Here is a small selection of the plants we grow on our suburban 450 square meter block. Some of the larger plants/trees are grown in large containers to keep them compact.
Noteworthy edible and medicinal plants:
- Banana ‘Blue Java’ – Musa acuminata × balbisiana
- Banana ‘Pisang Ceylan’ – Musa acuminata
- Bay Tree – Lauris nobilis
- Brahmi, memory herb – Bacopa monnieri (native to my area)
- Cassava – Manihot esculenta
- Cat’s Whiskers, Java tea – Orthosiphon aristatus
- Ceylon spinach, Malabar spinach, climbing spinach – Basella alba
Choko, Chayote – Sechium edule- Temulawak – Curcuma xanthorrhiza
- True Cardamom – Elettaria cardamomum
- Cinnamon – Cinnamomum verum
- Citronella – Cymbopogon nardus
- Cocoyam – Xanthosoma sagittifolium
- Coffee (arabica) – Coffea arabica
- Four Seasons Herb, cuban oregano – Plectranthus ambonicus
- Four Seasons Herb (variagated) – Plectranthus ambonicus ‘variegata’
- Four Seasons Herb ‘Bayside Beauty’ (cultivar from Jerry Coleby-Williams) – Plectranthus ambonicus
- Fruit Salad Plant – Monstera deliciosa
- Galangal – Alpinia galangala
- Ginger – Zingiber officinale
- Holy Basil, Tulsi (Krishna) – Ocimum tenuiflorum
- Jaboticaba – Plinia cauliflora
- Kaffir Lime – Citrus hystrix
- Kangkong, water spinach – Ipomoea aquatica
- Kenkur – Kaempferia galanga
- Lemongrass – Cymbopogon citratus
- Mango, ‘Glen’ – Mangifera indica
- Meyer Lemon (Dwarf) – Citrus × meyeri
- Miracle Fruit – Synsepalum dulcificum
- Moringa, miracle tree, drumstick tree – Moringa oleifera
- Myoga Ginger, Japanese Ginger – Zingiber mioga
- Native Finger Lime – Citrus australasica (native to SEQ and Northern NSW)
- Nectarine (Dwarf) – Prunus persica (this is experimental in the subtropics)
- Olive, St Helena Island variety – Olea europaea **this cultivar has been grown in Moreton Bay since the late 1800s and will thrive and fruit in subtropical conditions**
- Passionfruit – Passiflora edulis
- Pawpaw (red), Papaya – Carica papaya
- Perennial (Multiplier) Leek – Allium ampeloprasum var. porrum
- Peach (Dwarf) – Prunus persica (this is experimental in the subtropics)
- Pineapple – Ananas comosus
- Pomegranate – Punica granatum
- Puyang Ginger – Zingiber aromaticum
- Rosemary ‘Blue Lagoon’ – Rosmarinus officinalis
- Sambung, diabetes plant – Gynura procumbens
Tamarillo, Red – Solanum betaceum- Tamarind – Tamarindus indica
- Tahitian Lime – Citrus aurantifolia
- Tootheache Plant – Acmella oleracea
- Tumeric – Curcuma longa
- Tumeric, Cape York Tumeric – Curcuma australasica
- Turmeric ‘Temulawak’
- Vietnamese Mint – Persicaria odorata
- Walking Onion, Egyptian Onion, Tree Onion – Allium × proliferum
- Warrigal greens, New Zealand Spinach – Tetragonia tetraganoides (native to my area)
- Wild Betel Leaf, Lalot, Cha-plu – Piper sarmentosum
- Wormwood – Artemisia absinthium
Heliconias:
Click here for Heliconia growing notes.
- Flamethrower – H. psittacorum
- Flat Yellow Fan – H. lingulata
- Heliconia subulata
- Hot Rio Nites – H. bihai x caribaea
- Jacquinii – H. bihai x caribaea
- Jamaican Dwarf – H. stricta
- Lady Di – H. psittacorum
- Maya blood – H. champneiana
- Orange Dancer – H. angusta
- Red Christmas – H. angusta
- Richmond Red – H. bihai x caribaea
- Rostrata ‘Parrots Beak’ – H. rostrata
- Sassy – H. psittacorum
- Tropifleur – H. psittacorum x spathocircinata
- Waxy Red – H. pendula
- Yellow Christmas – H. angusta
- Yellow Dancer – H. bihai
Ornamental gingers:
- Alpinia caerulea – Atherton Redback Ginger
- Dancing Girl Ginger – Globba wintii
- Golden Beehive Ginger – Zingiber spectabile
- Shell Ginger, variegated – Alpinia zerumbet ‘variegata’
- Siam Tulip – Curcuma alismatifolia
- Silver Streaks – Zingiber collinii
- Torch Ginger, ‘Light Pink’ – Etlingera elatior
- White Ginger Lily – Hedychium coronarkoium **Caution** this plant can have weed potential in certain situations
Medinillas:
- Medinilla dolichophylla
- Medinilla scortechinii
- Medinilla myriantha
- Medinilla miniata
- Medinilla magnifica
Bromeliads:
- Aechmea blanchetiana, Orange Form
- Aechmea fasciata, Silver Vase Bromeliad
- Aechmea gamosepala, Matchstick plant
- Alcantarea heloisae
- Alcantarea imperialis
- Neoregelia Fireball
- Neoregelia Fireball variegated
- Neoregelia Harvey’s Jewel
- Neoregelia sheba
- Several other unknown Vriesea and Neoregelia hybrids and cultivars
- Tillandsia usneoides
- Tillandsia ‘Purple Parrot’
- Vriesia ‘Mr Cooper’
Orchids:
- Oncidium ‘Dacing Ladies’
- Spathoglottis hybrid ‘Phillipine Ground Orchid’ white
- Spathoglottis plicata – purple; yellow
Natives:
- Birds Nest Fern – Asplenium austalicum
- Callistemon Little John
- Cyathea cooperi – Australian Tree Fern
- Doryanthes excelsa – Gymea Lily
- Dianella caerulea – both standard and variegated versions
- Grevillea Lilliane
- Leptospermum Pink Cascade
- Melaleuca thymifolia
- Pararistolochia praevenosa – Richmond Birdwing Butterfly Vine
- Westringia Wynyabbie Gem
- Viola hederacea – Native Violet
Tropical Foliage and Flowers:
- Bouganvillea
- Black Bat Flower – Tacca chantrieri
- Canna indica syn. C. edulis – ‘Tropical Rose’
- Canna ‘Phasion’
- Canna ‘MACtro’ – sport of ‘Phasion’
- Calathea ‘Beauty Star’
- Calathea zebrina var humilior
- Calathea lutea
- Calathea ‘Freddie’
- Calathea ‘Dottie’
- Ctenanthe sp.
- Cordyline ‘John Klass Red’
- Cordyline ‘Negra’
- Cordyline ‘New Guinea Fan’
- Cordyline ‘Rubra’
- Cordyline ‘Firestorm’
- Cordyline ‘Peter Buck’
- Cordyline ‘Pink Champion’
- Cordyline ‘Pink Diamond’
- Elephants Ear – Colocasia sp.
- Justicia carnea
- Fishtail Fern – Microsorum punctatum
- Frangipani – Plumeria rubra x 3 cultivars
- Plumeria rubra
- Plumeria pudica
- Plumeria filifolia – Cuban Frangipani
- Philodendron ‘Xanadu’
- Philodendron ‘Anderson’s Red’
Rare/collectible plants
- Huperzia squarosa – New Guinea Tassel Fern
- Anthurium veitchii
Zacaconia 