One of the best things about the tropics is the profusion of flowering plants. They spill out from gardens, line country roads and overhang private walkways, and paint my surroundings in vibrant red, yellow, purple, and white.
During the past year, I’ve written several times about the tropical flowers I’ve been reacquainted with and those I’ve been introduced to, and I’m still finding more new (to me) flowers. Here are a few:
Tropical Flowers – Queen Achmea Bromeliad
If you make only one flower in your lifetime, like the Queen Achmea does, it would have to be your masterpiece. Don’t you agree that this is?
I discovered the Queen Achmea bromeliad at Ahh…Ras Natango earlier this year. Tamika, one of the owners, had posted a photo on their Facebook page. My eyes popped open when I saw it. I thought initially, that she had tied a pink ribbon on the plant. When I clicked the photo, I noticed that the ‘ribbon’ was part of the plant. I called Tamika right away and told her I wanted to see it. The beauty of this flower left me speechless. I stared at it for a long time… Although it can take a year, when the plant finally blooms, it lasts for up to two months.
Note: Bromeliads include the pineapple.
Tropical Flowers – Torch Ginger
The color is what drew me to this torch ginger, which grows in the backyard at my stepmother’s. I was fortunate to see this slightly opened one and then later to get a photo of one that was fully opened. The torch ginger is known by several different names and also comes in pink. They are used in floral arrangements and, in south-east Asia, used in salads.
Tropical Flowers – Jade
I noticed this flower at the home of family friends. She’s the gardening enthusiast. (Their entire yard is a blanket of flowers – from hibiscus to orchids – several varieties – to bromeliads and impatients and lily ponds. There are even benches that encourage you to stop and contemplate the beauty around you. I could have done a few posts entirely from the flowers I photographed in their backyard.)
The jade plant I’m used to is the one commonly called the money tree. It’s a succulent and has thick shiny leaves. They make great house or office plants. I had one for many years. This jade flower is used to make leis. Can you imagine the beautiful it makes?
Tropical Flowrs – Night Blooming Cereus
The night blooming cereus blooms once a year and only at night when it attracts a special moth which pollinates it. When that happens, the flower begins opening slowly around 10:00 p.m. While its blooming, it perfumes the air with a gentle fragrance. I took this photo around midnight on the night it bloomed.
By dawn, it will be wilted. This is how it looked the next morning.
This week, I’m linking to Travel Photo Monday. Be sure to check them out for more photos from around the world.
Hi Marcia,
We have the same tropical environment and grow amazing tropical flowers don’t we? I do lot that aechmea its quite unique in it’s inflorescense – gorgeous!
Oh Marcia, I love tropical flowers and these photos and related information are absolutely great. Makes me thirsty for a tropical drink. . . uh-oh!
What strange and wonderful blossoms, Marcia, It would be worth wandering around in the dark to spot a double night blooming cereus on the one night a year it blooms!
What beauty of nature it is. Being a gardening enthusiast, I also love flowers very much. I have lots of variety in my garden.
Except for sending them and enjoying looking at them I’m not much a flower person otherwise. But, that Torch Ginger is amazing! I’ve never seen anything like that. Very cool pic 🙂
Hi Marcia, I’m in love with all these exotic flowers. Queen Achmea looks like a masterpiece indeed. I thought at first that the ribbons were something affixed to it. I love the before and after shot of the torch ginger. The first shot looks like one of those edible flowers sculpted from vegetables. Love the jadeness of the Jade flower! Thanks for staying up late at night to photograph the Blooming Cereus and to get up early to shoot it at dawn so you can share it with us. Really a delightful post.
Yes, we do, Noel! I’m in love with the aechmea, it’s so beautiful and stately.
Hahaha, or a tropical vacation, Jackie!
Glad you like them, Lesley. And yes, it was really worth it.
I’ve since talked to other people who’ve done the same thing I did – stay up and watch the cereus bloom.
It sure is a beauty of nature, Peter. I hope you add this to your garden one of these days.
Glad you like the torch ginger, Mike. It’s such a beautiful flower!
I’ve never seen any flowers that only bloom once a year – I don’t know if I’d have the patience to wait for it! But I’m glad you got it on the right night, it’s lovely.
These are all very gorgeous especially the torch ginger. Such wonderful gifts of nature.
Yes, that torch ginger is absolutely gorgeous, Dylann Andre.
Believe me, it was exciting in a slow motion kind of way.
But I knew I’d be upset with myself the next day if I’d missed it. My timing was definitely perfect!
You’re welcome, Marisol. Nature is perfection.
I hadn’t thought of that but it’s true – the ginger does look like those sculpted flowers. Glad you like them.