Ginger Flower

The number of ginger plant species available for avid collectors (if you aren’t one yet, you may be at risk of becoming one) is staggering. And why would you want to stop at a few plants? There is so much variation between species: where one flower looks like an otherworldly pinecone, another resembles a mutant orchid, and yet another looks like a tropical insect dreamed up by a cartoonist.

Common Names

Flowering ginger plants aren’t known by any other common names, although some individual species bear such uninteresting names as “red ginger” or “yellow ginger.” Collectors should choose plants based on the Latin name rather than any common name to avoid mislabeled plants and muddled taxonomy issues. Gardeners just looking for an attractive container plant can look for a plant in bloom that they admire, as all tropical gingers thrive under similar growing conditions.

Description

Ginger plants spread and emerge from rhizomes, the thick fleshy roots you are accustomed to seeing in the market for seasoning food. The leaves are usually lance-shaped or oblong, deep green, and glossy. Flowers vary greatly from one genus to another, and may be borne throughout the growing season in tropical climates.

Native Country

Ginger is an adaptable tropical plant, and grows throughout much of Southeast Asia. Although some people associate flowering gingers with the state of Hawaii, many of the species were introduced to the island as ornamentals, and some, like the red button ginger, are considered invasive plants.

Size:

Many of the flowering gingers sold as garden plants reach an average height between four and five feet tall. Gardeners should consult the care tag of the individual species to choose a proper location or container size.

Source: http://flowers.about.com/od/Exotic-Flowers/p/Flowering-Ginger-Plants.htm

Wax Flower

Waxflower is also known as Chamelaucium which is a shrub genus mostly seen at (endemic) South Western part of Western Australia. It is said that they belong to myrtle family of Myrtaceae and possess leaves similar to tea-trees. Among the flowers Geraldton Wax which is cultivated because of their appeal of large attractive flowers.

It was found by the French botanist Rene Louiche Desfontaines in the year of 1819. Though the reason for their name is unclear it is speculated since their petals give a feeling of wax.

There are 14 species that are recognized within the genus. It provides to a number of related genera which are close to that known as Chamelaucium alliance that include largely present members of Verticordia, Calytrix, Darwinia, Micromytus, Thryptomene and Baeckea.

They have oil glands and aroma which give pleasant aroma when crushed. Their well known flower Geraldton Wax is widely cultivated. During cultivation they require dryer climates provided with excellent drainage and bright sun light.

Source: http://www.altiusdirectory.com

Aloe Vera Flower

Aloe Vera has been used as a medical plant since the times of the Ancient Greeks and Romans. This succulent plant grows naturally in Africa and the countries around the Mediterranean. In warm climates the Aloe Vera will produce narrow tubular yellow flowers.

In colder climates this plant can be planted in containers. The Aloe Vera is a wonderful plant to keep in your home.

It does need a sunny place and well drained soil. It does not do well in temperatures under 10 ° C

Benefits

Aloe has a strong ability to heal burns. The gel is used as a protective coat on the wounded area and it speeds up the healing process. The gel has a soothing effect on burns.  It has antibacterial and antifungal qualities.  Aloe is the perfect first aid plant to keep in your home.

Aloe Vera is also great to use on poison ivy burns. Many people keep the plant in their home for this purpose only. When treating minor burns use only the clear gel from the plant.

Fresh aloe gel needs to be used straight away as it will lose its strength after being exposed to oxygen for a while.

Aloe Vera gel will help relieve eczema. Eczema is an inflammation of the skin and does itch quite a bit.

Treating the red and itching area of the skin with Aloe Vera will reduce the itching and speed up the recovery.

Aloe Vera in shampoo will make your hair very shiny. It has become a quite common ingredient in many commercial produced shampoos.

Aloe Vera gel is good to use on dry skin. Aloe Vera will help reduce wrinkles and the gel is often used for removing dead skin cells.

Aloe contains acemannan, glucomannes, enzymes, vitamins A, B, C, and E, amino acids, minerals, saponins, sterols and salicylic acid.

Source: http://usesofherbs.com/aloe-vera

Orchid Flower

The orchid family, Orchidaceae, is the most numerous in the plant kingdom. There are about 25,000 to 30,000 known species of orchids around the world. Orchids are found in all continents except Antarctica, from hot tropical jungles to the cold climate in North America. However, some orchids are found only in certain region of the world and nowhere else, for example, the Vanda genus colonizes only South East Asia.

