Breynia disticha 'Variegated'

Scientific name: Breynia disticha ' Variegated'

Synonym: Breynia nirvosa

Common name: Hawaiian Snowbush, Snow Bush, Snow-on-the-mountain,
Sweetpea Bush, Rosy Snow Bush, Confetti Bush, Calico Plant

Chinese name: 二列黑面神 (er lie hei mian shen)

Family: Phyllanthaceae
Origin: South Pacific Islands 

Category: Evergreen shrub

Photo taken at: Rooftop Secret Garden of 1 Utama

How to grow
Light : Partial sun to partial shade
Temperature: USDA 10-11
Soil : Well-draining soil
Water : Regular, never allow soil to dry out or become waterlogged
Prune : Trim to promote colour and fullness
Propagate : Softwood, semi-hardwood and hardwood cuttings

Features :
It can grow to a height of 1.8m (6ft) tall. The small, greenish flowers are monoecious, i,e with both male and female flowers on the same plant. It will make a good container houseplant, also as bonsai.

Pseuderanthemum carruthersii var. carruthersii 'Reticulatum'

Scientific name: Pseuderanthemum carruthersii var. carruthersii 'Reticulatum'

Synonym: Pseuderanthemum reticulatum, Eranthemum reticulatum,
Pseuderanthemum carruthersii var. reticulatum

Common name: Yellow-vein Eranthemum, Golden Pseuderanthemum,
Spekled Eranthemum, Eldorado, Golden Net-bush

Chinese name: 拟美花 (ni mei hua)

Family: Acanthaceae

Origin: Vanuatu

Category: Evergreen shrub

Photo taken at: Klang

How to grow :
Light : Full to partial sun
Soil : Rich, moist but well-drained medium
Water : Regular
Prune : To maintain shape
Propagate : Stem and tip cuttings

Features : Can be grown as an ornamental or in mass-planting. It can reach a height of 1 m tall.

Pseuderanthemums plants are hosptlants for the Autumn Leaf (Doleschallia bisaltide) butterflies.Reference - Butterflies of Singapore blog.

Links for further reading:
1. Flora and Fauna by National Parks Board, Singapore
2.  Tropical Shrubs by Horace F. Clay, James C. Hubbard and Rick Golt
2. Tropicalplantbook.com

Tecoma capensis 'Aurea'

Scientific name: Tecoma capensis 'Aurea'

Synonym: Tecomaria capensis 'Aurea'

Common name: Golden Yellow Cape Honeysuckle, Aurea Cape Honeysuckle

Chinese name: 硬骨凌霄 (ying gu ling xiao) or 南非凌霄花 (nan fei ling xiao hua)
Malay name: Tekomaria Kuning

Family: Bignoniaceae

Origin of Tecoma capensis: Mozambique, South Africa, Swaziland.
Tecoma capensis 'Aurea' is a cultivar from horticulture.

Category: Shrubs

Photo Taken at: My home garden

How to grow
Light :  Prefer full sun but can adapt to partial shade
Soil : Rich and moist but well-draining
Water : Regular but established plants are moderately drought tolerant
Prune : To maintain shape, promote new shoots and flowering
Propagate : Seeds and softwood cuttings

Features :
Ever-flowering and attracts birds, bees and butterflies. Grow as potted ornamental or mass-planting.

Syzygium myrtifolium - Pokok Kelat Paya

Scientific name: Syzygium myrtifolium
Synonyms: Syzygium campanulatum, S. campanulatum var. longistylum, S.sinubanese
Eugenia oleina, E. parva, E. myrtifolia, E. sinubanensis

Common names: Wild Cinnamon, Red-lip, Australian Brush Cherry, Kelat Oil

Chinese name: 红楠木 (Chinese cedar, Chinese red-wood)
Malay name: Pokok Kelat Paya

The genus name Syzygium is derived from the Greek word "syzygios"
meaning "yoked together possibly referring to the paired leaves".
(Re: Book titled "The Encyclopedia of Fruits and Nuts" by Jules Janick and Robert E. Paul)

The epithet myrtifolium is derived from the Latin word "myrtus" meaning leaves/foliage like myrtle.

