Irene from Leafing Around takes us on a tour of a stunning garden that belongs to a Malaysian home. The garden is not only beautiful, but also easy to maintain, making it accessible to those who are not avid gardeners. Irene introduces Lucas, a designer who has helped design parts of the house, and together they explore the garden.
The garden boasts a variety of plants, including the Heliconia Caribbea, which is bright red and has been used for interior decoration. The Golden Chain Tree, which is not native to Malaysia, is also present in the garden. The Heliconia Longissima, with its long red bracts, is a highlight of the garden. Irene shares some tips for maintaining the Heliconia, such as containing its growth by putting in blocks or bricks, and cutting down the stalks after they have flowered to encourage new growth.
Key Takeaways
- The Malaysian garden featured in the video is not only beautiful, but also easy to maintain.
- The Heliconia Caribbea and Golden Chain Tree are two unique plants found in the garden.
- Irene shares some tips for maintaining the Heliconia, such as containing its growth and cutting down the stalks after they have flowered.
Introduction to Lucas
Lucas is a talented designer based in Kuching who has helped design parts of the Borneo Mansion. He is also an avid gardener who was seen working on the garden just before the filming of the tour. Lucas is knowledgeable about plants and pointed out the heliconias, crotons, and golden chain tree in the garden. He also shared some tips on how to care for heliconias, such as putting in blocks to control their growth and cutting down the stalks after they flower to encourage new growth. Lucas’s expertise in gardening and design has contributed to the beauty of the Borneo Mansion’s garden and home.
Heliconia Caribbea
The Heliconia Caribbea is a popular plant in tropical gardens due to its bright red color and easy-to-care-for nature. It is a type of heliconia that can grow up to nine feet tall and has large tropical leaves that add a nice touch to any garden. The owner of the Borneo Mansion has several rows of Heliconia Caribbea in the front of their garden, greeting visitors with its vibrant colors.
The Heliconia Caribbea is often used for landscaping and interior decoration. The owner of the Borneo Mansion has cut out many of the bracts or flowers and used them for interior decoration, making the most of their beauty.
It is important to note that once the bracts are out, the plant will only flower once. After this, the stalk should be cut down to encourage new growth and new shoots. The Heliconia Caribbea needs its space to grow, so it is recommended to put in about two feet of blocks to contain its growth within a particular area.
While the Heliconia Caribbea can withstand quite a bit of sunlight, it is best to give it filtered light. The plants at the Borneo Mansion are enjoying the filtered light provided by the tall trees surrounding them.
Overall, the Heliconia Caribbea is a beautiful and easy-to-care-for plant that adds a tropical touch to any garden.
Golden Chain Tree
The Golden Chain Tree is a non-native tree that produces beautiful yellow flowers that hang down. The tree was introduced to Malaysia by the ex-Prime Minister Dr. Mahathir’s wife, Siti Hasmah, who brought it in from an unknown foreign country many decades ago. The tree is not native to Malaysia, but it has become a popular choice for landscaping in the country.
The Golden Chain Tree is a small to medium-sized deciduous tree that can grow up to 10 meters tall. Its leaves are pinnate and can be up to 45 cm long. The tree produces long hanging clusters of yellow flowers that bloom in the spring and summer. The flowers are followed by long, slender seed pods that can be up to 45 cm long and contain small, flat seeds.
The Golden Chain Tree is a popular ornamental tree in Malaysia and is often used for landscaping in parks, gardens, and along roadsides. The tree prefers well-drained soil and full sun to partial shade. It is relatively easy to care for and does not require much maintenance.
In the Borneo Mansion garden, the Golden Chain Tree is located at the front of the house. The tree’s beautiful yellow flowers hang down and add a pop of color to the garden. The garden also features other easy-to-care-for plants, such as heliconias and crotons, which are forgiving and can be grown in full sun or partial sun.
Overall, the Golden Chain Tree is a beautiful addition to any garden or landscape. Its vibrant yellow flowers and ease of care make it a popular choice for homeowners and landscapers alike.
Heliconia Longissima
The Heliconia Longissima is a type of heliconia plant that can grow up to nine feet tall. It has long, red bracts that give a tropical feel to any garden. This plant needs its space and can spread quickly, so it’s important to control its growth by putting in about two feet of blocks or bricks to contain it within a particular area.
Once the bracts are out, the plant only flowers once, so it’s necessary to cut down the stalk to encourage new growth and new shoots. Heliconias can withstand quite a bit of sunlight, but they prefer filtered light. The Heliconia Longissima is commonly used for landscaping and is perfect for those who want a plant that has height and long red bracts.
In the garden, the Heliconia Longissima is given a lot of room, and there are no other plants that are too close to it. This plant, along with other heliconias, is flanked by tall trees that provide a nice shade to the garden.
If you want to add a Heliconia Longissima to your garden, it’s important to note that it’s an easy-to-care-for plant that doesn’t require much maintenance. It’s also good news for those who aren’t hands-on gardening persons.
