exoticplantsasia Tropical plants in altitude

The flowering periods are those observed in the natural habitats

Afzelia xylocarpa, Caesalpiniodeae, grows up to the altitude of 800 m in sites with an intermediate moisture; in addition to the beauty of its reddish flowers ( flowering from March to May ) arranged in numerous branched clusters , the large tree , rarely seen in the forests, ornates some ceremonial places in villages. Rare in the wild.

Adenanthera pavonina , Leguminosae , up to 800 m, has yellow to orange flowers from May to June; it is widely cultivated, owing to the nice spike like clusters at leaf axils and the bipinnate leaves; seen in in the wild in intermediate - moist sites.

Alangium salvifolium, Alangiaceae , up to 1200 m, is renown for its fragrant flowers

Alstonia scholaris grows at any altitude where moisture is intermediate. Cultivation : this " Devil Tree " takes its appearance from the beautiful - and devil like - foliage in layers; brown and grayish smooth bark, nice narrowly obovate leaves in regular whorls and white - green flowers in branched clusters. Flowering from October to December with a cool fragrance. Any soil with sand, a moderate moisture and moderate to full sunlight are suitable for a fast growth. It is a very large tree that may not be recommended for home landscaping. Propagate by seeds ( easy ) and cuttings.

Aquilaria crassna, Thymelaceae, Eaglewood, up to 1200 m numerous species are identified in South Africa and Australia, 3 species in North Thailand.

Ardisia polycephala, Myrsinaceae, up to 800 m in intermediate - moist areas. Flowering in October and November. Very appreciated for its pink flowers in very dense unbranched clusters at axils.

Areca triandra, Palmae, up to 1200 and above, ( similar to A. catechu the betel nut palm ), is fragrant; propagation by seeds that cannot be kept long after once they have turned red. After germination ( 30 to 40 days ) they can be transferred in plastic bags under shade. The growth rate is rather fast, from 30 to 80 cm per year. Large pots are better, soil and air must be humid.

Azadirachta indica, Meliaceae, round tree with dark green foliage and pretty clusters of small white or slightly yellow flowers. Flowering under 1200 m in February and March in the wild. A. indica var siamensis is the cultivated version : cream flowers in April - May ; grows fast with low maintenance in any soil - even near the seaside - needing low moisture and full light. It has edible young leaves and supplies pesticide components.

Baccaurea ramiflora ( sapida ), Euphorbiaceae, up to 1200 m, a medicinal plant cultivated for its edible and sweet fruits.

Bauhinia variegata, Leguminosae above 1200. The cultivated plants range from pure white to dark purple and pink, while the wild ones have often white petals with pinkish patches. This plant prefers dry to intermediate sites in any altitude range from sea level. Propagate by seeds from seed cases that have turned brown. Delicately fragrant, blooms all year round at 3 - 5 years old in any well drained soil with full light. For landscape design, it is often planted with B. acuminata and B. tomentosa which have similar leaf shape. Watch red spider mites and borers. B. purpurea, flowering throughout the year; with only three long stamens, is a similar plant from South America; petals are narrower. B. racemosa is less planted in private gardens, perhaps owing to its too small flowers ( 1 - 1.5 cm ) but the bark is nice for its dark grey color and the broad dense crown. B. malabarica grows from 0 to 1200 m, noticeable for its buds club-shaped in short clusters. Beautiful grey - greenish leaves. B. brachycarpa and B. saccocalyx, very rare, are similar to B. malabrica.
The following species are cultivated : B. aureifolia, which was discovered in Thailand in 1983 : a beautiful climber that needs full light and good humidity. Fragrant in the evening, blooming throughout year. B. integrifolia, from the moist evergreen forests of South Thailand; a strong climber with a good longevity. Propagation by seedlings, cuttings and layering. B. sirindhorniae, is an other strong climber dicovered in Northern Thailand; it has magnificent fire - like dense clusters 10 - 15 cm blooming in August and September. Propagation by seeds and layering. B. winitii : strong and spreading climber with wonderful individual white flowers 10 - 15 cm; half to full light, propagated by seeds and layering. Good branching. Blooms from May to November.

Bombax ceiba, Bombaceae; its bright orange flowers ( January and February ) make a short appearance after the older leaves fall. It grows in the wild from 0 to 1200 m. Moisture is intermediate.

Ceiba pentandra Bombaceae has nice creamy white flowers and prominent stamens.

Bouea oppositifolia ( microphylla ), Anacardiaceae, also called Plum Mango for the shape of its fruits.

