Botanical Name: Nerium indicum Mill
Nerium indicum is commonly known as Rose bay, Dog bane, South sea rose, Oleander ceylon tree or Adelfa (Tag., Sp.), that belongs to the Apocynaceae family. The whole plant is very poisonous, containing a powerful cardiac toxin. Ingestion of only one leaf may lead to death in children, while skin contact with the plant can cause irritation. The plant may be medicinal only if used with extreme caution. Nerium indicum is found throughout the Philippines.

This is an evergreen, smooth shrub growing up to 4 meters in height. It is basically leafy all year and the inflorescences bloom from June to October. The flowers have both male and female organs or hermaphrodite, soft sweet-scented, single or double cymes with attractive color that varies from white, pink or red. The leaves are simple, linear-lanceolate, whorled, decussate or in pairs, usually opposite. The fruit is cylindric that grow in pairs with deep longitudinal and narrow parallel lines or ridges, about 15 to 20 centimeters long. The seeds usually are flat and winged or have a tuft of fine, shining white and grayish silky hairs.

Zimbabwe Creeper

Botanical Name:Podranea brycei
Zimbabwe Creeper is a charming climber, native to South Africa. It has cascading bunches of flowers, each a large, single bloom. The plant has long, thin stems that grow up to 15 feet, with shapely pinnate leaves, quite like Wisteria. Bunches of pale pink flowers, with thin lined throats, hang at the ends of the stems. Throats are hairy. The plant grows rapidly, easily scaling walls or a framework, a mass of green leaves highlighted by the big flowers. It can be pruned into a shrub by cutting back hard every year. A sunny position is preferred although too much heat is not suitable for the plant. The cooler months of the year are ideal for Zimbabwe Creeper to flourish. Too much water and mulchy soil have a detrimental effect on flowering. Propagate from spring-sown seed or cuttings. This creeper has some resemblance to Bower Vine

King's Mantle

Botanical Name:Thunbergia erecta

King's Mantle is an upright shrub growing up to 4 ft. The shoots are quadrangular and each angle bears a narrow wing. Leaves are ovate-elliptic, and oppositely arranged. Leaf margin is entire or wavy or occasionally with a broad triangular tooth above the middle. Flowers occur in leaf axils, either singly or in pairs, sitting on peduncles up to 1.5 inches long. Sepals cup is short, bowl shaped. Flower tube is 1.5-2.5 inches long, slightly conical at the base, swelling above, and distinctly curved. The flower tube flares open into five dark purple, roundish petals, yellowish-white at the base. It can be grown as a bush with weeping branches or it can be trained like a vine. It is not always easy to come by in the nursery. The flowers are absolutely wonderful and it flowers in the colder season. King's Mantle is native to west Africa, but commonly cultivated in India.