Dahlberg Daisy

 

Also commonly known as - Shooting Star, Golden Fleece

The cheerful daisy type of flowers with the needle like leaves is ideal for ground cover and hanging baskets.   Native to Texas and Mexico.  This one seen in Lodhi Gardens, New Delhi.  The profusion of yellow flowers make it very attractive.It has a trailing habit.  Grows to about one foot or less and spreads wider.  The leaves when crushed have lemony fragrance

Botanical name: Thymophylla tenuiloba    Family: Asteraceae (Sunflower family)

Moss Verbena

The five petalled Verbena flowers are dainty and attractive.  This one is in purple.  I am told they are found in a few other colours too.  They have these nicely divided leaves giving the plant a delicate look.  Supposedly a no fuss plant they are ideal for ground cover.  They are used extensively in buterfly gardening, since the flower is a favourite of the winged creature.

Botanical name: Glandularia pulchella    Family: Verbenaceae (Verbena family)



Picture taken at Lodi Gardens, New Delhi

Cornflower

Common names : Bachelor's button, Bluebottle, Boutonniere flower, Hurtsickle, Cyani flower

There is a lot of folklore attached to this flower.  It is also a national flower of quite a few countries.  Native to the UK, where it was first found growing in crop fields and particularly that of corn and hence the name.  The herb grows well if the soil is disturbed, that they thrive in ploughed fields. But as herbicide usage increased, the herb growth declined in the wild and is now found cultivated in gardens. 

They make good cut flowers.  And the attractive blue adds a flash of colour to the surroundings.

 Photographed at Lodi Gardens, Delhi.

Botanical name: Centaurea cyanus    Family: Asteraceae (Sunflower family)

Candytuft

Beautiful four petalled blinding white flowers that bloom profusely, sometimes obscuring the foliage.  The flowers bear no scent.  But otherwise are a popular garden plant.  Though available in pink and lilac, the white is more popular.  They grow upto only one foot in height and are low edging plants.



Botanical name: Iberis amara    Family: Brassicaceae (Mustard family)

Picture taken at Lodi Garden, New Delhi

California Poppy

The official flower of California state photographed in a park in Greater Kailash, New Delhi. 

An upright plant with lovely yellow-orange flowers. 

Botanical name: Eschscholzia californica    Family: Papaveraceae (poppy family)

Nasturtium

Common name: Nasturtium, Garden nasturtium, Indian cress

These were the first flowers I saw as I walked into Lodhi gardens, New Delhi.  In yellow and orange, they made a pretty sight as they swayed in the breeze.  I loved the leaves as much if not more than the flower.

The leaves are also used in salads and the seeds as food.

 Botanical name: Tropaeolum majus Family: Tropaeolaceae (Nasturtium family)

Red Salvia

Common name: Scarlet Sage, Red Salvia

These are common bedding plants and can form striking borders.  They add a burst of colour to the landscape.  They are found in other colours too - lavender, white, purple.. but the red variety is the most popular.



Botanical name: Salvia splendens    Family: Lamiaceae (Mint family)

Dianthus

Common name: China Pink, Dianthus, Indian Pink, Chinese pink, Rainbow Pink

Dianthus the name is of Greek origin  - Dios ( god) Anthos ( flower).  Native to China and India, and Europe.

Extremely popular garden flowers, even though they are shortlived.  Pretty colours.  Their fringed petals add to their beauty. 

I photographed these at the horticulture show at Necklace Road. 



Botanical name: Dianthus chinensis     Family: Caryophyllaceae (pink family)

Foxtail Asparagus

Common name: Asparagus Fern, Sprenger Asparagus, Foxtail Asparagus

Though called asparagus fern, this weed ( yes it is  a weed , but cultivated for ornamental purposes!) belongs to the lilly family.  It is a drooping bushy plant and hence the name - fox tail.

It has stiff branches and tiny scale like leaves.  I had a foxtail for years and never saw the flowers, till I spotted these tiny white flowers and berries in the plant that was in my SIL's garden.



The flowers are white or slightly pinkish.  And it has red berries.

When planted in the ground it can be invasive and are ideal for pots and hanging baskets.

Common name: Asparagus Fern, Sprenger Asparagus, Foxtail Asparagus

Century Plant

Common name :  Agave, Century plant

Originally from Mexico. Now cultivated worldwide.  It has a spreading rosette of gray-green leaves, each with a spiny margin and a heavy spike of big yellow flowers. During flowering, a tall stem or "mast" grows from the center of the leaf rosette and bears a large number of shortly tubular flowers. The plant dies after flowering, but produces suckers  which continue its growth. The average life-span is around 25 years.



