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Palm Grass, Bristle Grass Setaria palmifolia or (less likely) Curculigo capitulata
This is a strange plant to call "grass," but despite its inappropriate name it is a very appealing plant.
From: India
Photographed: At the Hotel San Buenaventura on Lake Atitlan in Guatemala.
Planting and Care: Once settled in palm grass is very tolerant of light and moisture variations. One might even think of it as invasive so be sure to plant it where you want it and think about how you are going to restrain it before it gets too enthusiastic.
Text & Photograph Copyrighted ©KO 2010

Parrot Plant Impatiens niamniamensis
From: Tropical East Africa
Photographed: In the Botanical Garden at the Hotel Atitlan on Lake Atitlan in Guatemala.
Planting and Care: This is a low growing half to full shade loving plant. It has lovely flowers almost continuously if it also receives routine rainfall or watering. Happily for some, the plant also likes an acid soil.
Text and Photograph Copyrighted ©KO 2010

**Parsley Herb Petroselinum crispum
First lost to the volcanic eruption in July of 2003, we have replanted this most essential herb many times, both in the garden and in pots by the terrace.
Benefits: Used fresh the curly variety is high in amino acids, aspartic and glutamine, and also rich in vitamins and minerals. The Chinese believe that parsley, which is loaded with luteolin, is a very beneficial in alleviating disorders of the eyes. The flat leaved Italian variety is more chic these days. Either one is delicious and can be used liberally every day in every way!
Photographed: In our herb garden at our home in Montserrat.
Planting and Care: In a tropical environment plant parsley in moist well-drained soil and fertilize it regularly. Here in the Caribbean, flat leaved Italian parsley and frilly leaved parsley both seem to prefer semi shade to full sun to thrive. Overall the flat leaved variety wins my vote as it is always much healthier than the curly variety here in the Caribbean . On our terrace garden in Taxco, Mexico, we were able to keep our potted frilly parsley plant alive and thriving for at least four years. Here in Montserrat, parsley plants are viable for no more than one year; more often than not six months is the limit.
Text and Photographs Copyrighted ©Krika.com 2008

**Passion Fruit Vine (1) Passiflora spp. or Passiflora edulis
The passion fruit vine produces very exotic blooms year round and its fruit is used as an important flavoring in local juices. I’ve read that the variety grown commercially for the best juice is Passiflora edulis var. flavacarpa. If anyone on Montserrat has one I’d love to have a cutting.
From: Brazil
Hint: Recently someone told me that if you clip a passion fruit vine flower and quickly put it in ice water it will last all day.
Planting and Care: This is a vine so it is not happy when it is not in climbing mode. Unfortunately, that makes it very difficult to retrieve its fruit. To be at its best the plant prefers to grow in the sun with regular rainfall or routine watering and a generous dose of fertilizer now and then, but it will survive with just about nothing making it another of my personal favorites.
Link: For another very beautiful flowering and fruiting vine See The "B" Page -- BANANA PASSION FRUIT
Text Copyrighted ©KO 2010

**Peanuts, Groundnuts Arachis hypogaea L.
A few years ago I planted some peanuts just to see what happened. As it turned out peanuts are beautiful plants that produce tiny yellow orchid like flowers; they would find a welcome place in any tropical flower garden especially used as a border planting. There are two types of peanuts. The erect type has upright stems which is what we have grown (remember the seeds come from the supermarket) . Prostrate peanut stems grow on the ground and have the advantage of a higher yield with all peanuts ripening at the same time. This is the one to plant if you are commercially minded about your peanut crop.
From: Peanuts are native to Brazil.
Harvesting: About five months from the date of planting the leaves of the peanut plants will begin to turn yellow -- this is the time to harvest. Dry the plants with the peanuts still attached to the roots for two to three days before shelling and eating the fresh peanuts. Ideally you should get about forty peanuts per plant. We've never done that well, but then we aren't Jimmy Carter!
Photographed: In our upper garden at our home in Montserrat.
Planting and Care:
1. First buy some unroasted natural peanuts at your local supermarket. If they are fresh and taste good, husk them and remove the papery seed covering. In your garden, plant each peanut about two to four inches deep and about four to six inches apart in the row with rows about three feet apart.
2. In a few weeks the plants will be up and you can thin them to about one foot apart in the row (if you are determined to have lots of garden grown peanuts). I leave them at four inches and still enjoy pulling up the plants and finding -- PEANUTS! And, I especially enjoy having a row of such beautiful plants.
3. Peanuts prefer to grow in full sun, but will tolerate a little shade. They like a fertile sandy or loose soil with a pH of about 6 if they can have it and regular rainfall or watering. Boron is one of the very necessary components of good peanut growing soil and we are fortunate here in Montserrat to have the active Soufriere Hills Volcano producing the boron so essential to peanut plants.
4. Your peanut bed should be moved after two years to somewhere new in your garden.
Text and Photograph Copyrighted ©KO 2008

