75 Trendy Plants in the Philippines for 2021 (Part 4)

Plantiquarians, plantitos, plantitas, halamoms, batang halaman will always on a look-out for cheaper and trendy plants this coming 2021 and 2022.

Many are looking for small plants which can fill their limited space. They can be grown with minimal care. The crazy and abnormal rise in prices are brought by the limited supply and high interest by the general public in plants. This is called as plantdemics meaning plants are in demand.

75 Trendy Plants in the Philippines for 2021 to 2022

63. Nephrolepis exaltata ( Boston Fern)- This is a popular fern found in almost every part of the world. often grown in hanging baskets or similar conditions. They are grown near entrance or hung on main window. It is believes to invites good chi or good fortunes into one’s home or business.

Caladium hybrids -Photo credit: pixabay user: leoleobobeo-1487549

62. Caladium hybrids – Popularity of caladium hybrids will still be strong up until early 2022. Newer varieties and more colorful spotting will be flooding the local market. However, the prices of the caladium especially the older cultivar varieties will slowly taper off since there are a lot of backyard growers propagating those varieties.

61. Dracena sanderiana – popularly called Chinese lucky bamboo, lucky bamboo, friendship bamboo, ribbon plant, water bamboo and corn plant. This is very common and is found in almost every homes, business establishments and offices. This plant is quite hardy.

Commonly peddled by ambulant vendors, The demand for these plants will still be strong. Some people believes it bring good luck or good chi in homes and businesses.

60. Aloe vera and related species- Aloe had been quite popular succulent plant in the country for several decades. Aside from the medicinal value that the plant is known for. This can be grown in pots, the species requires well-drained, sandy potting soil and bright, sunny conditions.

mature plants can bear flowers and it is highly attractive. There are between 550 to 560 species of Aloes in which a lot are highly decorative. There are also several hybrids.

59. Ficus benjamina, commonly known as weeping fig, benjamin fig , ficus tree, balete. This is highly ornamental and commonly propagated in many garden centers. MMDA and some local government unit had planted hundreds if not thousands of this ficus along road side in the mid-1980’s to early 1990’s.

Ficus benjamina

Photo credit : pixabay user: manfredrichter-4055600

NASA determined that this plant was effective at removing common household air toxins like formaldehyde and xylene. Hence the popularity of the plant.

Weeping fig cultivars and its variegated types are in demand like ‘Danielle’, ‘Naomi’, ‘Exotica’, and ‘Golden King’ since these are much fewer compared to the ones found in garden centers, streets and parks. Propagation is quite easy- one can propagate Ficus benjamina thru seeds, air layering and to some extent cutting from stems with roots.

58 . Ficus elastica commonly called rubber fig, rubber bush, rubber tree, rubber plant, or Indian rubber bush, Indian rubber tree, banyan tree or Balete.

Ficus elastica

Photo credit: pixabay user: tortic84-2633672

Another well-known type of belete tree. One can encounter mature Ficus elastica in many parts of the country. According to some botanists, this was probably introduced into the country by Indian and other southeast Asian traders before the arrival of the Spaniards in the 16th century. Some would otherwise dispute this theory, Since the range of this ficus is found in Southeast Asia.

In the United States, This can be grown in sub-tropical areas of Florida and in USDA Zones 10-12.

Some of the cultivars varieties includes Ficus elastica ‘Robusta’, Lemon Lime among others surge in popularity during the enhanced community quarantine in early part of 2020. In recent visit to local garden centers in Metro Manila. Prices for the common types had been falling due to increase supply. An example was the 1 foot cutting newly established Ficus elastica ” Lemon Lime” which sell between Php 1,500 to Php 2,000 would now averages between Php 750 to Php 1,200. Variegated forms will still be in demand.

Croton or San Francisco

Photo credit: pixabay user:pixasandid-356019

57. Crotons hybrids- Locally known as San Francisco. This was popular as hedge plant, potted plant in the countryside for a long time. The leaves are used as accents in flower arrangements. Large scale farms like Costa Farm would grow these in large volume. Other Asian countries like Thailand, Vietnam, Taiwan would have different cultivar varieties.

There are hundreds of cultivar varieties to grow and these plants are easy to propagate.