There are two types of orchids: terrestrial orchids and epiphytes. Terrestrial orchids, such as Cymbidium, grow on the ground, while epiphytes establish themselves on trees. Each type of orchids can grow in two different ways:

• Sympodial orchids: the new shoots emerge alongside of the old plants, causing lateral spread. Cattleya is sympodial-epiphytes. Most epiphytic- sympodial orchids have storage stems, pseudobulbs or bulbs, to help them survive the dry season.
• Monopodial orchids: new growth is added to the apex, increasing the plant's height. The leaves are arranged alternately around the stem. Examples of monopodial orchids are Vanda, Phalaenopsis etc...

Most popular orchids grown today are hybrid species, creating by plant breeders in their hundreds of thousands. These "new" species may be the result of crossing two related species, or from three to four different genera like Mokara orchid.

Orchids are the most beautiful, the most sensual, the most exotic, and the most costly flowers. But you can enjoy them free at this site. Most orchid pictures in these pages were taken from the annual Orchid Show at the Missouri Botanical Garden in St. Louis, Missouri.

Source: http://www.flowerpictures.net

Camellia Flower

If there’s a reason for a gardener to move to the south, it’s the camellia. You might say that this flowering shrub, which has been in cultivation for more than 1000 years, is the southerner’s answer to the peony. Similarities between peonies and camellias include lushly petaled blooms, and a tendency to live for more than a century.

Latin Name:

Genus Camellia, FamilyTheaceae

Common ornamental cultivars include:

• C. japonica
• C. reticulata
• C. sasanqua
• C. saluenensis

Common Names:

Camellia

Zone:

Camellias are reliably hardy in zones 7-9, although the fall blooming ‘Winter’ series and spring blooming ‘April’ series of camellias are hardy in zone 6.

Size:

Dwarf camellias top out at 2 feet in height, but many camellias grow to a mature height between 6 and 12 feet. Camellias are slow growing, and specimens can exceed 20 feet after many decades if they have excellent growing conditions.

Exposure:

Camellia plants enjoy light or dappled shade, but they do not like to compete for water and nutrients with trees in close proximity. Camellia sasanqua cultivars can take more sun than japonica types.

Bloom Period:

Planting a mix of camellia varieties can provide the gardener with a succession of blossoms from September through May.

Description:

Camellias are evergreen shrubs with dark, glossy leaves. Flowers may be white, pink, red, or streaked, and blooms can be single or double. Camellia sinensis yields flowers that produce tea, but is not as ornamental as the other cultivars.

Camellias stand for faithfulness and longevity in the language of flowers, and make a lush addition towinter wedding flower arrangements.

Planting:

• Know the mature size of your camellia, and plan accordingly if planting close to a window or home foundation.
• Plant camellias anytime except in the hottest summer months.
• Camellias require well-drained soil.
• An ideal soil pH for camellias is within the 6.0-6.5 range.
• If planting multiple camellia shrubs, space them at least 5 feet apart.
• It isn’t necessary to amend the backfill soil at planting time. Rather, lightly cultivate the top few inches of the soil, raking in compost or well-rotted manure.

Maintenance:

1. Proper fertilization is important for a large flower count. Apply a potassium-rich fertilizer in September to facilitate petal development. Apply a slow release nitrogen fertilizer in the spring to keep foliage dark green and lush.
2. Prune camellias after flowering to keep the interior of the shrubs free of dead and non-blooming branches. Remove any branches that droop on the ground.
3. Water camellias so that they are consistently moist. Dry periods that occur during bud development result in fewer flowers with a lower petal count. Drought stressed plants also open the door to spider mite infestation.
4. Control scale pests with horticultural oil during non-blooming times.
5. Apply a 3-inch layer of mulch to moderate soil temperatures, retain soil moisture, and stifle weeds.

Design Tips:

• In large gardens, place camellias as anchor points along the garden path.
• Use the camellia as an espalier specimen.
• Pair camellias with azaleas for continuous blooms from winter through late spring.
• Plant a blooming blanket of pansies under camellias.
• Coordinate camellia blooms with complementary or contrasting spring bulbs, such as crocus or Virginia bluebells.

Varieties:

• April Dawn: Hardy in zone 6; white flowers streaked with pink
• Elfin Rose: Pale pink blooms appear in October and November
• Fragrant Pink: Warm winter days bring out the sweet fragrance of small pink flower clusters
• Francis Eugene Phillips: Highly sought after for ornamental fringed foliage; ruffled pink flowers
• Rebel Yell: White flower with red blotches and prominent stamens
• Sea Foam: A perfect looking white flower with a crisp form
• Yuletide: Red blooms on a compact, four-foot tall shrub

Sources: flowerpictures.net

http://flowers.about.com