**Pencil Tree Cactus, Indian Tree Spurge, Naked Lady, Aveloz, Milk bush, Petroleum Plant Euphorbia tirucalli
This cactus has relatively hidden spines and tiny leaves and looks very much like it should be growing under water. Its sap is said to be poisonous enough to be used on both rats and insects.
From: Africa
Photographed: In our front border gardens at our home in Montserrat.
Planting and Care: The pencil tree cactus really is a tree and it likes to get to that size very quickly. It is easily propagated; just stick a stem in the ground and soon it will be off and running. Plant it in the sun and give it routine rainfall or watering until it has taken. Then you can let it be pretty much on its own and it will do just fine. It is tropical and would not take well to a winter of any kind.
Text and Photograph Copyrighted ©KO 2008/2010

**Pentas, Star Cluster Pentas lanceolata
Our lavender pentas arrived in our deck garden on their own and did well enough with no help that I thought I was dealing with an attractive weed. As it turns out pentas are tough perennials with long lasting blooming periods with red, pink, or lavender flowers.
From: Africa
Photographed: In our deck garden at our home in Montserrat in the Caribbean and at Hotel San Buenaventura in Panajachel, Guatemala.
Planting and Care: Pentas are said to prefer a sunny location, but I have seen lovely ones growing happily in semi shade. Watering doesn't seem to be much of an issue aside from reasonably regular rainfall.
Text and Photographs Copyrighted ©KO 2010

PEPPERS, SWEET

**Italianelle Pepper, Friariello Pepper, Sweet Frying Pepper, Sweet Italian Frying Pepper
This is a pepper that is not as attractive as many others, but is very popular in Italy as a sweet frying pepper. I bought a packet of seeds with a photograph of long light green bumpy peppers when we were traveling in Italy. I had in mind the hot Italian dried peppers my husband loves, planning to surprise him when we were back in Montserrat. It was me that got the surprise. On the first harvest I thought I was picking chile chilacas a true medium hot pepper favorite from Mexico. It was a week or so later that all came together and I figured out what was what in the pepper garden.
From: Probably Italy as the names imply
Photographed: In our mahogany garden at our home in Montserrat.
Planting and Care: Like all peppers the Italianelle prefers sunny weather and routine rainfall or watering. In the Caribbean they will tolerate a bit of shade and do just fine.
Text and Photograph Copyrighted ©Krika.com 2009

Pepper, Black See The "B" Page -- BLACK PEPPER

Pepperomia, Radiator Plant Peperomia sp.
Until a recent visit to Guatemala, I had never seen pepperomias growing outside in a garden as in the photograph on the right. They were always house plants. Their thick shiny leaves are very appealing.
From: South America
Photographed: At the Hotel Atitlan on Lake Atitlan in Guatemala.
Planting and Care: This is not an uncommon house plant where it will live in a partially sunny window just fine. Water it when the soil feels dry and try to avoid getting the main stem wet. In a warm climate garden plant them where they will receive bright light, but not direct sun. Give them a rich organic soil and watering occasionally if it doesn't rain.
Text and Photographs Copyrighted ©KO 2010

**Pergrina See the "J" Page -- JATROPHA

Peruvian Lily Alstroemeria psittacina
Photographed: At the Hotel Atitlan on Lake Atitlan in Guatemala.
Text and Photographs Copyrighted ©KO 2010

SAFE PESTICIDES FOR ORGANIC GARDENING IN THE TROPICS AND ELSEWHERE

There are a variety of natural organic pesticides available to gardeners who do not wish to use more commercial and more dangerous insecticides. This is not to say that because something is organic that its use presents no risks. Below are listed a few of the organic materials I have come across over the years.