Family: Myrtaceae (Myrtle family)

Origin: Indigenous tree of Malaysia and Thailand

Category: Tree

Photo taken at: Selesa Hillhomes & Gold Resort, Kampung Bukit Tinggi, Bentong, Pahang

How to grow :
Light : Full to partial sun
Soil : Rich, well-drain soil
Water : Moderate
Prune : Can withstand hard pruning
Propagate : Seeds, stem-cutting, marcotting, air-layering.

Features :

You'll see a lot of these bushy trees in Malaysia. They are usually planted as hedges in homes and by the roadsides. You can plant it as a solitary tree or landscape it with mass planting in rows. It is popular because the shoots and young leaves change colour from red to pink, then to yellow finally green. It is a low maintenance plant. They are often pruned hard because the new shoots will burst into colours of red, orange and yellow. They can also be shaped into topiaries or made into bonsai. However, when left alone, it will mature into a beautiful cone-shaped tree up to 10m tall, with clusters of powder-puff like, creamy-white flowers.The nectar-rich flowers attract bees, wasps and butterflies. It is host plant for the Copper Flash Butterfly (Rapala pheretima sequeira)  The ripe fruits look like berries and they attract birds.

There is a cultivar, Syzygium myrtifolium 'Dark Red' with dark red young leaves and bright pink to maroon flowers.

Duranta erecta - Pale Lavender Flowers

Scientific name: Duranta erecta
Synonyms: D. repens, D. plumieri, D ellisia

Common name: Golden Dewdrop, Honey Drops, Pigeon Berry, Skyflower 

Chinese names:
金露花 (jin lu hua - golden dewdrop) ,
假连翘 (jia lian qiao - false fuschia) ,
小本苦林盘 (xiao ben ku lin pan - little clusters in the forest?)

Indonesian names: Teh-tehan, Magelan, Sinyo Nakal

Family: Verbenaceae
Origin: Tropical America
Category: Ever-flowering scrambling shrub
Photo taken at: Selesa Hillhomes and Gold Resort, Kampung Bukit Tinggi, Bentong, Pahang

For more details, read my NST article, Scrambling Charmer.

How to grow
Light : Full sun but it can tolerate some light shade
Soil : Moist, well-drained
Water : Regular, do not let soil become soggy or dry out
Prune : Regularly to maintain shape and height. Do not prune off flowers if you wish to let them develop into golden berries
Propagate : Seeds or semi-hardwood cuttings

Features : The flowers which have a mild vanilla fragrance attract many types of butterflies, birds, wasps, carpenter bees and honey bees. It is ever-flowering. 

Duranta erecta - White Flowers

Scientific name: Duranta erecta
Synonyms: D. repens, D. plumieri, D ellisia

Common name: Golden Dewdrop, Honey Drops, Pigeon Berry, Skyflower 
Chinese names:
金露花 (jin lu hua - golden dewdrop) ,
假连翘 (jia lian qiao - false fuschia) ,
小本苦林盘 (xiao ben ku lin pan - little clusters in the forest?)

Indonesian name : Teh-tehan, Magelang, Sinyo Nakal

Family: Verbenaceae
Origin: Tropical America
Category: Ever-flowering scrambling shrub
Photo taken at: Rooftop Secret Garden of 1-Utama

For more details, read my NST article, Scrambling Charmer.

How to grow
Light : Full sun but it can tolerate some light shade
Soil : Moist, well-drained
Water : Regular, do not let soil become soggy or dry out
Prune : Regularly to maintain shape and height. Do not prune off flowers if you wish to let them develop into golden berries
Propagate : Seeds or semi-hardwood cuttings

Features : The flowers which have a mild vanilla fragrance attract many types of butterflies, birds, wasps, carpenter bees and honey bees. It is ever-flowering. 

Duranta erecta - Purple flowers

Scientific name: Duranta erecta
Synonyms: D. repens, D. plumieri, D ellisia

Common name: Golden Dewdrop, Honey Drops, Pigeon Berry, Skyflower 

Chinese names:
金露花 (jin lu hua - golden dewdrop) ,
假连翘 (jia lian qiao - false fuschia) ,
小本苦林盘 (xiao ben ku lin pan - little clusters in the forest?)

