Tibatib is sometimes called the

“Monstera of the Philippines,” but only

because of how it looks. This endemic
plant belongs to a different species
altogether, although it grows just as fast
as the former. Its leaves have the
potential to grow huge too, especially
when you let them climb. Great for
indoors, the tibatib is known to tolerate
drought and low-light conditions. That
said, the plant will effortlessly thrive
when you place it in a spot with bright,
indirect sunlight.

Cordyline (Cordyline fruticosa), also

known as the Ti plant, grows leathery,
spear-shaped leaves in a variety of
colors. The leaves of the evergreen
shrub can be green, red, yellow, white,
purple, or purplish red. Some varieties
of the cordyline plant bloom white,
pink, or lavender flowers with berries in
the early summer. Cordyline varieties
can thrive as outdoor plants or
houseplants. Flowering is more likely in
outdoor varieties, but the houseplant
cordyline can occasionally bloom
flowers, too.

Bougainvillea
The flowers are more than the leaves when
it blooms during the summer months, its
trunk is big as fists and has thorns, flowers
grow in a variety of colors. Requires little
maintenance and is commonly seen along
streets in the metro.
 Foxtail Palm Tree

The Foxtail Palm Tree, scientific name Wodyetia

bifurcata, has the most spectacular foliage displays of all
palms. The Foxtail palm has gained popularity because
it is very durable and will tolerate a wide variety of soil
conditions like alkaline limestone soils and rocky sands.
It has a deep root system that helps it to withstand high
winds and makes it easier to tolerate drought. The
Foxtail Palm can also grow indoors.

Dracaena australis
Also called Yucca, grows to a height of 8 m. with
many branches growing from the trunk. The leaves
are sword-shaped and bear aromatic small white
flowers. In New Zealand it is called a Cabbage Tree,
inner leaves and stems are eaten either cooked or
raw.

Hibiscus rosasinensis
Or Gumamela in the Philippines comes in a variety of color and this tropical beauty is a sight to
behold for their large showy flowers. And it can
enhance the beauty of any landscape and butterflies,
bees, and hummingbirds are attracted to it. The
flowers are used to make a tea that is served in
popular coffee spots like Starbucks. Taken hot or
cold the beverage has medicinal benefits that include
respite from high blood pressure and cholesterol,
cure liver disease, and lessens the risk of cancer.
Filipino children mix the flowers leaves with soap
solution to produce bubbles.
Better look closely as it may be agoho (Casuarina equisetifolia) that you are seeing. This tree is
often mistaken for being a member of the Pinus family given its resemblance to pines. According
to the blog Our Philippine Trees, agoho is
actually a flowering tree whose stems
are quite similar to pine needles and
whose fruit looks like pine cones. As
such, it gives a mountainy feel to any
landscape. Once it is fully
grown, agoho becomes drought-tolerant,
meaning it can do well even without the
constant supply of water.
Another one from the herbal bunch is
banaba (Lagerstroemia speciosa), a
flowering tree that typically grows in
warm climates. It can reach up to 10 meters high, with large green oblong-shaped leaves. This
tree has nut-like fruit and lavender flowers, which when in full bloom are truly a sight to behold.
According to Medical Health Guide, the
banaba tree’s leaves and flowers have
insulin-like properties that can be used
as herbal treatment for diabetes
mellitus.
Salingbobog is perhaps the closest tree
that the Philippines has to Japan’s
famous cherry blossoms. This
moderately-sized tree can grow up to 15
meters and can fit into most standard
homes without a problem. Salingbobog
can grow beautiful green-yellow flowers that turn purple, white, and yellow over time. These
flowers are also filled with sweet nectar, which can draw in a host of friendly birds and insects.
Ervatamia divaricata
Crape jasmine or Pandacaqui in the
Philippines. A stunning shrub that can
reach up to 2 m. tall, branches grow
parallel to the ground giving it a unique
and attractive look. The flowers are
waxy, sweet-smelling, and white with 5
petals which are abundant throughout the year. It easily propagates through sunlight and regular
watering.

Banaba is a popular tree for its medicinal uses, especially in treatments for diabetes. But aside
from that, it is also a beautiful ornamental tree that bears violet flowers. They are good pathway
trees to provide shade. Furthermore, it can also act as windbreaks for stopping strong winds.