Barbasco Root Lonchocarpus nicou
This is a similar plant based poison to rotenone described below. It is extracted from the root of the plant and used as a fish poison by people living in jungle areas in South America. I have no personal experience with its use.

Neem Tree Products
The most potent pesticide to be retrieved from the neem tree is found in its seeds, but these can be very difficult to harvest on a non-commercial basis. If you have a neem tree in your yard as we do, I would love to hear your ideas on how to collect the seeds. That being said, we have had good luck simply soaking lots of the tree's fresh green leaves in a large bucket of water for a few days. We strain it and use the liquid in a commercial back pack sprayer. It doesn't smell wonderful, but it does work.

Rotenone
From memory I regard this as a real helper in my New England gardens. It was sold as a natural plant material based insecticide and it worked wonderfully on aphids and most other average vegetable garden bugs with a very light application. It did not work on tomato horn worms and other such horrific creatures, but it did surely make gardening a lot more rewarding than it might otherwise have been. Rotenone was used originally as a fish poison by people living in South American jungle regions so it should be kept away from or not used near running fresh water streams or in areas where any rainfall will send it quickly into ponds, lakes or the ocean.

Soap
Soap is a wonderful alternative to more dangerous chemicals. To treat a variety of insects we use a professional insecticide sprayer, but ours is filled with soapy water which works just fine. Use a light mix of a lemon scented powdered clothes detergent (the simplest you can find). A light mix might be about 1 teaspoon mixed into one quart of water. Spray this on in the evening as sometimes the bright tropical sun can burn plants with a recent wet soapy residue.
Or
Mix 1 tablespoon of dishwashing liquid and 1 cup of vegetable oil and use 1 tablespoon of the mixture in 1 cup of water.
Test one plant first to see if there are any negative effects. Apply as a spray and check 24 hours later.

Pungent Smelling Greens
In my continual attempts to fool the bugs, caterpillars, wasps and other nasty critters, I came across a very basic idea. Many of the nasty creatures find my beautiful plants by smell so I fool them. I take whatever I have lots of that have strong smells (hot peppers, garlic, onions, or other traditional non-attractants) and I mix them in the blender with a bit of water. I strain the mixture, add more water if I can without diluting the smell too much and then spray it on my most vulnerable flowering plants whether ornamental or vegetable. It works wonders, so who needs the stuff that gives kids cancer?

COMMERCIAL PESTICIDES TO ESPECIALLY AVOID

Malathion: Learn why at http://www.pesticide.org/malathion.pdf

Also See The "L" Page -- LINKS and REFERENCES FOR TROPICAL GARDENING

**Petrea, Queen's Wreath, Sandpaper Vine Flowering Vine Like Bush Petrea volubilis
This is the vine-like bush that lives under and in and around the branches of our red flamboyant tree. The papery leaves are pretty and its long sprays of blue flowers are really lovely.
From: It originated in tropical America.
Photographed: On the back edge of our property in Montserrat.
Pruning: Petrea will take very well to a hard pruning as we discovered this year. One of ours had grown completely out of control and had attached itself in an unattractive way to our bamboo. I cut it back severely and it is now bushy and beautiful. I would recommend doing this sometime during rainy season or at a time when you will be watering.
Landscape architecture: Petrea is a wonderful tropical cousin to the appearance of a wisteria vine in the north. It can be trained to a trellis in much the same way although sadly its similar flowers don't have any noticeable scent.
Text & Photographs Copyrighted ©KO 2008/2009

