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Click below to see our garden plants alphabetically listed by common name.
A B C D E F G H I J K L M N O P Q R S T U V W X Y Z
R page
**Rabbits Foot Fern See The "F" Page -- FERNS -- Rabbits Foot Fern
 
Radiator Plant  See the "P" Page -- PEPPEROMIA
 

**Radishes Raphanus sativus
In Mexico there are many varieties of radishes, not just the red ball variety so popular in the States. In Oaxaca, Mexico, this vegetable is exalted at Christmas in the “radish festival” where all of the city’s groups and societies create radish scenes in small booths on the zócalo or town square. It is a sight not to be missed if you ever get to Oaxaca at Christmas. Click here to see photographs of the radish festival
 Benefits: Radishes are said to aid digestion.
Tropical Climate Varieties: Scarlet Globe, White Icicle, Cherry Belle, French Breakfast, Sparkler
Text Copyrighted ©KO 2004/2010
 
**Rain Tree, Rainfall tree, Monkey Pod Albizia saman or Samanea saman
This is the lovely lacy looking small tree that gives us pink blossoms more than once a year here in Montserrat. Its branches root easily so it is often used as a border planting to break the wind by a vegetable garden or field. Though it is said to be a large tree, here it never seems to be so, growing only to about 30 feet. At night it wisely folds its leaves which might otherwise act together as an umbrella. Rain seems to come most frequently in the night here in the Caribbean so this tree has adapted well to its environment. Its effort to fold its leaves at night ensures that rainfall reaches the base of the tree.
From: Central and South America.
Text Copyrighted ©KO 2004
 
**Rainfall Tree See Above Rain Tree
 
**Ram Goat Bush See The "F" Page -- FITWEED
 
Rambutin Nephelium lappaceum, Euphoria nephelium, Dimocarpus crinita
I first saw these peculiar fruits in the Panajachel market in Guatemala. I'm always attracted to the unusual and here is what I've learned about this golf ball sized deep red fruit with long soft red, yellow or green hairs . First they have a delightful light taste with no after effects as are not uncommon in tropical fruits. Second the inside is as appealing as the outside.
From: Malaysia
Photographed: In the fabulous food market in Panajachel Guatemala.
Planting and Care: This is probably best left to the experts, but if you insist on trying find a good source for how to do it. I have saved some seeds and will let you know how it goes when I get back home and plant them in the garden.
Text Copyrighted ©KO 2010
 

 

**Rangoon Creeper, Chinese Honeysuckle, Drunken Sailor, Burma Creeper Quisqualis indica
This is a tough fast growing vine like shrub which blooms with lovely white to red flowers for a short time each summer. When not in bloom it is a commendable plant for its resistance to insects and diseases and because it is very easy to grow. Truthfully, it is almost impossible to eradicate so be careful where you plant it.
Benefits: The Rangoon creeper is an attractant for butterflies and hummingbirds.
Flowers: Late spring and through the summer
From: Tropical areas of Asia and New Guinea
Photographed: In the deck garden at our home in Montserrat.
Planting and Care: This wonderfully hardy and attractive bush will grow contentedly in sun or semi shade with some rainfall or watering. In my experience it will also survive drought periods fairly well.
Text and Photographs Copyrighted ©Krika.com 2009/2010
 
 
 

RATTLE SHAKERS

Rattle Shaker (White) Calathea crotalifera

Photographed: At the Hotel Atitlan on Lake Atitlan in Guatemala.
 Text & Photographs Copyrighted ©KO 2010
Rattle Shaker (Yellow) Calathea crotalifera
Photographed: At the Hotel Atitlan on Lake Atitlan in Guatemala.
 Text & Photographs Copyrighted ©KO2010 

 
 
 
**Red Gram See the "P" Page -- PIGEON PEA
 
Red Manjack Tree See The "C" Page -- CLAMMY CHERRY TREE
 

Red Salvia, Tropical Sage Salvia coccinea Coral Nymph
This is a striking vine like plant that grows relatively low to the ground. Its flowers are small but very special as you can see in the photograph.
Benefits: This is a butterfly and hummingbird attractant.
Photographed: In the Botanical Garden at the Hotel Atitlan on Lake Atitlan in Guatemala.
Planting and Care: This plant likes full sun and to appear at its best, it also requires routine rainfall or watering. It will not look great, but it will tolerate dry spells once it has settled in.
Text and Photograph Copyrighted ©KO 2010

 
 

**Red Sister See The "T" Page -- TI PLANT
 
**Red Sorrel See the "S" Page -- SORREL
 
**Red Tea See the "S" Page -- SORREL
 
Red Wax Jambu See Below on this page -- ROSE APPLE
 

Redwood Tree
In the cocoloba family.
Text Copyrighted ©KO 2004
 
References See The "L" Page -- LINKS
 

**Rheo See The "B" Page -- BOATLILY
 

Rhododendron See the "V" Page -- VIREYA RHODODENDRON
 
Rhubarb Rheum
This perennial plant that is so well known as a garden staple in New England, has proved an elusive gem in my Caribbean garden wish list. Lets hope one of these years someone coming down to the island from the northern US or from Canada can bring a root for me. I will be grateful enough to make a pie!
We are hoping to get the Victoria variety. We have absolutely the best strawberry plants in Taxco, Mexico, and we’re hoping to get some of them here in Montserrat for strawberries to blend with the rhubarb in pies.
Planting and Growth: Seeds should be planted where you want the final plant grow; they do not transplant well.
Text Copyrighted ©KO 2007
 