Indonesian name: Teh-tehan, Magelang, Sinyo Nakal

Family: Verbenaceae
Origin: Tropical America
Category: Ever-flowering scrambling shrub
Photo taken at: Rooftop Secret Garden of 1-Utama

For more details, read my NST article, Scrambling Charmer.

How to grow
Light : Full sun but it can tolerate some light shade
Soil : Moist, well-drained
Water : Regular, do not let soil become soggy or dry out
Prune : Regularly to maintain shape and height. Do not prune off flowers if you wish to let them develop into golden berries
Propagate : Seeds or semi-hardwood cuttings

Features : The flowers which have a mild vanilla fragrance attract many types of butterflies, birds, wasps, carpenter bees and honey bees. It is ever-flowering. 

Bauhinia kockiana

Scientific name: Bauhinia kockiana
Synonym: Bauhinia coccinea

Common name: Kock's Bauhinia, Climbing Bauhinia, Red  Trailing Bauhinia

Chinese name: 素心花藤 (su xin hua teng)
Malay name: Katup-katup, Ketup-ketup, Bunga Merak

Family: Fabaceae/Leguninosae 

Origin: Southeast Asia

Category: Woody climber

Photo taken at: Hotel Equatorial Bangi-Putrajaya

Further reading from my NST article, Flaming Flowers.

How to grow
Light : Full sun
Soil : Deep, fertile soil with shade for the roots
Water : Regular, do not let soil dry out
Prune : After flowering to control growth, encourage new shoots, branches and more flowers
Propagate : Seeds, air-layering, marcotting.
Pest and diseases: Generally pest and disease free

Features : Flowers in clusters of flaming inflorescences. Flower buds are green and change to yellow, peach and finally orange-red. The colours change in sequence as they mature, so there is a mix of 3 colours at any one time. 

Mussaenda philippica 'Aurorae' - White Mussaenda

Scientific name: Mussaenda philippica 'Aurorae'

Synonym: Mussaenda philippica 'Dona Aurora'

Common name: White Mussaenda, Virgin Tree, Buddha's Lamp, Tropical Dogwood

Family: Rubiaceae

Origin: Philippines

Category: Tropical shrub

Photo taken at: Selesa Hillhomes & Golf Resort, Kampung Bukit Tinggi, Pahang

It was named in honour of Dona Aurora Aragón-Quezón in 1938, wife of the former President of the Philippines; Manuel Luis Quezón. She was the First Lady of the Philippines from 1935 to 1944.

How to grow
Light : Full sun, but can tolerate partial shade
Soil : Rich loamy, but well-draining soil
Water : Regular
Prune : After flowering for a bushy and compact shape
Propagate : Softwood or semi-hardwood cuttings

Features : The most attractive features are the showy flowers which are composed of a small, tubular corolla with 5 orange-yellow petals and 5 greatly enlarged sepals (bracts) of pure white colour.

Further reading:
1. Tropical climate - John & Jacq's Garden
2. Temperate climate zone - University of Florida

Acalypha wilkesiana 'Tahiti'

Scientific name: Acalypha wilkesiana 'Tahiti'

Common name: Copperleaf, Joseph's Coat, Wilke's Acalypha, 

Family: Euphorbiaceae 

Origin: Fiji and of the South Pacific

Category: Shrub

Photo taken at: Selesa Hillhomes, Bukit Tinggi, Pahang

The species is named in honour of Rear Admiral Charles Wilkes (1798-1877), an American Naval Officer who explored the South Seas during the mid-1800s.

How to grow

Light : Full to partial sun

Soil : Rich, moist and well-draining

Water : Regularly

Prune : Pinch off flower buds and new shoots for a more bushy appearance, prune to desired height and shape

Propagate : Stem cuttings

Features : 

It has beautiful foliage. It can be grown in a container or on the ground. It loves a warm, humid and bright environment. 