**Pink Cassia Tree, Pink Shower Tree, Yellow Shower Tree Cassia grandis L. f. or Cassia javanica (pink) or Cassia fistula (yellow)
The pink cassia tree is beautiful with its lush covering of long lasting luscious pink flowers.
Benefits: Its attractive long and round very dark brown seed pods provide a pulp that is said to act as a laxative.
From: It is originally from Java
Photographed: The pink flowering tree was photographed in our garden at our home in Montserrat. The yellow tree was photographed by the side of the road in Woodlands, Montserrat.
Planting and Care: The cassia usually grows to about thirty feet tall and normally blooms here in Montserrat in May. Sadly, we had to cut ours down and have it removed because it had been so ravaged by termites. The tree stump left was only about a foot high, but branches soon began growing sideways from the stump. It looked like a very bizarre bush as the branches extended about ten to twelve feet from the two foot high stump. We had the space for it and we had the guilt to deal with it so we let it grow. But, we had planted a Mexican lime tree nearby and as the Cassia grew it invaded the lime tree's space. Even when I cut branches from the cassia that were touching the lime tree, within a few days more cassia branches would be touching the lime tree. They were definitely not friends. So....the cassia had to go as we are desperate to have fresh limes. What is especially good news is that there is a small volunteer cassia growing in our hedge garden. We have transplanted it and it is off and running.
Text & Photographs Copyrighted ©KO 2008/2010

Pink Poui Tree Tabebuia rosea or Tabebuia pentaphylla
Not seen in Montserrat, but normally seen in the tropics, the delicate looking pink poui tree is surprisingly resistant to termites and its wood is similar to oak. The tree loses its leaves and then showers the ground with pink blossoms. It will eventually reach about seventy feet in height.
Text Copyrighted ©KO 2004

Pink Shower Tree -- See The Pink Cassia Tree Above

Pitahaya Thai Dragon See the "H" Page -- HYLOCEREUS UNDATUS

Pitaya See the "H" Page -- HYLOCEREUS UNDATUS

**Poinciana Tree, Royal Poinciana, Flamboyant Delonix regia
The deciduous poinciana can grow to 50 feet, though the ones here in Montserrat never seem to get that tall. Even so, its branches seem to spread as wide as the tree is tall with feathery leaves resembling ferns. In our garden on the island, our poincianas usually begin blooming in mid-May and continue through July. We have two red and one orange flowering tree, all of which are very beautiful. Some of last season's long flat seed pods, often more than one foot in length, remain on the trees as the new flowers appear. Poincianas could be easily mistaken for jacarandas until they begin to bloom.
From: Madagascar, Africa and/or Costa Rica
Photographed: In our garden at our home in Montserrat.
Planting and Care: These lovely trees seem very tolerant of light variations growing well in full sun or in shade, but they do seem to prefer regular rainfall. Sadly, they are EXTREMELY vulnerable to termites so they are best planted in very sunny and even slightly dry areas. Whenever we see a termite track on one of our trees we spread boric acid on the ground after rubbing off the track, exposing the termites to sun. We tried using a strong soap solution, but it had no affect of the termites.
Text & Photograph Copyrighted ©KO 2008/2010

**Pok Choy Vegetable
This is our favorite vegetable for stir fried Chinese food. AND, it grows wonderfully all over the Caribbean, even here in Montserrat as you can see from the photograph to your left. These were young plants growing in our herb garden as a temporary filler plant, followed by yet a few more square feet of basil.
Photographed: In our herb garden at our home in Montserrat.
Planting and Care: As with most everything in this tropical setting, it is best to start your plants in seed trays. When they start to grow, fertilize them well with something like Miracle Grow, move them toward a more sunny location everyday and keep them moist. When they are about three inches high, transplant them to a sunny or semi shady area of the garden where the soil has been loosened to a depth of at least six inches. Fertilize them more than you ever thought would be necessary with good compost if you have it and give them lots of water. Watch out for hungry caterpillars; we spray with soap every other day or so.
Tropical Climate Variety: Michili
Text and Photograph Copyrighted ©KO 2008/2010

Polka Dot Plant Hypoestes phyllostachya, Hypoestes sanguinolenta
This is a colorful addition to a bright shade garden and the plants come in pink, white and red spots to suit all tastes.
Photographed: At the Hotel Atitlan on Lake Atitlan in Guatemala in 2010.
Planting and Care: These low growing shade plants are hearty, but do require moist soil and humidity in the air to be at their best.
Text & Photographs Copyrighted ©KO 2010

