By Tommy Clarkson from the February 2018 Edition Ricinus communis Family: Euphorbiaceae Also known as: Castor oil plant or Palma Christi Fraught with a few fearsome facts, the Castor Bean is perceived by no few as the botanical world’s equivalent of the proberbial wolf in sheep’s clothing! As a result, some shudder at the mere suggestion […]
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By Tommy Clarkson from the January 2018 Edition Aloe barbadensis Family: Liliaceae Also known as: Medicinal Aloe, Barbados Aloe, West Indian Aloe, Chinese Aloe, Indian Aloe, True Aloe, Burn Aloe, Curacao Aloe, First Aid Plant, Lily of the Desert, Wand of Heaven or Miracle Plant (From the proverbial “Get Go” let me share that there […]
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By Tommy Clarkson from the January 2018 Edition Echinocactus grusonii Family: Cactaceae Also known as: Golden Ball or Mother-in-Law’s Cushion Those who know me are aware that we’ve few cacti and succulents, as we haven’t room for a large assortment here in Ola Brisa Gardens. The Golden Barrel Cactus is one we do feature, however. And […]
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By Tommy Clarkson from the December 2017 Edition Variegated Dwarf Umbrella Tree, Schefflera arboricola ‘Variegata’ Family: Araliaceae Also known as: Dwarf Schefflera, Hawaiian Schefflera, Umbrella Plant, Queensland Umbrella Tree, Octopus Tree or Arboricola I acquired our initial Variegated Dwarf Umbrella Tree specimen several years ago, intending to research and write about it “right away”. That […]
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By Tommy Clarkson from the December 2017 Edition Toddy Palm Caryota urens Family: Arecaceae Also known as: Solitary Fishtail Palm, Wine Palm or Jaggery Palm “OK Tommy, ‘I’ll admit to having had a toddy or two in my life, so what’s up with this palm’s name?” Appropriately enough, beyond its sap being boiled down to […]
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By Tommy Clarkson from the November 2017 Edition Red Ginger, Alpinia purpirata Family: Zingiberaceae Also known as: Ostrich Plume, Jungle King, Fire Ginger, Red Cone Ginger or Tahitian Ginger Nellie Neal, who waxes almost poetically about our common botanical interests, writes in her book, a Gardener’s Guide to Tropical Plants, “Red Ginger is a romantic […]
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By Tommy Clarkson from the November 2017 Edition Amaryllis Amaryllis belladonna Family: Amaryllidaceae Also known as: Belladonna Lily, Jersey Lily, Naked Lady, Amarillo or March The Amaryllis has only one species in its genus. All those we see around the holidays called ‘Amaryllis’ are actually Hippeastrum. There has long been confusion in the botanical community regarding […]
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By Tommy Clarkson from the October 2017 Edition The orchid genus is the second largest family of all the world’s flowering plants. It has between 22,000 and 27,000 currently accepted species, in 880 genera – not counting more than 50,000 registered hybrids! The Dendrobium varieties, alone, have somewhere around 1,500 species in their genus. To be […]
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By Tommy Clarkson from the June 2017 Edition Beefsteak Plant Acalypha wilkesiana Family: Euphorbiaceae Also known as: Joseph’s Coat, Copper Leaf, Copper Plant or Match-Me-If-You-Can Fijian Fire Plant, Fire Dragon Plant or Redleaf (This seems to be a family of interesting names. Its close kin is the Chenille Plant – or Red Hot Cat’s Tail […]
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By Tommy Clarkson from the May 2017 Edition Cuban Oregano, Plectranthus amboinicus Family: Lamiaceae Also known as: Mexican Mint, Spanish Thyme, French Oregano and Indian Borage Not native to Cuba, Cuban Oregano was probably introduced to the Caribbean folks via Haiti during the late 1800s French colonial period. Originating in India, the leaves of this […]
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