Ribbonbush See the "T" Page -- TAPEWORM PLANT
 
Ringworm Tree See the "C" Page -- CANDELABRA BUSH
 

Road Kill Cactus, Sour Prickly Pear Cactus Consolea rubescens
 This cactus has the appearance of having the usual cactus spines, but it doesn't. One local fellow in Montserrat told us its leaves were once used to "scrub up." Ours has grown to more than five feet in about as many years. Along the way it has given us lots of young off shoot plants.
From: The Caribbean
Photographed: Growing in our border garden at our home in Montserrat.
Planting and Care: Full sun and very light occasional rainfall or watering will keep this fast growing, disease free, spineless cactus very happy.
Text & Photograph Copyrighted ©KO 2008/2010
 
Roses -- Variety Unknown
I don't normally have a fondness for roses, but this one caught my eye from many yards away. It is a stunner! Sadly the photograph just doesn't do it justice.
Photographed: In the Botanical Garden at the Hotel Atitlan on Lake Atitlan in Guatemala.
 Text and Photograph Copyrighted ©KO 2010
 
Roses Pink -- Variety Unknown
 Photographed: In the Botanical Garden at the Hotel Atitlan on Lake Atitlan in Guatemala.
 Text and Photograph Copyrighted ©KO 2010
 
Rose Apple, Plum Rose, Red Wax Jambu, Malavar Plum Syzygium samarangense or Syzygium jambos (L.) Alston
The nicely shaped tree in the photograph below on the left is locally known in Montserrat as a plum rose and its brilliant red fruits are shown in the photograph below on the right. I wasn't able to find a reference for this tree on the internet a few years ago, but that has all changed now.
From: S.E. Asia
Photographed: Immediately below at Joe and Marg Barker's home, two of our neighbors and friends in Olveston, Montserrat and the two below those were taken at our friend Jacquie Ryan's home home in Woodland's, Montserrat.
Text and Photograph Copyrighted ©KO 2010 

 
 

 
Rose of Sharon, Blue Hibiscus Hibiscus syriacus 'Blue Bird'
 This more scrubby version of an hibiscus will grow to be about six feet tall or more and just about as wide. Its flowers will last a couple of days. While living in Bristol, Rhode Island, in the United States many years ago I had a thick hedge of Rose of Sharon and I liked it very much.
From: Australia
Photographed: At the Hotel Vision Azul on Lake Atitlan in Guatemala.
Planting and Care: Treat this plant as a hardy and fast growing hibiscus and it will do just fine with lots of sun and a reasonable amount of water. Like the hibiscus it also likes an acid soil.
Text and Photograph Copyrighted ©KO 2008/2010
 
**Roselle See the "S" Page -- SORREL

 

**Rosemary Herb Rosemarinus officinalis L.
This is a beautiful plant and a wonderful herb. Growing naturally it will reach from between 2 and 6 feet, looking like an ice green strange small pine tree. Its fragrant leaves are a wonderful addition to any fish stew and I don’t think our stuffed mushrooms would be the same without it. We have one thriving in a pot in Taxco and now have two plants growing in our herb garden here in Montserrat.
I think it's time to update this note because each and every initially thriving rosemary plant here in Montserrat has died. I've tried them in full sun with little or no water, full sun with regular watering, semi shade with and without water and still after a short term of beautiful growth the plant begins to shrivel and die. If you have any hints on how to keep them thriving, please do get in touch.
Benefits:
1. Apart from using rosemary in the kitchen, use its powdered crushed leaves as a flea and tick repellant on your pets. It’s a great alternative to toxic chemicals which aren't good for you or for your pets!
2. Rosemary is believed by some to have a stimulating effect on brain activity increasing the ability to think and solve problems quickly.
3. It is also said to be an aid to digestion, but my personal experience is just the opposite. Whenever I eat anything flavored with rosemary (which I love) I run pretty shortly for the Tums or any other anti-acid medication nearby.
From: The Mediterranean
Photographed: At the Nature Reserve by Lake Atitlan in Guatemala.
Planting and Growth: As is true of so many plants from the Mediterranean, rosemary is said to grow most vigorously in a reasonably dry, rocky and alkaline soil.
Text and Photograph Copyrighted ©KO 2008/2010
 
**Royal Palm See The "PALMS AND SAGOS" Page -- FLORIDA ROYAL PALM
 
**Royal Poinciana See The "P" Page -- POINCIANA
 

**Rubber Tree Plant Ficus elastica
We northern climate folks know this as a fine and hardy potted plant. Growing outside in the Caribbean it is an entirely different creature. It is a fast growing tree which may grow as high as 100 feet -- huge and verdant. In a tropical environment watch out for this tree's voracious root system. The rubber tree is a member of the ficus family which is well known in the tropics and often dreaded. Despite the beautiful appearance of this family of plants and trees, they are best planted in an area where they will entirely dominate the environment -- nothing can compete well with them.
From: Tropical Asia
Photographed: In our garden at our home in Montserrat.
Planting and Growth: Preferring a little shade, but weathering full sun, the rubber tree plant will take a lot of water.
Text and Photograph Copyrighted © KO 2009

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Click below to see our garden plants alphabetically listed by common name.
A B C D E F G H I J K L M N O P Q R S T U V W X Y Z
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