Everyday Beauty, Health and Living

Medinilla magnifica is possibly one of the most unique flower to come from the tropics. It is commonly known as Rose Grape for their pretty pink fruits that look like tiny grapes. It has thick glossy evergreen leaves and showy pink flowers.

Photo from Medinilla Magnifica

These plants are natives of tropical southern Asia, western Africa and the Pacific islands. So this means they prefer hot and humid climates.

It looks like this flower is starting to gain popularity as the most elegant and exotic house plant around. It has amazing flowers that bloom several times a year. Similar to orchids, the flowering period can last from 3 to 6 months.

I actually saw this Medinilla at the SF Conservatory of Flowers. Although there weren’t any showy pink leaves, there were plenty of pink grape like fruits.


If I had viable garden space, I would want to grow one of these flowers.  White Butterfly ginger (hedychiums) are considered one of the most attractive of all ginger flowers.

whitebutterflygingerGinger flowers are commonly known as Ginger lily.  They are  also related to the common ginger root used in cooking.

It is a popular landscape plant for warmer states such as Florida, Texas,  California and Hawaii .

The one pictured here is the White Butterfly Ginger.  It has green stalks that grow from thick rhizomes (root).  From the middle of summer through autumn, the stalks will have long clusters of fragrant white flowers.  Flowers that resemble butterflies, hence the name.

Here is the Houston Chronicle’s top 3 Butterfly Gingers that I like (out of their top 10 list).

- The rows of red-orange flowers of this striking ginger are arranged to create a loose, bottlebrushlike look.

- The best-known of the butterfly gingers, these large, white, highly fragrant blooms are carried atop 5-foot plants.

- The bright-yellow flowers of this lightly scented summer-fall bloomer have red-orange stamens. Leathery-leafed stalks.

All the other varieties sound really nice.  The Red ginger and Kahili ginger remind me of tropical places, such as Hawaii.

The white butterfly ginger seem to be most popular and widely available.  Ebay starts at $9 for 2 rhizomes.  Not too bad considering those rhizomes will start to multiply in no time!

redgingerBeautiful red ginger from Hawaii.  Same ginger leaves, but different blossoms.  Photo from R.J. Malfalfa via .

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