Siar Tree
Largely used as an ornamental tree, especially in
tropical destinations, the Siar tree blossoms with
intricate-looking yellow flowers. Back in the time
of the War of Independence, late president Emilio
Aguinaldo planted a Siar tree in front of the
Malolos Cathedral.
 Balayong Tree
While the Balayong tree has gained the
monicker “Palawan cherry blossoms,” this
species belongs to the list of Philippine
native trees. Homegrown in Palawan, the
Balayong tree has become so widely
visited because of its resemblance to the
sakura trees.

Malabulak Tree
Every February, Malabulak trees
unfailingly wow passers-by with its cup-
shaped scarlet flowers. As the cold months
kick in, the leaves of the Malabulak tree
shed, making way for its fiery blossoms to
create an illusion of a fully red tree.
Malabulak trees are rarer than fire trees,
although they pose a similar look. You’ll
find them around Metro Manila, but most
flourish in Bulacan.

Santan
Another ornamental favorite, santan is
the familiar garden shrub adorned with
little red flowers borne in cymes. The
species originally came from India, but
has since been cultivated in the
Philippines. Children collect the little
santan flowers and create necklaces with
them. Adults, however, procure and use
them for treatment of dysentery and
other diseases.
 Heart of jesus
The heart of jesus is a poisonous leafy
plant. Its paper-thin, heart-shaped leaves
lend the plant its common nickname,
along with names like "angel wings"
and "elephant ear." Though native to
South America, its primary hub of
cultivation is now around Lake Placid,
Florida, where it has become a popular
centerpiece for an annual festival.

Snake plant
Snake plant can be considered a
houseplant and an architectural display
due to its sword-like leaves with bold
striping patterns, which are distinctive
and eye-catching. However, use
caution with this plant because it is
poisonous when ingested and can cause
nausea, vomiting, and even swelling of
the throat and tongue.

Dieffenbachia
The focal point of a dieffenbachia is the
beautiful look and patterns of the
foliage, which are often variegated.
This plant has showy white blooms, but
only flowers in perfect conditions.
Madagascar periwinkle
The madagascar periwinkle (Catharanthus roseus)
is an evergreen subshrub or herbaceous plant. It
has a long history of cultivation. Over the years,
many cultivars have been developed, most
commonly with the aim of incorporating new
colors or making the plant more tolerant to cold.

Spider plant
The spider plant is a green perennial
plant with long, thin leaves that earn it
another name, "ribbon plant." It has
spread far from its native Africa because
it is easy to care for. Since spider plants
grow well in partial or full shade, they
have become popular houseplants.

Chinese evergreen
Chinese evergreen (Aglaonema
commutatum) is an evergreen
herbaceous perennial, often cultivated as
a houseplant and garden ornamental.
Some people confuse it with a dumb
cane due to their numerous similarities.
You can differentiate the two species by
looking at leaves - compared to dumb
cane chinese evergreen has narrower
dark green leaves with few light green
stripes.
Oyster plant
Native to Belize, Guatemala, and Mexico,
the oyster plant is widely cultivated as a
garden plant and naturalized in the
southeastern United States. Though there
is no ecological damage observed, oyster
plant is invasive in Florida and Louisiana
due to its amount.

Ti plant
The ti plant is a palm-like shrub that
symbolizes the connection between the
living and the dead for some Austronesian
cultures, having many ceremonial
purposes. In practical terms, ti plant is
used to make dyes and is grown for
ornamentation.

Arrowhead plant
Arrowhead plant (Syngonium
podophyllum) is a beautiful foliage plant,
one of the most popular species of
the Araceae family. Due to its air
purifying qualities and good looks,
arrowhead plant is often cultivated as a
houseplant. Every part of this plant is
toxic, so it's best to keep it away from kids
and pets.
Dama de Noche
Dama de Noche (literally "lady of the
night") is famous for its unusual biorhythm
which made it the subject of legend. Its
flowers bloom at night and exude a very
sweet scent. Although widely cultivated in
the Philippines, the plant was introduced
from tropical America.

Yellow bells (Tecoma stans) are a fast-

growing evergreen shrub with slender,
gray-brown branches and clusters of
bright yellow, trumpet-shaped flowers.
Green, toothed, lace-shaped leaves offer a
beautiful backdrop for the shrub's vibrant
blooms, which attract hummingbirds,
butterflies, and bees. Also known as
esperanza or yellow elder, these plants
produce long, green seedpods after
flowering that act as a food source for
small animals.
Garden croton
Codiaeum variegatum
The garden croton is a showy tropical
display that does well indoors or in warm
climates. Known for its attractive foliage,
this plant can have both color and
structural variations in its leaves. Leaf
colors can include orange, yellow, scarlet,
white, and green, and many times all are
present on one plant.