Allamanda violacea Cream

A beautiful variety with delicate light cream flowers. An eye-stopper! A tropical deeply twining vine with whorled leaves and large, trumpet shaped flowers. Prickly seed pods follow the flowers with winged seeds that fly about when the pod dries and breaks open. Allamanda is perennial in tropical climates and may be treated as an annual or brought inside during cold weather and replanted after danger of frost. The plant has milky sap and is considered poisonous; all parts are highly cathartic (hence the botanical name). Grows well in most soils, but becomes chlorotic in very alkaline conditions. Train up a trellis, tree, or side of a building where there is support. In areas where there is seasonal change, keep fairly dry during winter and prune in spring before growth begins. It may be desirable to prune annually in any case to control for size.

Allanblackia sp.

Its natural habitat is subtropical or tropical moist lowland forests.

Allanblackia floribunda has been long used in traditional African medicine.

The tree's fruit are not really edible but its seeds are the source of Allanblackia Oil.

Allophylus sp.

Alocasia macrorrhiza

Alocasia macrorrhiza is similar to other large-leafed arums such as the Xanthosoma sagittifolium, Peltrandra spp., and Colocasia esculenta, often called Taro. Alocasia macrorrhiza differs from the others in having an upright stem and holding its leaves upright, and in several technical characteristics that mean a lot to the botanists. Numerous hybrids have been produced from among the various Elephant Ear species, and it's not always possible to identify particular specimens.

It produced insignificant but fragrant white flowers on a sradix enclosed in a leaf-like, yellow-green spathe.

Giant taro is cultivated throughout the tropics for its edible rhizomes and shoots.

Alocasias require continual warmth and humidity. The soil should be rich but well drained, and the plant appreciates frequent watering (daily in hot weather), especially as if grows larger. Note however, that when the plant is young and small, too much water (particularly if the weather is cold) will rot the tuber, so be careful not to overdo it.

Bright light is preferred, but it will do well in anything up to 80 percent shade. Leaves tend to grow larger in shadier positions. Full sun is usually not preferred and may discolour the leaves, although it will usually cope with a bit of full sun provided it can get enough water.

Alocasia odora

These plants are mainly valued for their gorgeous leaves, which are very large, heart-shaped. They also produce small, calla-like fragrant flower spathes.

Requires consistently moist soil; do not let dry out between waterings. Very high moisture needs; suitable for bogs and water gardens.