Birthday
HydrangeasThe tropics are home to the most unexpected flowers: some look like lips, others like turquoise claws, others like fireworks. Here are five plants that astonish with their shape and colour, where they grow and whether you can see them in Ukraine.
Exotic and designer bouquets: imported roses and flowers in a box.
The five at a glance
Canna
Cannas come from tropical and subtropical parts of the Americas. They have large leaves, often bronze or striped, and bright flowers in red, orange and yellow. In Ukraine canna is grown as a summer plant for beds and containers: in autumn the rhizomes are lifted and stored over winter in a cool, frost-free place.
Plumeria
Plumeria, or frangipani, originates in tropical America but now grows throughout the tropics. Its waxy, sweetly scented flowers are used in Hawaiian leis. Indoors it needs very bright light and a dry, cool winter; the milky sap irritates the skin.
Protea
Proteas grow in southern Africa, and the king protea is South Africa’s national flower. Its large heads with firm bracts last a long time in a vase and dry beautifully, so protea often appears in designer bouquets.
Psychotria
Psychotria elata grows in the rainforests of Central and South America. Its bright red bracts, resembling painted lips, surround small white flowers and attract hummingbirds and butterflies.
Jade vine
Strongylodon macrobotrys is native to the Philippines. Its turquoise, claw-shaped flowers hang in long clusters and are pollinated by bats. In the wild it is considered vulnerable because of deforestation; in Europe it can be seen in the tropical glasshouses of botanic gardens.
See which exotic flowers go into bouquets in exotic flowers in bouquets, and read about the most fragrant plants in the most fragrant flowers.
FAQ
Can I grow plumeria at home?
Yes, on a very bright window or in a conservatory, although indoors it does not flower every year.
How long does protea last in a vase?
With fresh water and recut stems, usually one to two weeks, after which it can be dried.
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Author: Maria Svitlovir
Graduated from Taras Shevchenko National University of Kyiv, Institute of Biology and Medicine (2001). BSc in Biology, MSc in Horticulture. Writes about plants, works at a garden centre selecting and repotting plants, and contributes to plant reference guides.