 

 

 

 

 

 

 

It is a common misconception that agaves are cacti. They are not related to cacti.

Botanical name: Agave americana    Family: Agavaceae (agave family)

Info - Wiki and Flowersofindia.com .  Picture taken at Marredpally, Secunderabad.

Fancy - Leaf Calladiums

Common name: Fancy-Leaf Caladium, Artist's pallet, caladium, Elephant's ear, Heart of Jesus, Bkeeding Heart.

The leaf here is not as big as it looks.  Though caladiums can well grow 12 to 30 inches.  This one is pretty small, but my neighbour has huge leaves! 

Caladiums are tender perennials that start from tubers. . The heart- or arrowhead-shaped leaves may be why they are refered to as angels wings.  Caladiums are grown for their tropical look and bold, colorful foliage. There are over 100 varieties that offer unique color combinations in shades of green, red, pink or white, with prominently colored veins and contrasting backgrounds and borders. The leaf color tends to be more intense in partial shade.

It has no stems - the leaves arise directly from the tuber, 6-12 inches long stalks. The stalks are attached to the leaves near the center. It is known to have an inflorescence and a fruit that is a berry.  Have never ever seen them. Fancy-Leaf Caladium is native to South America, grown as a garden plant throughout the tropical world.



 Botanical name: Caladium bicolor    Family: Araceae (Arum family)

Pictures taken at Hyderabad. The second one by my bro M

Information -

www.extension.iastate.edu/.../feb04/feb0407.html

http://www.flowersofindia.net/catalog/famwise.html

Moses in the Cradle - Rhoeo Dwarf

Common name: Moses in the Cradle, Oysterplant, Boatlily, Moses-in-a-boat

A succulent herb with cluster of 6-12 swordlike leaves arising from a trunk like stem.  The leaves are green on top and purple/violet  below. The small white three-petaled flowers are hidden purple bracts .

It is known as 'Nargis', in the city of Hyderabad!! Nargis, is associated with the eye in Persian, and it is thought that the name was given because the boat shaped bracts with the white flower in the middle looks like the eye.  Interesting!

Botanical name: Tradescantia spathacea    Family: Commelinaceae (Dayflower family)

Photographed at R's house, Jubilee Hills, Hyderabad.

And the third picture on the left taken by Sa.

Amaryllis Lilly

The leafless stalk carries one to serveral flowers large open flowers.  They are grown for the large showy flowers. Predominantly in one single colour, while others may have pronounced colours on the upper part of the six petals than on the lower ones. 

Botanical name: Hippeastrum hybrid      Family: Amaryllidaceae (Nargis family)

Photographed at R's home - Jubilee Hills.

Umbrella Palm/Cyperus Papyrus

Common name: Umbrella palm, Dwarf papyrus grass, Umbrella plant

Umbrella palm has long stems with thin blades arranged like an umbrella.  Excellent plant for ponds.  Thrives easily.  It is a self sow, and can very easily turn into a weed if left unchecked.

Plant in R's home in Jubilee Hills.Botanical name: Cyperus alternifolius    Family: Cyperaceae (Sedge family)

Coral Plant

Also called firecracker plant.   Has long tubular flowers.  Branches start off erect and fall as they grow and known as a weeping shrub. 

Botanical name :Russelia equisetiformis    Family: Scrophulariaceae (Dog flower family)

Photographed at KBR Park, Hyderabad

Yellow Dot or Nettle Leaved Wedelia?

Common name: Yellow Dots, Creeping daisy, Wedelia

Creeping herb. The flower is yellow daisy like.  Makes a good ground cover as seen here.  Supposed to be ideal for hanging flower baskets too.

Botanical name: Wedelia trilobata     Family: Asteraceae (daisy/Sunflower family)

( Photographed at KBR park, Hyderabad)

Spider Lilly

Common name: Spider lily, Beach spider lily

These flowers were in a pot.  I thought they would look prettier if they were planted in the soil.  A bunch of them would look so pretty.  The lovely white flowers have long narrow reflexed petals behind a central cup. Stamen filaments are green, and narrow petals .

Botanical name: Hymenocallis littoralis       Family: Amaryllidaceae (Nargis family)
 
Was photographed by Sa at Orbit Mall, Hyderabad.

Petunia

Petunias are trumpet shaped flowers seen in many patterns, are available in stripes, speckles and borders .  And many colours too.  With the exception of orange.  Leaves and stems are sticky to the touch and have a distinctive odor.

Botanical name: Petunia hybrida     Family: Solanaceae (potato family)

The lovely petunias were photographed in my S-I-L's  home at Sainikpuri, Secunderabad.