Calathea loeseneri - Star Calathea

Scientific name: Calathea loeseneri
Common name: Star Calathea
Family: Marantaceae

Origin: Mexico to Ecuador

Category: Perennial herb

Photo taken at: the rooftop Secret Garden of 1 Utama

How to grow

Light : Partial shade to dappled light

Soil : Moist, well-drained but not waterlogged

Water : Frequent

Prune : Cut away dried leaves and flower spikes.

Propagate : Underground rhizomes

Features : Ornamental plant up to 3ft (1 m ) tall, grown for its beautiful foliage. It has upright inflorescences that look like shining stars. Conspicous light pink bracts with tiny white flowers.

Calathea crotalifera - Rattlesnake Plant

Scientific name: Calathea crotalifera

Common name: Rattlesnake Plant, Rattlesnake Ginger, Yellow Rattle Shaker

Family: Marantaceae

Origin: Mexico to Ecuador

Category: Perennial herb

Photo taken at: the rooftop Secret Garden of 1 Utama

How to grow

Light : Shade to semi-shade

Soil : Moist, well-drained but not waterlogged

Water : Frequent

Prune : Cut away dried leaves and flower spikes.

Propagate : Underground rhizomes

Features : Ornamental plant up to 4 ft (1.2 M) tall, with upright inflorescences that look like the snake's rattle. Conspicous bracts are either yellow, green red or brown while the flowers are tiny, yellow-orange in colour. Seeds are dark-blue.

Caesalpinia pulcherrima - Peacock Flower

Scientific name: Caesalpinia pulcherrima
Synonym: Poinciana pulcherrima

Common name: Peacock Flower, Pride-of-Barbados, Dwarf Poinciana, Red Bird of Paradise

Family: Caesalpiniaceae (Leguminosae)

Origin: West Indies, Mexico

Category: Evergreen shrub/small tree

Photo taken at: The rooftop Secret Garden of 1 Utama

How to grow

Light : Full sun

Soil : Moist, well-drained, acidic or alkaline

Water : Regular

Prune : To maintain shape as a compact shrub or small tree, and to promote new shoots and flowering

Propagate : Seeds and cuttings

Features :

The orange-red flowers are very showy and striking. It can grow to about 15-20 ft (5-6 m) tall. It is ever-flowering throughout the year.
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Caesalpinia pulcheriima var. flava - Peacock Flower

Scientific name: Caesalpinia pulcherrima var. flava

Common name: Peacock Flower, Pride-of-Barbados, Dwarf Poinciana, Gold Mohur

Family: Caesalpiniaceae (Leguminosae)

Origin: Tropical America

Category: Evergreen shrub/small tree

Photo taken at: The rooftop Secret Garden of 1 Utama

How to grow

Light : Full sun

 Soil : Moist, well-drained

Water : Regular

Prune : To shape plant and to promote new shoots and flowering

Propagate : Seeds and cuttings

Features :
The flowers are a bright yellow in colour. Flowers the whole year round. This plant is great for the small garden. Can be grown in a container. It can reach a height of about 3-10 ft (1-3 m ) tall with a spread of 3-6 ft (1-2 m) wide. Grow as a bush or small tree. Quite a drought tolerant plant.

Stapelia sp - Carrion Flower Hybrid

Scientific name: Stapelia sp

Common name: Stapelia cactus, Carrion Flower Hybrid

Family: Apocynaceae

Origin: Africa

Category: Cactus and succulents

Photo taken at: The Rooftop Secret Garden of 1 Utama

How to grow

Light : Full sun to semi-shade

Soil : Well-drained sandy medium (river sand, potting soil, topsoil = 1:1:1)

Water : Do not over-water.

Propagate : Seeds or cuttings

Features : 

It produces reddish brown star-shaped flowers which are hairy and have a marbled appearance. They smell like rotten meat. Stapelias are drought-resistant, hence very suitable for rock gardens and indoors.

Mangifera indica - Mango flowers

Scientific name: Mangifera indica

Common name: Common Mango, Indian Mango

Family: Anacardiaceae

Origin: India

Category: Tree (medium to large)

Photo taken at: Klang neighbourhood

How to grow

Light : Full sun

Soil : Light and well-draining but can adapt to a wide range of soil

Water : Regular when young, reduce watering to no watering needed once established

Prune : After harvesting of fruits to shape to a manageable size and to promote new shoots and flowering

Propagate : Seeds and grafting

Features :

Curcuma 'Laddawan' Pink - Siam Tulip

Scientific name: Curcuma 'Laddawan' (C. alismatifolia x C. cordata)

Common name: Siam Tulip, Siamese Jewel

Family: Zingiberaceae

Origin: Southeast Asia

Category: Herbaceous perennial 

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

How to grow

Light : Full sun to partial shade

Soil : Rich, well-drained loam to sandy-loam

Water : Regular - soil should be moist but not waterlogged or soggy

Prune : Remove dead leave

Propagate : Underground rhizomes.  

Features : 

Beautiful ornamental plant which can be grown on the ground, planter box or flower pot.

Curcuma longa - Turmeric Ginger Flowers

Scientific name: Curcuma longa
Synonym: Curcuma domestica

Common name: Turmeric

Malay name: Kunyit

Chinese name: Yellow ginger or jiang wang (薑黃)

Family: Zingiberaceae

Origin: Southeast Asia

Category: Herbaceous perennial 

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

How to grow

Light : Full sun to partial shade

Soil : Rich, well-drained loam to sandy-loam

Water : Regular - soil should be moist but not waterlogged or soggy

Prune : Remove dead leave

Propagate : Underground rhizomes.  

Features : 
After about a year of growing and when the leaves are yellowing and wilting, it is time to harvest the ginger. You can propagate turmeric from freshly dug out rhizomes.