Beautiful Blooms of Tahiti
You may not have noticed, but I’ve been away again. This year seems to be filled with travel and I’m determined to punctuate it with hard work in the garden so I can make some real progress.
This time it was supposed to be all leisure and relaxation as we cruised about island hopping in Tahiti. However, I don’t think I can completely switch off from what I love to do so it came as no surprise to anyone when my sun lounger reading was my favourite gardening magazine – hot off the press as we checked the letterbox one last time before heading away. And if I wasn’t reading about gardens, I was listening to podcasts about gardens and gathering up ideas and inspiration to apply at home.
Aside from the introspective thinking about my home garden, it didn’t escape my attention that French Polynesia has the most beautiful plants and flowers. Aside from the obligatory photos of my toes in the water with tropical fish close by or the stunning crystal-clear azure waters creating an ombre effect as they transitioned from a white sand beach, across coral reefs and out into the deep blue ocean. It was majestical. But jostling for space on my camera were photos of plants. You would be hard pushed to decide if it was a botanical or beachy trip.
So let me show you some of the 10 most magnificent flowers to be found across Tahiti. (There are loads of others, but I don’t want to bore you).
Tiare Gardenia taitensis – the national flower of Tahiti with a wonderfully intoxicating fragrance that will always remind me of my time in these islands. It is traditional to greet visitors to Tahiti with a Tiare bud. It is also worn behind the ear by everyone although the guys prefer the unopened bud and the ladies like it in full bloom
White Frangipani Plumieria alba – a Caribbean native, introduced in 1852 but grows well in the poor soils of the coral atolls and evokes all kinds of tropical imagery.
Plumeria pudica has many common names including fiddle leaf plumeria, named for its fiddle shaped leaves. This example was part of a magnificent hedge with the white blooms positively glowing from the distance.
Not technically a flower but Areca catechu the Betel Nut Palm is more than just a pretty tree. The nuts when chewed apparently have a narcotic affect, however it didn’t appear to be a thing in Tahiti.
Bougainvillea, also introduced and also epitomises the tropics and was found all over the place. There is even a public garden in Papeete named after Count Louis-Antoine de Bougainville who stopped in Tahiti in 1768 on the first French trip around the world. Interestingly enough the mistress of the botanist who found the bougainvillea plant in Brazil snuck aboard the ship and is now recognised as the first woman to circumnavigate the world!
I was fortunate enough to see a stunning Egyptian Blue Lotus Nymphaea caerulea in a water garden outside a shop in Bora Bora.
Euphorbia milii, the Crown of Thorns native to Madagascar but does well in tropical Tahiti and was seen in many front yard gardens.
Yellow Alder, Turnera ulmifolia, is very beautiful and commonly found growing by the roadside but is considered an invasive weed across the south pacific.
Thevetia Peruviana, the Yellow oleander has a deadly beauty. The sap on this one is highly toxic and can be fatal. I spotted this fine example at the entrance to a public beach!
And lastly we can’t forget the ubiquitous Hibiscus that was everywhere in all shades of pink and red, but not often found tucked behind anyone’s ear.
The colours across Tahiti were so vibrant – the flowers, the fish, the ocean, the sunsets and the wonderful personalities of the local people. It was a fabulous experience and I’ll never forget the warmth of the tropical sun on my skin and the salty tropical fragrances on the air.
Come again soon – it will be a long time before it is that warm again in my garden, but there is plenty to do in the meantime.
Sarah the Gardener : o)
How lovely to get a way to a warm spot at this time of year. I loved your flower photos – they are gorgeous. I’m sure you’ll return energised to get back into your garden, but missing the warmth no doubt.
The drop in temperature has certainly been a shock , but the blue sky days are perfect for the garden. : o)
These are certainly some odd ones. I want to get a few copies of various Plumeria from Los Angeles, but they need protection from frost here. They are surprisingly vulnerable. Are they adaptable to your home garden, or is wind more of a concern than frost?
I was tempted to buy a Plumeria recently but I wasn’t sure how well it would do and it was quite expensive. The wind is a bit brutal, but having seen them beside the sea in Tahiti I’m thinking it might be ok. : o)
Buy?! Is that not like buying zonal geraniums or bearded iris? Are there none in your region to get copies from?
Nah – they don’t grow freely here and are more of a specialised thing and the pride and joy of those who manage to grow them. : o)
Well, I get it only because that is how they are here. In Southern California though, they are shared quite commonly.
Fabulous post, made me want to leap on a plane straight to the tropics! Instead I’ll go back to raking leaves lol xxj
It was amazing, but a bit of an adjustment to the wintery weather now we’re home. : o)