**Pomegranate Tree Punica granatum
The pomegranate is a wonderfully exotic fruit that is not only beautiful, but tastes good too. I had my first experience with them when in college in Boston, Massachusetts. Back in those days there was a fabulous food market just behind Beacon Hill where you could buy whatever you desired from fruit and vegetables to meat and fish. At Christmas time it was also a place to get your tree and garlands of natural greens.
The fruit of this tree is split open revealing seeds with a lovely red crisp jelly like coating. Take a bite, enjoy the coating and spit out the seeds. Grenadine, at least the real thing, is made from pomegranates and helps to make a truly memorable tequila sunrise!
Benefits: The pomegranate is said to improved circulation and to be not only an especially powerful antioxidant, but a builder of red blood cells too.
From: Southern Asia
Photographed: At our friend Jacquie's home in Montserrat.
Planting and Growth: Plant your pomegranate tree in full sun in a warm climate in an area that is naturally a little dry. It is a lovely tree and apart from giving us its glorious fruits it has very appealing red flowers.
Text and Photograph Copyrighted ©Krika.com 2008/2010

POPPIES

California Poppy Eschscholzia californica
This is one of the smaller continuously blooming poppy varieties. It is one of my favorites. Here in Montserrat I have tried several times so far to get it past the young, just germinated, phase. I have read that they will grow in "poor, but well drained soil" which we have plenty of. I will be trying again so wish me luck!
Text Copyrighted ©KO 2008

**Mexican Poppy, Yellow Thistle, Yellow Poppy, Mexican Thistle, Goatweed Agremone mexicana
This plant was a gift of the winds as it simply appeared one day in our deck garden. I left it to grow as I always do with anything I don't know and was very happy when it matured.
Flowers: It is said to be an annual that will flower in the spring and summer and so far that is accurate.
From: Mexico and the Caribbean
Photographed: In our deck garden at our home in Montserrat.
Planting and growth:  I'd have to say this is one of those survivor plants that are lovely to have in any large garden or for those who do not have a green thumb as we say in the States of anyone who can grow plants at will. It is tolerant of a wide range of soil types and levels of moisture, but it does seem to prefer a sunny spot in the garden.
Text and Photograph Copyrighted ©Krika.com 2009/2010

**Portia Tree, Indian Tulip Tree, Pacific Rosewood, Seaside Mahoe Thespesia papulnea
This is a relatively small tree with deep green heart shaped leaves, interesting yellow flowers and visually appealing fruits, although I can't imagine making a pie with them. Growing only to about forty feet, it has won its place here in our garden. When we bought our property this tree had been butchered with a machete or what is known in the Caribbean as a cutlass. Its main stem had been cut and its side shoots had become solid four inch thick upward reaching stems. In truth, the first time I saw the tree it looked like a very tall bush. I had committed to leaving in place anything that I couldn't identify until I learned more and this tree was one of the garden's survivors.
Benefits: If you were to get very hungry, its new leaves, flowers and golf ball sized bright green fruits are all edible. And, probably more appealingly it is prized for the lovely colors of its wood.
Medicinal Uses: The portia's bark, fruit and roots are all said to have medicinal benefits.
Photographed: On the side end of our property in Montserrat and in the Botanical Garden at the Hotel Atitlan on Lake Atitlan in Guatemala.
Planting and Care: Although the portia is reportedly native to mangrove swamps and should require lots of water, ours is living just fine on the dry end of our garden in full sun. It prefers a pH of from 5.5 to 6.5. One peculiar feature it has is that it attracts a relative of the cotton stainer bugs that feed on a similar type of tree, the sea hibiscus. The portia's bugs are red and black and seem always to be mating, reminding us of the love bugs in the New Orleans area woods.
Links: http://www.naturia.per.sg/buloh/plants/portia.htm
Text and Photographs Copyrighted ©Krika 2008/2010

**Potato Solanum tuberosum
Ahhh....the potato, food of the Gods, the Irish and given to the world by the Incans of Peru! I tried growing chunks of a sprouting potato here on the island and had great luck with the plants coming up. However, they didn't last long as something ate them; I know not what. I will try again as I have had good luck even growing the plants in large buckets on our terrace in Taxco, Mexico.
Text Copyrighted ©KO 2007