Buddleja asiatica, Loganiaceae, grows from 0 to above 1200 m in sites with moderate moisture; from October to January, small creamy white flowers in spike-like clusters and bell-shaped calyx. Nice slender leaves. Buddleja paniculata is more often cultivated : it comes in large purple or smaller white flowers blooming with scent all year round in pots; green upper leaf, silver lower leaf; appreciated for its sweet strong fragrance in the morning and the untidy forest - like ambience it creates in a landscape. Does best in sandy and clay soil with organic matter; moisture should be moderate to low, under full to moderate sunlight. Propagation by seeds, but cutting or layering will produce an easy rooting for pots. The foliage being rather dense, fertilize often.

Butea monosperma, Leguminosae, " Bastard Teak ", " Flame of the Forest " is a medicinal plant with a high ornamental value owing to its wonderful fire colored flowers in red orange and yellow. Upright form, coarse texture of the light brown trunk. Uncommon in the wild, it grows in the 200 m range in dry - intermediate sites. Flowering is from December to February. Cultivated near the seaside and along the streets with dry soil, it is also popular for public areas and arboretum. It is a choice for landscapes uses : strong and low maintenant, drought , salt and cold tolerant. It must be protected against caterpillars; has a slow growth.

Calophyllum inophyllum, Guttiferae : " Alexandrian Laurel ", a delicately fragrant shady tree with leathery and smooth oblong leaves, dark green on the upper side and creamy - green under; white flowers with big yellow centres in short branched clusters create a handsome crown and foliage; smooth, grayish brown bark. In the wild it grows from 200 to above 1200 m and flowers from April to June. A moist loving plant in its natural habitat. However, as a cultivated plant, its moisture requirement is reported moderate; blooming is from October to December in any soil - it is salt tolerant - and grows well at the seaside or in rocky areas. Spreading root system. It is often seen in ground temples. A good interior plant.

Camellia sinensis, Theaceae : found in moist areas above 200 m, this " Wild Tea " is noticeable by its rounded pale yellow petals around numerous bright yellow stamen. Flowering from November to January. Propagation : for collecting the leaves to make tea, seedlings will give the best trees, high with a good rooting and broad leaves; if instead the purpose is ornamental, layering will give the best plants in pots with a far reaching scent and a beautiful crown. Unfortunately layering slowers the growth of the plant. C. oleifera is similar with larger flowers ( 5 cm ) and shorter stalks.

Cananga latifolia, Annonaceae : in May and June small flowers of 5 cm slightly fragrant in clusters; grows up to the altitude of 800 m in dry - intermediate sites. The broad leaves are circular.

Cananga odorata, Annonaceae is more fragrant with petals narrower and longer. Leaves are ovate. Nice bark, smooth and pale brown.

Careya arborea, Lecythidaceae, the " Brazil nut " : very attractive with its numerous red-purple and white long stamens, almost twice as the petals; the flowers of 6 cm, in clusters at the ends of leafless slender branches have a bell - shaped calyx. These flowers are fragile, opening in the evening and falling the morning. Flowering is from February to April. Suited for low moisture retentive soils up to 800 m.

Cassia of the Leguminosae ( Caesalpinioideae ) family is widespread in South East Asia, 6 species being native of Thailand, several others are often cultivated. C. fistula is one of the most spectacular species with golden-yellow flowers exhibiting 3 long stamens of 5 cm in languishing unbranched clusters of 40 cm long. Leaves with oblong leaflets in opposite rows along the stalks. Flowering is from March to May in dry - intermediate areas up to 1200 m.

C. garrettiana less planted, found in the wild in the 800 m altitude range with intermediate moisture; bright yellow flowers in narrow clusters at end of twigs.

C. siamea ( Senna siamea ) found in the 1200 m range with yellow flowers in untidy branched clusters. Flowering in April and May. Cultivation is easy and fast in any soil with full light and moderate moisture; a good street tree with a spreading crown. Easy to care but must be protected against leaf eating caterpillars and black mold.

C. timoriensis in dry - intermediate sites up to 800 m; from September to November dense branched clusters of yellow flowers.

C. surattensis: often planted and rather uncommon in the wild, was introduced from America; round spreading crown, bright yellow flowers with one larger stamen, all year round in upright clusters. Very decorative owing to the oval shape of the petals that also have irregular sizes. Cultivation of this " Scrambled Eggs "is easy, even near the sea as it tolerates strong winds. Good background in a park, good for streets for its low height. Grows fast in any soil with moderate moisture under full day light.

C. spectabilis also introduced from America, has been more commonly naturalized. The yellow flowers are noticeable for their lowest petal, larger and curved. Blooming rotates all year round. Tip : spreading crown, fast growth, easy to care in any soil with a moderate moisture and full light , this " Popcorn Bush " is good as a street tree.

C. alata, from America again, commonly planted and naturalized in moist sites. The yellow bright flowers on short stalks are in spike - like clusters at top of slender branches.

