Category Archives: Vegetation

The white rain lily is as calming as rain.

• A white rain lily is a flowering bulb, native to parts of South America.
• White rain lilies have the scientific name Zephyranthes candida and are one of the 71 rain lily species.
• White rain lilies are from the family Amaryllidaceae, the family of amaryllis, and while the flowers somewhat resemble a crocus, they do not belong to the same family.
• White rain lilies are also known as ‘storm lilies’, ‘fairy lilies’, ‘August rain lilies’, ‘Peruvian swamp lilies’, ‘white zephyr lilies’, ‘white fairy lilies’, ‘autumn crocus’ and ‘autumn zephyr lilies’.
• White rain lilies have white to pale pink coloured flowers that are cup shaped, with petals that are approximately 4 cm (1.6 inches) long, and six long, thick, yellow stamens.

• The best site to grow a white rain lily plant in, is in full sun or partly shaded areas, and they prefer moist soil conditions.
• A white rain lily plant blooms from late summer to autumn, often after rain, hence its name.
• White rain lily plants grow up to 10 to 30 centimetres (6 to 12 inches) in height and have long and skinny green leaves.
• White rain lilies are commonly grown for decorative purposes in gardens, although they have become a weed in some parts of some countries.
• White rain lilies are evergreen and are generally grown as a perennial, although in cold climates they are usually grown as annuals.

Bibliography:
White Rain Lilies (Zephyranthes candida), 2013, Easy to Grow Bulbs, http://www.easytogrowbulbs.com/p-1218-rain-lily-white-zephyranthes-candida.aspx

Zephyranthes candida, 2014, Wikipedia, http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Zephyranthes_candida

Zephyranthes candida, n.d, Missouri Botanical Gardens, http://www.missouribotanicalgarden.org/PlantFinder/PlantFinderDetails.aspx?kempercode=c747

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Tagetes are beautiful flowers.

• Tagetes are a group of plants that consists of both annual and perennial plant species, that are native to the Americas.
• Tagetes are commonly called marigolds, although the common name ‘marigold’ is also applied to other plants like Calendula officinalis.
• There are 56 species of Tagetes, that are from the family Asteraceae, the family of sunflowers and daisies, and most have green feather-like foliage.
• Tagetes can grow to be 0.1 to 2.2 metres (0.3 to 7.2 feet) in height, and are easily grown from seed, and they can flower in spring, summer and autumn, depending on the species.
• Tagetes flowers are generally coloured bright orange, gold, white, red and yellow, and they generally have flower heads with a diameter of 4 to 6 centimetres (1.6 to 2.4 inches).

• Tagetes can be used in food flavourings or in tobacco, and can have oil extracted from them, which is called ‘Tagetes oil’, ‘tagette oil’ or ‘marigold oil’, that can be used in perfume.
• Some species of Tagetes contain a natural food colouring, that in some countries is often used in dairy products, sweets, pasta, condiments and juice, among others.
• In some countries, the Tagetes minuta species is classified as an invasive weed.
• Tagetes grow best in full sun, are not very hardy against frosts, and are commonly grown in the garden or in pots to brighten up an area.
• Tagetes mostly fall into four categories: French Marigolds; Mexican Marigolds; Triploids; and Single Marigolds, and there are numerous hybrids in these groups.

Bibliography:
Tagetes, 2014, Wikipedia, http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Tagetes

Tagetes spp., 2003, Floridata, http://www.floridata.com/ref/t/tage_spp.cfm

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These snapdragon facts are snappy.

• Snapdragons are a genus of flowering plants native to United States, Europe and north Africa, found in rocky habitats.
• Snapdragons have the scientific name Antirrhinum, and the most well known species is Antirrhinum majus, which is commonly grown in gardens.
• ‘Snapdragons’ are also known as ‘dragon flowers’, and the Latin name ‘Antirrhinum’ means ‘counterfeiting nose’ or ‘like a snout’.
• There are approximately 40 different species of snapdragons, and they are from the family Plantaginaceae, the family of plantains.
• ‘Snapdragons’ are named after the flower, which looks similar to a dragon face, and when the flower is pressed gently on the sides, their ‘mouth’ can open and shut.

