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Citrofortunella
The citrofortunella is a very popular patio plant also known as calmondin orange. Although the oranges are edible, people tend to grow this plant for its appearance rather than its fruit. The fortunella part of the name refers to the botanical collector Robert Fortune, who introduced citrofortunellas and kumquats to Europe in 1846. Description The…
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Clivia
Clivia is a perennial plant that is also a herbaceous evergreen. It is considered an ornamental plant that can thrive outside during the summer months in the UK and is also known as a Kaffir lily and Bush lily. Description The flowers of the Clivia plant are trumpet-shaped and grow in groups on stems. The…
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Cocos Nucifera
This plant is more commonly known as the coconut palm and provides one of the most widely used cooking ingredients in the world. It’s not entirely clear where the coconut palm first originates from but it is now one of the most widely-recognised plants in the world. There have been songs sung about the heavy…
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Codiaeum
The codiaeum (ko-DEE-ay-oom) contains attractive foliage that will have a variety of leaf colours and patterns and, as it ages, the leaf colours and patterns often change. Codiaeum has been given names such as crotons, Joseph’s coat (because of the many colours) or variegated laurels. Description The leaves of the codiaeum come in different sizes…
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Cordyline
The exotic, palm-like appearance of Cordylines has made them a favourite addition to the garden as well as within the home. The roots of a Cordyline are club-shaped and the name Cordyline means “club” in Greek. Also known as “palm lilies” or “cabbage trees,” the first Cordyline arrived at Kew Gardens in 1770. Description These…
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Cycas
Cycas (pronounced see-kas) comes from the Greek name for palm which is related to its distinctive cone or palm like appearance. The Cycas, whose everyday name is the Japanese sago palm, is a common sight in many warm countries around the world, especially Japan and makes an unusual and ornamental plant when grown indoors. Description…
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Cyperus
The name, Cyperus is perhaps most often associated with the Ancient Egyptian plant, the Papyrus. However, Cyperus are found in almost every continent in the world whether they are temperate or tropical regions. The plants are generally aquatic and are happiest in slow moving or still waters no more than half a metre deep. Description…
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Dendrobium orchid
The name is from the Greek ‘dendron’, which means ‘tree’, and ‘bios’ which means ‘life’, because it is an epiphyte and grows on the branches of other trees. Their pleasing appearance and bright colours have made them very popular as a cut-flower and they are used in flower arrangements across the world. Habitat Dendrobiums are…
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Dicksonia squarrosa
Dicksonia squarrosa is a tree fern partly named in honour of the British botanist James Dickson (1738-1822), while squarrosa means ‘having scales’. It is called brown tree fern or ‘Wheki’ by the Maori. The plant is also often referred to as ‘Slender Tree Fern’ because of its comparatively slim trunk. Description The slender brownish-black trunk…
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Dieffenbachia
There are around 30 varieties of Dieffenbachia and they are named after Joseph Dieffenbach, who was the head gardener at the Botanical Gardens in Vienna in the 1800s. These plants are also known as ‘dumb cane’ as the sap is poisonous and can cause temporary speech loss. Description Dieffenbachia are evergreen plants and their leaves…
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