C. bakeriana : found in dry - intermediate sites from sea level to 1200 m. this pink - whitish colored Cassia " Pink shower " has flowers in unbranched clusters on dark-red stalks. Petals are 4 - 5 cm. One of the most beautiful species of the genus. Found in the wild with flowers from February to May in dry - intermediate sites from sea level to 1200 m. Cultivated in any soil or loam with low moisture; protect from pod borers; with full day sunlight flowers will turn from dark pink to pink and white. The growth rate is moderate, it will bloom at 3 - 8 years old.

C.grandis, with dark - red young petals changing into pink and orange - pink with age, blooming in February and March in loam soil with a modeate - low moisture under full sunlight. Foliage is dark green with light brown hairs upper leaf, light green under leaf. Tip : pod borers enjoy this species; the uncommon in the wild and magnificent C. javanica, also introduced, has an irregular crown and sticking thorns - like branches. Foliage turns to dark - red and white. It blooms in April and May. Cultivation in any sandy soil with a moderate moisture under full light. This tree is a choice for shade in lanscapes; the native C. agnes with flowers in branched upright clusters.

Catunaregam tomentosa is a Rubiaceae with clusters of white - yellow flowers with corolla like bells and don't have stalks.

C. uliginosa is the cultivated species : its white flowers appear all year round, and more frequently in the rainy season; easy propagation by seeds.

Colona floribunda, Tiliaceae is common from sea level to 1200 m in intermediate moisture retention soils where it flowers from August to October. Red - orange flowers of 10 mm in beautiful clusters.

Combretum quadrangulare, Combretaceae, : trees planted along roadsides or found as scattered shrubs. Amazing for its densely clustered yellow pale flowers in unbranched spikes with small stalks of 1 mm . Conical calyx, 4 obovate petals with small pointed tips , eight protruding stamens.

Crateva magna, Capparidaceae, has wonderful flowers in long - stalked clusters with whitish petals of 8 cm and numerous long protruding pale mauve stamen. A single cluster can have up to 100 flowers. Leaves trifoliate with long leaflets. Flowering from January to April in the 800 m range. This species, common along river banks and wet sites needs a maximal humidity.
The similar C. religiosa is seen planted in temple grounds. It has less flowers per cluster.

Cratoxylum formosum, Hypericaceae : nice delicate pale pink flowers in small clusters on leafless twigs of slender branches. Numerous short yellow stamens. From April to May the open crown will be of a delicate pale pink, setting the dark grey of the bark. In the 1200 m range with low - intermediate moisture. C. cochinchinense is similar with under leaves green - grayish; dark red flowers.

Cycas pectinata, Cycadaceae scattered in areas up to 1600 m; these trees can be 12 m high with clusters of 40 leaves ( up to 240 cm ) at their top; they grow only in wet areas up to 1600 m. Oldest trees will branch from their single stem. Similar are the 2 m high C. siamensis with its swollen base and fur - like hairs, found in dry areas under 500 m and C. simplicipinna in moist sites up to 900 m.

Dillenia parviflora, Dilleniaceae , a tender bright yellow plant commonly found at any altitude below 1500 m in dry - intermediate sites. Very nice 5 cm flowers from January to March, with 5 rounded distant petals on narrow bases.

Dillenia pentagyna : an other beautiful species with slightly smaller flowers ( 3.5 cm ) and larger leaves ( 50 cm ) that needs more moisture. Found in areas below 1200 m.

Dipterocarpus alatus is one of the most planted Dipterocarpaceae, ( 14 species in Thailand ) rather uncommon in nature. High ( 45 m ) with a narrow crown and a brown grayish bark, has narrowly ovate leaves with pointed tips and pale pink flowers of 4 cm in clusters. Flowering from January to March. Moist areas below 800 m. D. costatus is common under the 1200 m range, with smaller pale orange flowers, like propellers, in unbranched clusters. The pale brown bark has remarkable swirling motifs that definitely suggest some Asian art patterns. D. obtusifolia has its clustered flowers with a stronger pink; propeller shape petals and broad ovate leaves rounded at the ends. Grows under 1200m in dry - intermediate moisture sites. Flowering from November to February. D.tuberculatus , flowering from February to April under 1200 m in intermediate - moist soils has distinctive pinkish- violet flowers in clusters.

Dracaena angustifolia, : with Dracaeana lourieri these are the only 2 Dracaenaceae known to grow in the wild in northern Thailand; seen at any altitude from sea level, and more frequently above 1000 m. They need moisture and shade.

Dracaena fragrans is the cultivated version : it has a strong fragrance with flowers opening at night during the cold season. An easy growing plant from cuttings.

Elaeocarapus hygrophilus, Elaeocarpaceae is certainly one of the most attractive among the 12 species known to grow in nature in Thailand. At any altitude under 1500 m provided that the setting be wet, wonderful 10 cm clusters of flowers with amazing scattered hairs will appear in April and May. Nice


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