Tabernaemontana pachysiphon, Tabernaemontana holstii

Medium size evergreen tree, has a wide and dense canopy with very large (18" x 7") dark green shiny leaves. Clusters of large white flowers, very fragrant. Blooms spring to fall. Cold hardy to upper 20F. This species has a synonym T. holstii, which previously was misused for Tabernaemontana africana.

Tabernaemontana pandacaqui

Very cute low growing shrub native of the South Pacific, with Jasmine-like white pin-wheeled fragrant flowers, 5 petals with long tips fusing to form tube, regularly symmetrical.

The flowers are then followed by a pair of seeds that look like two bananas hanging in opposite directions, hence its common name. They start out red and then turn yellow when they ripen.

Variety Netty is a dwarf perennial shrub that grows only 3-4 ft tall. Its lush green foliage is a great backdrop for the abundant and continuous small white flowers that are pinwheel shaped.

Banana Bush works well as a mass planting, specimen shrub, or containerized accent piece. It is also drought tolerant once established and is a moderate grower. Ectra benefit is lack of pest problems associated with it. This plant is truly a winner.

In some sources Tabernaemontana pandacaqui is indicated as synonim of Tabernaemontana orientalis, however in our opinion they are different, with T. orientalis having pointed petals and T. pandacaqui rounded ones.

Tabernaemontana sananho, Bonafousia sanango

Called Kunapip in Ecuador. Rare tropical species with large leaves, fragrant flowers and edible fruit. Different parts of plant are used in S. American folk medicine. It grows as a tall evergreen dense shrub, the leaves are the largest of all tabernaemontanas and can reach 12" in length and 5" in width. White flowers are 2-3" wide with pinwheeled petals and intense fragrance. This plant can be also trimmed into a small srub and grown in a pot. Very tropical looking

Tabernaemontana sp.

Species and varieties:

Tabernaemontana alba

Tabernaemontana africana

Tabernaemontana bovina

Tabernaemontana corymbosa

Tabernaemontana crassa

Tabernaemontana dichotoma

Tabernaemontana divaricata

Tabernaemontana divaricata Flore Pleno

Tabernaemontana elegans

Tabernaemontana macrocarpa

Tabernaemontana orientalis

Tabernaemontana pachysiphon

Tabernaemontana pandacaqui

Tabernaemontana sananho

Tabernaemontana sp. variegata

Tabernaemontana sp. variegata

Small compact bushy shrub, looks similar to Tabernaemontana divaricata (same growth habit), but foliage is variegated, and flowers are fragrant. There are several varieties of the variegated tabernaemontana, including Silver Rain, Gold - they differ by shade of variegated leaves, from silvery to golden. Nice specimen plant, very hard to find.

Tabernanthe iboga

Tabernanthe iboga has small green leaves. Its flowers are white and pink, while the fruit can be either an elongated oval shape, or a round spherical shape, both having an orange colour.

Iboga root has hallucinogenic properties and is very important in the initiation rituals of some African tribes. Ibogaine is classified as a schedule 1 controlled substance in the United States, and is not approved there for addiction treatment (or any other therapeutic use) because of its hallucinogenic and cardiovascular side effects, as well as the absence of safety and efficacy data in human subjects.

Tacca chantrieri

Curious, bat-like inflorescence both in shape and color, with wide spreading, wing-like bracts of rich maroon-black, accompanied by long trailing filaments or "whiskers". The small black flowers are succeeded by heavy berries, corrugated olive-green leaves with oblique base. These are interesting, evergreen, perennial and herbaceous plants that grow wild in many tropical climates. They can be grown in humid, tropical greenhouses. See page about Tacca.

Tacca leontopetaloides

The plant is usually dormant for part of the year and dies down to the ground. Flowers are borne on tall stalks in greenish-purple clusters, with long trailing bracts.

Similar species - T. plantaginea has whole leaves vs divided leaves of T. leontopetaloides

Tacca nivea, Tacca integrifolia

Curious, bat-like maroon-black inflorescence both in shape and color, with wide spreading, wing-like white bracts, accompanied by long trailing filaments or "whiskers". The small black flowers are succeeded by heavy berries, corrugated olive-green leaves with oblique base. These are interesting, evergreen, perennial and herbaceous plants that grow wild in many tropical climates. They can be grown in humid, tropical greenhouses. See page about Tacca.

Tacca palmata

A small growing tuberous Tacca with maple-leaf-shaped leathery leaves and tall slender spikes of pale purple to green flowers backed by a clover-leaf of green bracts.

A rich, moist, well-drained soil and a lightly shaded but not too dark position give the best results.