• There are both annual and perennial snapdragon plants, although some of the perennials are commonly grown as annual plants.
• Snapdragons typically grow best in full sun with damp soil, and can be grown in pots or in the garden for ornamental purposes.
• Snapdragons grow to be a height of 15 to 120 centimetres (6 to 48 inches), depending on whether they are dwarf, medium or tall varieties.
• Snapdragons generally bloom during summer and autumn, and removing the dead flowers will encourage more to grow.
• Snapdragons come in a range of flower colours, including green, red, orange, yellow, white and pink, among others.

Bibliography:
Antirrhium, 2014, Wikipedia, http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Antirrhinum

Plant Profile: Antirrhium, 2014, Australia Gardening, http://www.abc.net.au/gardening/stories/s1866493.htm

Cockscomb is one interesting flower.

• Cockscomb is an annual flowering plant, and while its origin is uncertain, it is most likely native to Africa, India and the Americas.
• Cockscomb is a species of celosia, and its scientific name is Celosia cristata, that comes from the family Amaranthaceae, the family of amaranths.
• Cockscomb is commonly used decoratively as an indoor plant or cut flower, and it can also be grown in the garden.
• Cockscomb plants are readily grown from seed, and grow to be 15 to 71 centimetres (6 to 28 inches) in height.
• ‘Cockscomb’ is also known as ‘wool flower’ and ‘brain celosia’, and ‘chi kuan’ in China, where it is commonly grown.

• Cockscomb flowers look like a rooster’s head comb, hence their common name, and are firm to touch and have a velvety look and feel.
• Cockscomb grows best in full sun or part shade, and it prefers soil a little on the dry side.
• Cockscomb flowers bloom in typically strong bright colours of yellow, red, orange and pink, and the seeds develop underneath the crested flower.
• Cockscomb plants do not like to have their leaves or flowers wet, as it can cause fungal diseases to grow.
• Cockscomb flowers bloom from spring to summer, and the flowers can last for two months on the plant, and up to 14 days in a vase.

Bibliography:
Celosia cristata, 2014, Wikipedia, http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Celosia_cristata

Celosia cristata, n.d, Auburn University, http://www.ag.auburn.edu/hort/landscape/dbpages/441.html

Cockscomb, 2014, The Flower Expert, http://www.theflowerexpert.com/content/growingflowers/flowersandseasons/cockscomb

The rainbow eucalyptus is like an abstract painting that keeps on changing.

• The rainbow eucalyptus is a very tall perennial tree native to some South East Asia islands, including some parts of Indonesia, Philippines and New Guinea, and it is the only eucalyptus tree native to the Northern Hemisphere.
• The ‘rainbow eucalyptus’ is also known as ‘rainbow gum’, ‘Bagras eucalyptus’ and ‘Mindanao gum’, and its common name refers to its rainbow coloured trunk.
• Rainbow eucalyptus trees have the scientific name Eucalyptus deglupta and are from the family Myrtaceae, the family of myrtles.
• The bark of a rainbow eucalyptus will shed at different rates throughout the year, generally in strips that reveal a green trunk that changes colour the longer it is exposed, causing the tree trunk to become beautifully multicoloured, with colours of brown, green, maroon, blue, orange and purple.
• Rainbow eucalyptus trees are often used for decoration or landscaping among recreational facilities and gardens.

The Trunk of a Rainbow Eucalyptus Image courtesy of Cogito Ergo Imago/Flickr

• Rainbow eucalyptus trees are commonly grown in plantations to be a source of pulpwood, which is used to make paper in some countries, and they are also used as a hardwood timber for furniture and other purposes.
• Rainbow eucalyptus trees grow to be 30 to 75 metres (100 to 246 feet) in height.
• Rainbow eucalyptus trees are not frost resistant, and they grow best in full sun, in warm tropical climates, and prefer moist soil conditions.
• Rainbow eucalyptus flowers are small white coloured blossoms with numerous stamens, that are typical of eucalyptus species.
• Rainbow eucalyptus trees are commonly grown in Hawaii, where they were introduced in 1929.

Bibliography: Eucalyptus Deglupta (Rainbow Eucalyptus), 2014, Austin Botany,

Eucalyptus Deglupta, 2014, Wikipedia, http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Eucalyptus_deglupta

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