Epipermum aureum also known as pothos, money plant, taro vine

Photo credit: pixabay user: sweetlouise-3967705

56. Epipermum aureum and varieties ( pothos, hunter’s robe, ivy arum, money plant, and taro vine) are just few of the common names given by sellers and backyard gardeners. The plant is a member of Araceae family. Price of the more common types have begun leveling off but the variegated forms are still in demand.

Photo courtesy of Mr. Lebon Ong, Dennis Lao and Mr. Jorge Sahagun

55. Asplenium australasicum plicatum Cultivar Variety ” Mini Philippine Cobra” This is a compact growing mutant fern (gamma irradiated Philippine Cobra) of Asplenium australasicum plicatum2021 population finally released to the industry. This is a project of Mr. Jorge Sahagun of the Philippine Nuclear Research Institute (PNRI) in Quezon City.

Compared with the older variety in the market, This particular form is ideal for small growing area, office, condominium spaces. Fern collectors are already waiting for its release next year, There are already some reservation for this mutant form for release in 2022.

Note: These are just a partial list of the 75 trendy plants for 2021 and 2022! Happy Growing to all .

Special Mention : Mr. Lebon Ong, Mr. Dennis Lao , Mr. Jeorge Sahagun, Mrs. Letty Manalo, Ms. Esperanza Sanchez

Sources:

Personal Interview among plant center owners, Orchid and Plant Lovers of the Philippines FB, Mindanao Avenue Garden Center, Fairview Neopolitan Garden Center, Cartimar Garden Center, White Plains, Bulacan Garden, Arid and Aroid’s Farm, Quezon City Memorial Circle, Tabang -Guiguinto Plant growers, GreenScapes Garden Center– Novaliches, Farmer’s Garden Center -Cubao, Sidcor -Eaton Centris Sunday Market, Rona’s Garden.

Related article link 75 Trendy Plants for the Philippines in 2021 part 3) ( 75 Trendy Plants for the Philippines in 2021 Part 2) and ( 75 Trendy Plants for the Philippines in 2021 Part 1)

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Horticulture Walk and Visit to Family Mausoleum within Manila Memorial Park ( Part 2)

Manila Memorial Park is a treasure trove of tombs, family mausoleum, flora, fauna and famous personalities.

walking or jogging around the park is a healthy option to enjoy the scenery. The park is ideal for spotting some insects, birds or even flowering plants.

Among the unique tomb is the pyramid shaped tomb of Mr. Pedro T. Patalinghug Sr.

Pedro T. Patalinghug Sr. tomb

Pyramid shaped tomb of Mr. Pedro T. Patalinghug Sr. who died in 1975.

chinese temple style mausoleum

frangipani/ plumeria aka kalachuchi

Horticulture Walk

This chinese temple style mausoleum had several decades-old kalachuchi / plumeria or frangipani trees blooming.

traveller palm, kalachuchi, mango tree, royal palm, mussaenda hybrid

Ravenala madagascariensis, commonly known as traveller’s tree or traveller’s palm

Familia Rocha-Perez mausoleum

Famila Rocha -Perez mausoleum is overrun with Ficus pumila which reminds me of an open type tomb at the Manila Chinese Cemetery. The family tomb also had palms and potted sanseviera / mother- in- law plant.

Catañeda family mausoleum with Ficus pumila creeping into the walls of the family mausoleum.

L- R Dr. Nicanor Reyes Sr., Teresita M. Reyes, Amparo Reyes, Luis M. Reyes and Alfredo M. Reyes

Reyes-Montinola family mausoleum- I have been to this mausoleum several times. Paying my homage and respect to the founders of Far Eastern University.

Reyes- Montinola family mausoleum

The outer and inner wall had old Ficus pumila creeping of the walls of the family mausoleum. The hedges are planted with Hibiscus or Gumamela hybrids.

Mr. Geronimo Velasco tomb- The walls had creeping Ficus pumila, palms, crotons and bermuda grass.  The family tomb is located just beside the Reyes-Montinola family mausoleum.

Sison family

Montinola-Varona family mausoleum

Montinola-Varona family plot is neatly planted with bermuda grass, blooming boungainvilleas, auracaria and sansevieria plants.

classic with touch of modern style

Bangkok Kalachuchi or Adenium obesum hybrid blooming

Antonio Welborn mausoleum

Manila Memorial Park creek area

There were several ficus trees, bougainvillea hybrids and hedge plants planted in this portion of the park. The creek which flows within the manila memorial park property is dirty and needs periodic flushing to remove the trash.

boungainvillea hybrids

columbary units with cycad

The columbary area had some man-made cave with planted areas for foliage anthurium, ficus, dracena plant and aviary. There is also an aviary where a couple of crows are kept.

