5 FLOWERS THAT GROW EASILY IN about it SAN PEDRO
If you have indeed purchased a home in belize, you’ll no doubt want to make it beautiful, inside and out. Well having lived here for almost 11 years and trying my hand at different plants, I thought I’d share some of my experience on what you might use in your garden. Being on Ambergris Caye, I initially thought you would not get much to grow in the sandy soil, that is far from true.. there are lots of great options.. here are a few.
THE HIBISCUS – The red Hibiscus flower, is one of the most popular flowers found in Belize. You will find these in almost any garden, on any street, and in a pot on most porches here in Belize. They are the most sought after flowering plant in this country. The Hibiscus flower is both huge and delicate, as if they were made from crepe paper. The Hibiscus comes in many different colors variations, and hybrids. Anything from soft pink to hot plum red, like what I have shown you below. Others are bicolored or have attractive dark veins. A must have in any Belize garden.
BOUGAINVILLEA – The Bougainvillea is a vining plant that grows up to 40 feet tall. The plant can be pruned to be grown as a tree or shrub, or can be trained to vine up a trellis, or a wall. The stems of the bougainvillea are covered in sharp thorns, and care should be taken when pruning. You can find bougainvilleas in a wide variety of colors: pink, magenta, purple, red, orange, white or yellow. The bougainvillea requires very little water. If it rains in your area once or twice a month, you will not need to supplement with additional hand watering. Over-watering bougainvillea halts the production of flowers and may eventually kill the plant. You will see these lovely plants growing on the sides of buildings or trellises all throughout Belize.
Bird-of Paradise – The Bird of Paradise is one of the most colorful flowers in the world and one of my favorite. The name Bird of Paradise comes from its spectacular flower shape which resembles a bird’s beak and head plumage. also known as Crane flowers its one of the most beautiful Exotic Flowers. Bird of Paradise bloom from September through May .The flowers resembling a brightly colored bird in flight and so the name Bird of Paradise.
Heliconia –The leaves of this plant are paddle-shaped, and they are related to the banana family. Heliconias are sometimes called “lobster claws” or “parrot flowers”, “parrot beak”, “parakeet flower”, “and parrot’s plantain”, because of their beak-like “bracts” which can be orange, purple, red, yellow, pink, green or a combination of these. A bract is a leaf structure at the base of a flower. Heliconias are very beautiful and distinctive. The flowers are available year round. You won’t see too many of these growing on the Cayes due to the salt content in the soil, however if driving through the mainland you’ll notice them growing wild on the sides of the road.. Gorgeous and plentiful, you’ll want to accent your garden with these plants..
WILD BANANA ORCHID – Small Groove-leafed is a species of orchid, also known as the Banana Orchid. You can easily get a shoot and put into a coconut husk or attach it to an already existing tree and wait for the bloom. There are lots of other orchids as well, which surprisingly are very easy to grow.. the key is to put them on a tree and leave them alone.. Something i have trouble doing..
Of course there are many other great options to choose from. You’ll find little nurseries throughout the mainland and even on Ambergris Caye.. Visit one and you’ll get a good idea of what grows in your area.