Topic: Joanne Mercille
Native plants of Cayman
Christmas Blossom/Lepidaploa arborescens
ASTERACEAE
Description
Taxonomists have changed the Christmas Blossom’s name a few times in the past from the more recent Vernonia divaricata Sw. to Vernonia...
Native plants of Cayman
Solanum havanense Jacq.
SOLANACEAE
Description
Not to be mistaken for the spineless Solanum nitidum with long narrow leaves that can be found between Central Ecuador to Chili,...
Native plants of Cayman
Phyllanthus nutans ssp. grisebachianus
PHYLLANTHACEAE
Description
This infrequent small tree is glorious in full bloom. New shoots emerge with a golden hue while the lime green leaves...
Native plants of Cayman
Florida Privet / Forestiera segregata
OLEACEAE
Description
Florida Privet is like a bad-hair-day bush. Densely foliated, with shiny, elliptical and leathery evergreen leaves, it is easily manicured...
Native plants of Cayman
Bourreria; Strongbark / Bourreria venosa
BORAGINACEAE
Parrot Berry is an erect, sturdy, large bush with a loosely branching canopy that is often heavily laden with flower...
Native plants of Cayman
Red Birch; Gumbo Limbo; Tourist Tree / Bursera simaruba
BURSERACEAE
Tourists are not so visible on the island since COVID-19 border closures took effect, but the...
Native plants of Cayman
Shamrock; Cow-stick; Hemlock (Cayman Brac) / Tecoma stans
BIGNONIACEAE
Shamrock is a colourful, happy plant with its bright yellow bloom.
It is often found as secondary vegetation,...
Native plants of Cayman
Wild Coffee / Casearia hirsuta
SALICACEAE
Height: 15 feet high X 8 feet wide
Growth habit: With graceful, horizontal, layered branching, this deciduous bush has large,...
Native plants of Cayman
The many shades of Lantana
VERBENACEAE
Soil requirement: Well-drained soil
Habitat: Disturbed areas and along roadsides in limestone and sand
Light requirements: Full-sun to part-shade
Environment tolerance: Drought-tolerant
Nature attracting:...
Native Plant of the Week
White Fiddlewood/Citharexylum spinosum
VERBENACEAE
Height: 15-50 feet high x 8-30 feet wide, depending on the variety
Growth habit: Upright
Flowers: Daily white, fragrant, Jasmine-like flowers in drooping...
Native Plant of the Week
Phyllanthus caymanensis
PHYLLANTHACEAE
Height: 10 feet high x 6 feet wide
Growth habit: Full and round
Flowers: A single small white/pink-throated flower is born in the leaf...
Native plant of the week
Smoke Wood/Erythroxylum areolatum
ERYTHROXYLACEAE
Height: 20 feet high x 8 feet wide
Growth habit: It has a ‘V’ shape growth habit
Flowers: White flowers
Soil requirement: Well-drained soil or...
Plant of the week
Fire Bush is an erect, round-shaped, large bush with evergreen leaves that will transition to copper with age. It blooms at the end of summer and throughout winter. Butterflies and birds are attracted to it.
Plant of the Week
Fowl Berry; Blood Berry / Rivina humilis
PHYTOLACCACEAE
Height: 18 inches x 12 inches
Growth habit: Rounded, full form, evergreen leaves with ever-blooming blossoms
Flowers: White or...
Plant of the week
Wild Pumpkin; Corky Stem Vine; Inkvine/Passiflora cuprea
PASSIFLORACEAE
Height:
Long tendrils that can cover a large pergola
Growth habit:
Evergreen vine with blue/green foliage
Flowers:
Large three-inch red flowers; the large...