Euphorbia millii hybrid

Some family plot owners and caretakers prefer to plant Euphorbia millii hybrid within their designated area. According to them, It save them money and their brightly colored flowers also serves as flower arrangement. This also avoid some park goers to pick them since these plants are thorny.

Court of Eternal Tribute

The adobe entrance also had several Ficus trees planted to create an effect.

Royal palm, Bunga China were some of the palms planted in this family mausoleum

modern neo-gothic style mausoleum

Lagdameo-Revilla family mausoleum

Hibiscus or Gumamela  flowering

a circular family mausoleum

family mausoleum with a lot of bromeliad hybrids and date palm

Limpe Family mausoleum

 family mausoleum

bromeliad hybrid planted in a family mausoleum as hedge

Japanese-modern family mausoleum

Evangelista -Ongpauco family mausoleum

Carunugan family mausoleum

Carunungan family mausoleum is chic and shabby style architecture. With large windows, natural light can enter the mausoleum. This looked like a tooth from a distance.

Guatemalan rhubarb ( Jatropha podagrica), sometimes mistakenly called tropical ginseng. A deciduous ornamental often grown as a pot plant or in rockeries, this shrub has a thick gouty, swollen stem up to 60cm, often a few large leaves near the top of the plant.

This ornamental plant was introduced into the country during the Spanish colonial regime. This is normally used for landscaping, ornamental plant and hedge plant. This does not require frequent watering and does not have any medicinal value. Do try to eat any parts of the plant since it had a toxicity level of 2 and 3.

Dischidia ionantha or Manaog ka Irog naturalized on a tree

family mausoleum

ornately decorated family mausoleum

chapel style family mausoleum

Tantoco-Rustia family mausoleum

Samson family plot with neatly manicured lawn and ornamental plants

Cabarrus Family mausoleum with family crest

Castillo family mausoleum – Mr. Horacio ‘Atio’ Castillo III is buried along with his grand parents. He was a University of Santo Tomas (UST) freshman law student who died due to hazing cause by frat members on September 17, 2017.

Don Mariano Lim mausoleum

mausoleum

mid-modern family mausoleum painted in apple green

This family tomb had several mahogany trees, talisay trees planted within their property.

There is problem in water supply in the memorial park. Those planning to plant ornamental plants or trees within their family estate. Try to choose native flowering plants and trees which can withstand drought, minimal care or even petty theft, like those picking flowers or branches.

Dita tree

Alstonia scholaris or Dita tree is a native tree which is commonly planted in open spaces, parks and glad to have seen several trees planted in this portion.

Kalaw -Katigbak family mausoleum

Barringtonia asiatica or locally called Botong/ Bitun/ Bitung/ Boton is another tree which is commonly planted in the memorial park.

Lim family mausoleum- This reflect combination of Filipino-Chinese, Catholic and simple modern mausoleum.

De Vera family mausoleum- This family mausoleum is located near Rico Yan , Angela and Narciso Ramos mausoleum. The mausoleum architecture is the same with the Lim family mausoleum since they were designed by the same contractor.

family mausoleum

Co family mausoleum with blooming ixora / santans, Ochna serrulata / Mickey Mouse plant planted in cement plant boxes.

cannonball tree flowers

 Couroupita flowers also have mild scent

Couroupita guianensis is also called Ayahuma or cannonball tree. This tree is extensively used as landscape tree in Manila Memorial Park and even at the Holy Cross Memorial.

Pisonia alba is also known as Lettuce tree, maluku or Koles maluku. The apple green leaves of this ornamental tree can be eaten and used as salad or fried into tempura. This ornamental tree used to be commonly planted in many parks, private homes and garden in the 1970’s till the late 1990’s.

Tricycle TODA

Saw the mausoleums of AJ Perez, Ambassador Yuchengco along the way. There are also tricycle route inside the park. The special fare cost Php 30.

meditation tower – one of the landmarks of the park

One can visit Manila Memorial Park anytime. People could normally visit the park early in the morning to avoid the traffic and late afternoon.

Horticulture Walk and Visit to Family Mausoleums within Manila Memorial Park Part 1