With the Memory of Colorful Flowers

I have taken leave to the other side of the world for a couple of weeks.  Though I didn’t have much time to look around as I usually do, still common tropical flowers were the cheerful sight to be seen.  Nothing much in North America but bare branches and snow.  So, sharing some colorful images of these common tropical flowers wouldn’t hurt.

Plumeria (Plumeria obtusa) flower has a very soothing fragrance.  This plant in the photo is around two stories high but Plumeria can be grown in a pot and kept short and tidy.

Paper Flower (Bougainvillea) is another common tropical flower that can take negligence and drought in stride.  It comes in many colors, from white, bright pink, orange, yellow, red… It blooms throughout the year and is great for trellises or climbing on a fence.

Desert Rose (Adenium obesum) is another flower that does well in heat and negligence. It comes in both single and double petals as well as in a variety of colors.  I attempted to grow it here once, but too much pampering with food and water, I killed it.  I guess they call it ‘Desert Rose’ for a reason.

The flower of Paraguay Jasmine (Brunfelsia australis) aka Yesterday-today-and-tomorrow is slightly fragrant.  The flower first opens up in violet then fades to pale pink and white at the end.

This lovely violet flower-Wild Petunia (Ruellia tuberosa) is classified as a weed with herbal properties.  Since people tolerate them because of their beautiful color, they can be seen along side local roads and highways.

I’m not advocating growing non-native plants but most plants above can be grown in a pot in USDA Zone 3-8 or in the ground in Zone 9-11.