**Prickly Pear Cactus Opuntia repens or Opuntia rubescens Salm-Dyek or Opuntia cochenillifera (L.) Mill. or Opuntia dillenil (Ker.-Gwal) Haw. or Opuntia tuna (L.) Mill.
The ice green prickly pear will grow to between ten and fifteen feet tall. The plant has chubby oval pads with lots of long sharp spines. It flowers and then gives us the prickly pear fruit.
Benefits: The fruit is said to be helpful in treating coughs. Carefully peel and wash the pears. Crush the fruit and mix it with honey and lemon or lime juice. Strain the mixture and take it in tablespoons as needed.
Photographed: In our border gardens at our home in Montserrat.
Text and Photograph Copyrighted ©KO 2008/2010

Please also See The "N" Page NOPAL CACTUS

**Pride of Barbados, Barbados Flower Fence, Dwarf Poinciana Bush like small tree Caesalpinia pulcherrima
This spiny bush like tree flowers almost the year round with bright yellow or combinations of pink and white or red and yellow petals. The stems have very sharp spines.
From: The West Indies or Central America
Photographed: In our garden at our home in Montserrat.
Planting and Care: Our property receives a fair share of rain for a place in the Caribbean. Unfortunately, the average tropical soil does not absorb or hold moisture well so I'd have to give a round of applause to this plant that will even grow in Barbados an island much to our south and very dry in comparison to ours. My advice is to plant them anywhere there is full sun to semi shade and then sit back and enjoy. Pruning is a good idea and the plants do seem to do especially well when it is done.
Text & Photographs Copyrighted ©KO 2004/2010

**Pumpkin Vegetable Cucurbita maxima
Pumpkin in the Caribbean is eaten as what we in New England call winter squash. It is a vine like squash plant, but it is virulent and tough. Instead of the gardener having to pile up dirt around a growth point, this plant will send down roots of its own along its growth path. It will grow in every direction and here and there it will grow a pumpkin which will become at least 20" in length and probably more in girth.
Benefits: Eaten in their natural state, pumpkin seeds are said to rid your intestines of parasites.
Photographed: In our banana garden at our home in Montserrat.
Planting and Care: Start plants in small containers and then set out in the garden spacing them about one yard apart. Work over the soil well adding lots of composted manure. When the flowers begin to bloom, take a look to see which are male and which are female. The latter have a tiny fruit just below the bloom. Take one of the male flowers and pollinate the female by doing what seems natural. This will greatly increase your yield if you have the same problem we have on Montserrat -- no pollinators.
Recipe:
Carefully wash the exterior of the squash. Cut it in half and clean out the seeds and membranes. Put the halves cut side up in a large baking pan in the oven at 350° F. When you can stick a fork in any part of the halves, they're done. Remove them from the oven and scoop the squash out of the skins with a good strong spoon. Mash the squash and cook it with lots of butter and brown sugar for a great treat.
Text & Photographs Copyrighted ©KO 2008/2010

** Purple False Eranthemum Leafy bush Pseuderanthemum atropurpureum or Purple False Eranthemum or Pseuderanthemum or Pseuderanthemum atropurpureum Tricolor
This is an unremarkable bush with mottled grayish green and subdued purple leaves. We had it growing in the shade in what we call one of our plant parking lots, a shady place to put plants that we aren't yet ready to plant permanently elsewhere in the garden. This plant was proudly given to us by a garden assistant a few years ago and might have earned a better place had I known that the bush flowers, though it has not done so in the shade.
From: The Pacific Islands
Photographed: In our shady terrace garden at our home in Montserrat.
Planting and Care: Said to grow well in full sun to semi shade, I would have to say full sun did not seem a happy placement for this plant even after it had time to adjust to its move from a shady place. I think perhaps bright light would be best. It is happy with just a moderate amount of water and has in fact survived droughts when we were away for months at a time.
Text and Photograph Copyrighted ©Krika.com 2009/2010

Purple Sky Flower Duranta erecta 'Purple'
Photographed: In the Botanical Garden at the Hotel Atitlan on Lake Atitlan in Guatemala.
Planting and Care: This is one of those flexible plants able to live well in full sun or partial shade and able to put its roots into sweet, acidic or neutral soils.
Text & Photograph Copyrighted ©KO 2010

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