and Sri Lanka

Category: Small to medium-sized tree

Photo Taken at: Butterfly Park at Bandar Bukit Tinggi 2, Klang

Adonidia merrillii - Christmas Palm

Scientific name: Adonidia merrillii 

Synonym: Veitchia merrillii

Common name: Christmas Palm, Manila Palm,  Kerpis Palm, Dwarf Royal Palm

 

Family: Palmae

Origin: Philippines 

Category: Palm

Photo Taken at: The Legend Water Chalets Resort Port Dickson

Allamanda blanchetii

Scientific name: Allamanda blanchetii

Common name: Purple Allamanda, Violet Allamanda, Cherry Allamnda

Malay name: Bunga Allamanda Ungu
Chinese name: 硬枝黄蝉 (ying zhi huang chan)

Family: Apocynaceae

Origin: Tropical America

Category: Semi-woody twining vine, ever-flowering

Photo taken at : The Secret Garden of 1-Utama

BM Translation:

• pokok renek memanjat yang berkayu keras
• bentuk bunga seperti trumpet
• bunga berwarna kuning terang
• daunnya berkilat
• mengeluarkan bunga yang banyak sepanjang tahun
• pembiakan melalui keratan batang

Angelonia salicariifolia - Purple

Scientific name: Angelonia salicariifolia

 

Common names:
Angelonia, Willowleaf Angelonia, Angel Mist, Summer Snapdragon, Angel Flower

Chinese name:  天使花('tian shi hua' or angel flower)
Malay name: bunga satay (satay flowers)

Family: Scrophulariaceae (Figwort family)

Origin: Tropical America

Category: Annual to tropical perennial herb

Photographs taken at: The Secret Garden of 1-Utama

Notes:

An ornamental plant with flowers that look like snapdragons. Most suitable for English styled gardens. Needs a lot of sunshine and moist, well drained soil that is rich in humus. Flowers in varieties of pink, lavender and white. Blooms fast and repeatedly. Easily propagated by herbaceous stem cuttings. I am growing the pink and lavender varieties in my home garden now. It flowers easily and can be propagated easily by the 'cut and plant' method.

Translation to Bahasa Malaysia

Nota Ringkas:

• pokok renek
• ditamam sebagai bunga hiasan di laman berkonsepsi Inggeris
• tanaman pasuan
• tanah yang mudah mengalir
• sinaran matarhari yang banyak
• siraman air yang mencukupi tetapi jangan biarkan ia menakung di pasu
• pangkas selalu untuk mencapai batang pokok yang tebal dan cantik
• bunganya dalam warna merah muda dan ungu
• berbunga sepanjang tahun
• membiak melalui keratan batang

Angelonia biflora 'Rose Pink'

Scientific name: Angelonia biflora 'Rose Pink'

Common names:
Angelonia, Willowleaf Angelon, Angel Mist, Summer Snapdragon, Angel Flower

Chinese name:  天使花('tian shi hua' or angel flower)
Malay name: bunga satay (satay flowers)

Family: Scrophulariaceae (Figwort family)

Origin: Tropical America

Category: Annual to tropical perennial herb

Photographs taken at: My home garden



Notes:

An ornamental plant with flowers that look like snapdragons. Most suitable for English styled gardens. Needs a lot of sunshine and moist, well drained soil that is rich in humus. Flowers in varieties of pink, lavender and white. Blooms fast and repeatedly. Easily propagated by herbaceous stem cuttings. I am growing the pink and lavender varieties in my home garden now. It flowers easily and can be propagated easily by the 'cut and plant' method.



Translation to Bahasa Malaysia

Nota Ringkas:

• pokok renek
• ditamam sebagai bunga hiasan di laman berkonsepsi Inggeris
• tanaman pasuan
• tanah yang mudah mengalir
• sinaran matarhari yang banyak
• siraman air yang mencukupi tetapi jangan biarkan ia menakung di pasu
• pangkas selalu untuk mencapai batang pokok yang tebal dan cantik
• bunganya dalam warna merah muda dan ungu
• berbunga sepanjang tahun
• membiak melalui keratan batang

Scientific name: Common name: Family: Origin: Category: Photo Taken at:

Bidens pilosa

Scientific name: Bidens pilosa

Family: Asteraceae
Origin: Tropical America

Category: Annual

Photographs taken at: The Rooftop Secret Garden of 1-Utama

This plant has many common names, even within the same culture.

English: Black Jack, Spanish Needle

Malay: Ketul

Chinese: 鬼针草 ('gui zhen cao' meaning ghost needle grass)

Taiwanese: 咸豐草 (xian feng cao where xianfeng is the name of a county in China)

Philipines: Pisau-pisau.

Bauhinia purpurea

Scientific name: Bauhinia purpurea

Family: Fabaceae

Native to: South China, Southeast Asia, India

Common names:

Purple Bauhinia, Butterfly Tree, Hawaiian Orchid Tree,

Moutain Ebony, Geranium Tree, Purple Camel's Foot

In Malay it is called "Tapak Unta" (Camel's Foot), "Tapak Kuda" (Horse Hooves), aroy kupu-kupu.

Photographs taken at Taman Botani Putrajaya (Botanic Garden) in 2010.

Bauhinia x blakeana

Butterfly Park in Bukit Tinggi 2, Klang

Scientific name: Bauhinia x blakeana or Bauhinia 'blakeana'

Family: Fabaceae

Origin: Hong Kong

Category: A small to medium sized ornamental tree

Common names: The Hong Kong Orchid Tree, Bauhinia

Chinese names: Chung Ming Yip (Cantonese) meaning 'clever leaves')

and 'Yang Zi Jing' (Mandarin) meaning 'the foreign purple tree.

Malay name: 'Tapak Unta' (Camel's Foot) or Tapak Kuda (Horse Hoof)

Photographs taken at: My neighbourhood Public Park and along roadside.

Bauhinia acuminata

Scientific name: Bauhinia acuminata

Common name: Dwarf White Bauhinia, White Orchid Tree, Snowy Orchid Tree

Family: Fabaceae

Origin: Malaysia, Southeast Asia

Category: Ornamental small tree/shrub

Photograph taken at: The Rooftop Secret Garden of 1-Utama

Asystasia sp

Scientific name: Asystasia sp

Common name: Asystasia

Origin: Unknown

Family: Acanthaceae

Photographs taken at: The Secret Garden of 1-Utama

Asystasia gangetica

Scientific name: Asystasia gangetica ssp. micrantha 

Synonym: Asystasia coromandeliana

Common name:
Chinese Violet, Coromandel, Creeping Foxglove, Ganges Primrose, False Snapdragon

Family: Acanthaceae

Origin: Mafia Island (part of Tanzania's Spice Islands)

Category: Perennial, herbaceous ever-flowering creeper

Photograph taken at the Rooftop Secret Garden of 1-Utama

Hibiscus sabdariffa - Roselle

10. Hibiscus sabdariffa - Roselle

Scientific name: Hibiscus sabdariffa
Common names: Roselle

Family: Malvaceae

Origin: India to Malaysia

Category: Annual or perennial herb
Photo taken at: My home garden

The roselle plant is similar in appearance to Hibiscus acetosella (False Roselle, African Rosemallow, Cranberry Shield, Maple Sugar, Red Hibiscus), the ornamental hibiscus with burgundy red leaves and pinkish red flowers.

Updated - How to grow:

Please refer to My NST article titled "Delicious Roselle" was published on 1st Sept 2012, read here.

You can buy roselle plants in Sg Buloh, click here.

For roselle seeds, I have stock of roselle seeds, otherwise you can also buy them from Tanam Sendiri blog here.