Public gardens are incomplete without this plant. Allamanda is a very attractive plant that catches your eye instantly and becomes a center of attraction in any garden. Allamanda is a native of South … [Read more...]
Davana – Artemisia pallens – Indian Wormwood
Davana is an aromatic herb sold, tied as bunches by the flower sellers. Davana and Maruga / Majorma bunches sell the most during Ganesh Chathurthi-Gowri festival. Plant Summary: The botanical name … [Read more...]
Uttareni – Apamarga Patram
Common names of this perennial herb in English are Prickly chaff, Rough chaff, Devil's horse whip, in Sanskrit it is Apamarga and the botanical name is Achyranthes aspera and belongs to Amaranthaceae … [Read more...]
Pink Jasmine – Jasminum Polyanthum – Jajji Balli
Jaji Balli or Pink Jasmine is a scrambling deciduous shrub native to South Asia. It is also known as Winter Jasmine, White Jasmine, Chinese Jasmine in English and Gulabi Chameli in Hindi. The … [Read more...]
Oleander – Kanagale
I am really amazed about my childhood memories revolving around plants and trees! I remember plucking two leaves of Kanagale and putting them together and pulling it in and out, which would make a … [Read more...]
Kewda Tree
Known as Kedage or Taale Hoovu in Kannada, this exotic and expensive flower is bought once a year to adorn the idols during the festival season (August-September). The other names for Kewda are … [Read more...]
Hollyhocks
Botanical name of Hollyhock is Alcea rosea or Alcea setosa and they belong to Malvaceae (mallow) family. There are hardly any gardens without Hollyhocks standing tall displaying the bright blooms on … [Read more...]
Durva Grass – Bermuda Grass – Cynodon Dactylon
Botanical name of Bermuda Grass popularly known as Durva Grass / Patra in India is Cynodon dactylon. It belongs to Poaceae (grass) family. Common names are Bahama Grass, Devil's Grass, Couch Grass, … [Read more...]
Powder Puff Plant
Plant Summary: The botanical name of Powder Puff Plant is Calliandra haematocephala belonging to the family Fabaceae. Powder puff plant is a sub-tropical plant native to India, Mexico, Madagascar, … [Read more...]
Deodar Tree
Deodar tree is also known as Himalayan Cedar and Devadar in Hindi. The botanical name is Cedrus deodara and belongs to Pinaceae (Pine) family. These evergreen coniferous trees are native of Pakistan … [Read more...]
Four O Clock Flowers – Sanje Mallige
Sanje” means evening in Kannada and “Mallige” means Jasmine. Since the flowers bloom at around four in the evenings and wilt by morning it is called as Sanje Mallige in Kannada and Four O … [Read more...]
Paper Chase Tree
As you whiz into the Western Ghats, you must have observed greenery all around and intermittently you would have observed white leaves, which look like paper hanging on the trees. I have wondered a … [Read more...]
Balsam
Balsam belongs to family Balsaminaceae. There are 850 species of this plant. They are annuals found in tropical and temperate regions of the world. Some of the other common names of Balsam are … [Read more...]
Orchid Phalaenopsis
People from a planet without flowers would think we must be mad with joy the whole time to have such things around us. - Iris Murdoch Phalaenopsis is the latest addition to my modest Orchid … [Read more...]
Devil’s Claw
I came across this interesting plant on the way to Ghati Subramanya. Plant Summary: Common Names are Unicorn Plant, Tiger Claw Plant, Devils claw, and Cat's claw. Botanical name is Martynia … [Read more...]
Peepal Tree
Botanical name of Peepal Tree is Ficus religiosa and belongs to the Moraceae. Peepal tree is native of South East Asia. It is also known as Bodhi Tree. The Peepal tree can be traced back to the … [Read more...]
Datura
The botanical name of Datura is Datura innoxia and belongs to the family Solanaceae. The other common names are Horn of Plenty, Downy Thorn Apple, Safed Dhatura (Hindi). Datura is a … [Read more...]
Orchid Pholidota Imbricata
I spotted this orchid in Kavadi Kere and research led me to the name Orchid Pholidota Imbricata. I collected two bulbs of this orchid from the aracanut/betel nut garden maintained by the temple. As I … [Read more...]
Marigolds
I call Marigolds “Happiness flowers” as they are the happiness quotient in a garden. The botanical name of Marigold is Tagetes erecta and belongs to family Asteraceae. There are 56 species of … [Read more...]
Pagoda Flower
Pagoda flower has a beautiful Tamil name Krishna Kireedam meaning the crown of Lord Krishna. The name is very apt for this flower. Plant Summary: Pagoda flower botanical name is Clerodendrum … [Read more...]
