PERESKIA, ALOYSIA & TAWNY COSTER

I posted on this unique Pereskia in the past and I am really glad that I managed to establish this strip of planting. 


I have said this before and I am saying it again that I was ecstatic when I saw it in a Malaysian nursery a few years ago, climbing  at least 4 m up a tree. Without any support structure, this plant seems to be content to grow in the ground and put out lots of small leaves. There is so much potential to popularize this fabulous sprawling shrub.


The Aloysia virgata with extremely fragrant flowers is also a butterfly nectar plant, as evident by the Tawny Coster sipping nectar from the flowers in this series of photos. How endearing!

PERESKIA GRANDIFLORA

I took these photos in Toa Payoh on 23 Feb 10 when I was on my way to buy the oyster omelette.

Though the stall was still closed, I came across this sweet but more uncommon Vietnam Rose. The more common Pereskia bleo has orange flowers compared to the pink ones of this species.

Whilst I love both species of Pereskia, I don't like planting them because it is difficult to grasp the plant with its numerous sharp spines located throughout the entire length of the stems. Do pretty things always come with a catch?

PERESKIA

I first saw this thorny Pereskia planted as a low groundcover at Kallang Riverside Park when I first joined the former Parks and Recreation Department.

It was a park that I managed and due to some development works, this plant was subsequently removed.

Little did I know it was so rare in Singapore. It was much later that I realised that I have never seen it anywhere else ever since. Well, at least until last year.

When we went to Malaysia to source for plants last year, I saw from afar an interesting yellow pinkish-leaved climber growing on a tall tree at a nursery. It was growing at least 6 m up the trunk of the tree.

There it was, this climber that I failed to see for a decade but remembered fondly. Imagine my delight when I saw and recognised it. So we had the owner's permission and took some cuttings and tried to propagate them in our nursery.

A few months ago, I planted 3 small pots at Floral Walk but the last I saw, they perished with nary a dead "stem" left.

When I saw this plant recently on 11 Jan 10, I found out from my colleague that it is not an easily propagated plant. The cuttings were difficult to take root and it was relatively slow growing. Nevertheless, there were a few pots of it. I hope we have more success propagating it because I would love to plant it at the Golden Garden!