Acalypha wilkesiana 'Macrophylla'

Scientific name: Acalypha wilkesiana 'Macrophylla'

Common name:
Copperleaf, Joseph's Coat, Wilkes Acalypha, Chenille Copper Plant, Fire-Dragon

Family: Euphorbiaceae 

Origin: Fiji and islands of the South Pacific

Category: Shrub

Photo taken at: Selesa Hillhomes, Bukit Tinggi, Pahang

The species is named in honour of Rear Admiral Charles Wilkes (1798-1877), an American Naval Officer who explored the South Seas during the mid-1800s.

How to grow

Light : Full to partial sun

Soil : Rich, moist and well-draining

Water : Regularly

Prune : Pinch off flower buds and new shoots for a more bushy appearance, prune to desired height and shape

Propagate : Stem cuttings

Features : 

It has beautiful foliage. It can be grown in a container or on the ground. It loves a warm, humid and bright environment. 

Cephalocereus senilis - Old Man Cactus

Scientific name: Cephalocereus senilis

Synonyms:
Cactus senilis, Cereus senilis, Pilocereus senilis, 
Cephalophorus senilis, Cactus bradypus, Echinocactus staplesiae 

Common names: Old Man Cactus, Old Man of Mexico, Cabeza de Viejo

Family: Cactaceae

Origin: Mexico (Hidalgo, Guanajuato)

Category: Cactus and Succulents

Photo taken at: Rooftop Secret Garden of 1-Utama

How to grow :
Grow under bright sun in very well-draining soil. More sun exposure will encourage the growth of its white hairs. Do not over-water. Propagation is by seeds and cuttings.

Features : It grows as a tall columnar form with lots of long, snow-white hairs concealing its sharp thorns. The hairs are silvery white when young. The cactus can grow to 5-15m tall. May bear whitish pink flowers when about 10-20 years old. 

Oxalis regnelli 'Atropurpurea'

Scientific name: Oxalis triangularis

Synonym: Oxalis regnellii, Acetosella regnellii

Common names: Wood Sorrel, False Shamrock, Lucky Shamrock, Love Plant

This cultivar is also known as Oxalis regnelli 'Atropurpurea', the Variegated Purple Oxalis

Family: Oxilidaceae

Origin: Argentina, Brazil, Bolivia, Paraguay

Category: Perennial bulb

Photo taken at: My home garden

How to grow : 

Light : Full sun to partial shade. Full sun will lead to more flowers and more brilliant leaf colours.

Soil : Rich, moist and well-drained. Soggy soil or waterlogged will lead to cause the bulbs to rot 

Water thoroughly and wait for the soil surface to dry before the next watering.  

Propagate : division of bulbs

Features : Variegated purplish-red foliage and pastel pink to white flowers.

Magnolia x alba, Michelia x alba - White Champaca

Scientific name: Magnolia x alba

Synonym: Michelia x alba

Magnolia x alba is a hybrid of Magnolia champaca and Magnolia montana

Common names: White Champaca, White Champak,  White Jade Orchid Tree, White Sandalwood, Fragrant Himalayan Champaca, Joy Perfumed Tree, Safa

Chinese name: 白蘭 花(bai lan hua), 白玉蘭(bai yu lan)

Malay name: Cempaka Putih

Family: Magnoliaceae

Origin: Southeast Asia to India

Category: Ever-flowering evergreen tree

Photo taken at: My home garden

How to grow : 

Grow under the full sun in moist, well-draining soil. Propagation is by seeds or marcotting. 

Features : This is a big tree which can grow up to 30m tall. The creamy white flowers has a strong fragrance that lasts throughout the day. The fragrance is more pronounced in the morning and at night. The leaves are aromatic too.

Plectranthus scutellariodes - Coleus

Scientific name: Plectranthus scutellarioides

Synonym: Coleus blumei, Solenostemon scutellarioides, Coleus scutellariodes

Common name: Coleus
Malay name: Ati-ati, Adang-adang,

Family: Lamiaceae

Origin: Southwest Pacific

Category: Semi-perennial foliage plant

Photo taken at: My home garden

How to grow :
Full sun in rich and moist but well-draining soil. Water regularly, do not let the soil dry out. Pinch off flower buds to promote more bushy and vibrant foliage. Propagation is by seeds or stem cuttings. Cuttings will give rise to plants identical to parent while sees will lead to more variety in foliage colour.

Features : The plant is grown exclusively for their colourful foliage.