Heliconia Maintenance Tips
The Heliconia is a great plant for landscaping, and it is easy to care for. The plants that are seen in the garden are more accessible and easy to care for. The Heliconia caribbea is a bright red plant that is great for landscaping. The owner has cut out a lot of the bracts or flowers and used them for interior decoration like a cut flower.
The Heliconia longissima is a plant that can grow up to nine feet. If you want something that really has the height and you enjoy having this long red bracts, this is the perfect plant for you. Heliconias do need their space, so it is important to give them enough room to grow. If you want to control the growth of your Heliconia, put in about two feet of some blocks to contain its growth within a particular area.
It is important to note that once the Heliconia has the bracts out, it will only flower once. After this, it is necessary to cut down the particular stalk because it will never flower again. When you cut it, it will encourage new growth and new shoots.
To maintain the Heliconia, it is important to cut down any leaves that need to be trimmed. The brown leaves that are no longer needed should be cut off right at the bottom because it gives way to new growth. Heliconias do need their space, so it is important to give them enough room to grow.
If you want to deter snakes in the garden, the Pandanus is commonly used. It is also good to note that the Ficus lyrata, also known as the common fiddle fig tree, does much better outdoor than indoor.
Cyclanthus Bipartitus
Cyclanthus Bipartitus is a plant that Irene, the host of Leafing Around, stumbled upon during her tour of a beautiful home and garden in Malaysia. Although she initially mistook it for a fern, she soon discovered that it is a different genus altogether. Cyclanthus Bipartitus is also known as the Rugby Fern Tree and can grow up to 15 feet tall.
Irene was amazed by the huge chunks of foliage that Cyclanthus Bipartitus had grown into and realized that her own potted version could benefit from being planted in the ground. This plant is native to tropical regions and is often used for landscaping due to its large, impressive leaves.
During her tour, Irene also pointed out other plants in the garden, such as the Heliconia Caribbea, which is a bright red flower that can be used for interior decoration. She also mentioned the Alocasia Black Stem, which has entirely black stems and unique leaves with black veins.
Overall, Cyclanthus Bipartitus is a fascinating plant that can add a tropical feel to any garden with its large leaves and impressive height.
Alocasia Black Stem
The Alocasia Black Stem is a unique plant with entirely black stems and leaves that are getting bigger. It has a black vein, which adds to its special appearance and makes it different from the usual Alocasia macrorrhiza. The Alocasia Black Stem is a tropical plant that can grow up to several feet tall. The leaves of the plant are heart-shaped and can be up to 2 feet long.
The Alocasia Black Stem is a low-maintenance plant that can be grown in full sun or partial sun. It is an excellent addition to any garden, and its unique appearance makes it a standout plant. The Alocasia Black Stem needs to be trimmed occasionally to remove any brown leaves and encourage new growth.
In the garden of Borneo Mansion, the Alocasia Black Stem is located in the backyard. It is surrounded by other plants, including heliconias, cyclanthus bipartitus, and pandanus. The garden is designed to give a cozy view, and the Alocasia Black Stem adds to the beauty of the garden.
Ficus Lyrata
The Borneo Mansion garden features a variety of easy-to-care-for plants, including Ficus Lyrata, commonly known as the fiddle-leaf fig tree. This tree is often seen as an indoor plant on social media, but it thrives better when grown outdoors. The fiddle-leaf fig tree is a type of fig tree with large, violin-shaped leaves that can grow up to 15 inches long and 10 inches wide.
The fiddle-leaf fig tree is a tropical plant that requires a warm and humid environment to grow well. It prefers bright, indirect light and well-draining soil. The plant can grow up to 50 feet tall in its natural habitat, but it can be pruned to maintain a smaller size in a garden setting.
Like other fig trees, Ficus Lyrata produces fruit, which is edible but not commonly consumed. The tree is also known for its air-purifying properties, making it a popular choice for indoor spaces.
Overall, Ficus Lyrata is a beautiful and easy-to-care-for plant that adds a tropical touch to any garden or indoor space.
Pandanus
In the garden tour of Borneo Mansion, Irene showed a plant called Pandanus, which is commonly used to flavor desserts or soups in Malaysia. Lucas, the garden designer, mentioned that Pandanus is also good for deterring snakes in the garden. However, Irene did not provide any further information on the plant.
The Pandanus plant is a tropical plant that belongs to the Pandanaceae family. It is commonly found in Asia, Africa, and the Pacific. The plant has long, narrow, blade-like leaves that grow in a spiral pattern, and it can grow up to 20 feet tall. The leaves of the Pandanus plant are used in cooking and are known for their unique flavor and aroma. The plant is also used in traditional medicine for its various health benefits.
In addition to its culinary and medicinal uses, the Pandanus plant is also used for its fiber. The leaves of the plant are dried and woven to make baskets, mats, and other handicrafts. The plant is also used in landscaping and is often planted as a hedge or screen due to its dense foliage.
Overall, the Pandanus plant is a versatile and useful plant that has many uses in both culinary and non-culinary fields. Its unique flavor and aroma make it a popular ingredient in Southeast Asian cuisine, while its fiber and landscaping properties make it a valuable plant for various industries.