Yellow Mandevilla Vine

A flourishing Mandevilla plant is truly spectacular. The one pictured here almost entirely covers a substantial wall, and even started to climb up the Casuarina Tree behind. The flowers are very similar to those of the Allamanda plant, but slightly smaller.

Mandevilla has little to no fragrance, but it is very attractive to hummingbirds, some moths and butterflies. The vine grows really easily, and if it likes the spot, it will gradually take over everything in sight, so it’s great as a wall or pergola cover and adds great privacy.

The vine does not seem bothered by close proximity to the sea and therefore salty air, but it does need a bit of water periodically. As with most vines, Mandevilla is very hardy. It makes a lovely splash of colour in any garden, and for me, the fact that it attracts birds, butterflies and other insects, is a huge plus.

If you’d like to read more about Barbados, please visit my other blog, Things Barbados.

Texas Sage

Texas Sage is a hardy shrub that doesn’t require much watering, trimming or tending generally, so long as it is sheltered from the wind. Every so often you will be rewarded with a stunning display of tiny purple flowers.

Texas Sage has tiny grey leaves not unlike those of Silver Dollar, just much much smaller, and they make good borders or small hedges, but the one shown here has been allowed to grow unrestricted.

The flowering stage is over in a few days, but I was lucky enough to be in the right place at the right time to see this spectacle. A covering of purple flowers seemingly draped over the grey bush.

Blight is the only thing that may cause this shrub to falter. The one pictured here is in a very windy location but is completely sheltered by a building, otherwise it is exposed to a dry and salty environment.

Absolutely spectacular.

If you’d like to read more about Barbados, please visit my other blog, Things Barbados.

Purple Patrea

I remember seeing a lot of these when I was a child, and we had a huge plant growing in our yard, that would put out this splendid covering of purple flowers. Then they seemed to disappear   - I think they just went out of favor as tastes changed.

Now, these magnificent plants are coming back in again. I don’t know if they’re easy to grow or not, or how quickly, but they certainly turn heads when the flowers come out.

The leaves are quite coarse, and I don’t think the flowers do particularly well in a vase, but oh my, they do add a splash of colour to the garden.

Bees and wasps love them, so be warned if you’re planning to get up and personal with a specimen. There no particular fragrance from the flowers either, it’s just colour colour colour.

If you’d like to read more about Barbados, please visit my other blog, Things Barbados.