The 12 Most Interesting South American Plants
In this article, we'll explore the 12 most interesting South American plants, highlighting their characteristics, uses, and the experiences we've had with them.
Here are 5 coolest plants and trees that you can find in the South American rainforests and landscapes:
Amaranth
Guava
Cassava
Bromeliads
Passion Flower
Rubber Tree
Height: 30-40m (98-131ft)
Habitat: Native to the Amazon rainforest
Uses: Source of natural rubber
The Rubber Tree is a tall plant, and tree that reaches up to 40 meters in height, commonly found in the Amazon rainforest. After tapping the tree for latex, we observed the fascinating process of natural rubber extraction, crucial for many industries.
Giant Water Lily
Leaf Diameter: Up to 3m (10ft)
Color Varieties: White (initially), turning pink
Growing Conditions: Warm, shallow waters of the Amazon Basin
The Giant Water Lily (Victoria amazonica) is famous for its enormous leaves, which can reach up to 3 meters in diameter. We saw that they often swim in small water beds together with other aquatic flowers and plants.
Passion Flower
Height: Up to 10m (33ft)
Color Varieties: Purple, white
Growing Conditions: Full sun to partial shade, well-drained soil
The Passion Flower is a South American climbing plant that can grow up to 10 meters in height. It produces stunning white and purple bush flowers and thrives in full sun to partial shade with well-drained soil. We saw that this tropical plant not only adds beauty to the garden but also produces edible fruit known as passion fruit.
Chocolate Tree
Height: 4-8m (13-26ft)
Habitat: Tropical rainforests
Uses: Source of cocoa beans
The Chocolate Tree (Theobroma cacao), native to the tropical rainforests of South America, grows between 4 to 8 meters tall. If you don't know, it is the source of cocoa beans, which are used to produce chocolate., these yellow and brown fruits have a similar texture to most native South American Cacti.
Monkey Puzzle Tree
Height: 30-40m (98-131ft)
Growing Conditions: Well-drained soil, full sun
Uses: Landscaping
The Monkey Puzzle Tree is a unique conifer that can grow up to 40 meters tall. Known for its puzzle-like bark and sharp leaves, this tree adds a touch of prehistoric touch to any landscape.
Yerba Mate Plant
Height: 4-8m (13-26ft)
Growing Conditions: Humid, shaded areas
Uses: South American Tea
Yerba Mate is a shrub or small tree that grows between 4 and 8 meters tall. It is famous for its leaves, which are used to make traditional South American tea. After growing this leafy plant, we saw that the quite low-maintenance bush fits well into indoor spaces.
Bromeliads
Height: Varies by species
Color Varieties: Red, orange, yellow, pink, purple
Growing Conditions: Tropical and subtropical regions, well-drained soil
Bromeliads are a diverse family of plants with varying heights and vibrant color varieties. We saw that they thrive in tropical and subtropical regions with well-drained soil and bring an amazing tropical flair to gardens.
Cassava
Height: 1-3m (3-10ft)
Growing Conditions: Tropical climates, well-drained soil
Cassava is a woody full sun shrub that grows between 1 to 3 meters tall. It thrives in tropical climates with well-drained soil and is a staple food crop in many South American countries.
Angel's Trumpet
Height: 3-11m (10-36ft)
Color Varieties: White, pink, yellow, orange
Growing Conditions: Full sun to partial shade, well-drained soil
Angel's Trumpet is a large South American plant with hanging flowers that can grow up to 11 meters tall. After seeing it we saw that it produces striking trumpet-shaped flowers in various colors, adding an amazing touch with its blooms.
Guava
Height: 3-10m (10-33ft)
Growing Conditions: Tropical and subtropical regions, well-drained soil
Guava is a small tree or large shrub that grows between 3 to 10 meters tall. It thrives in tropical and subtropical regions with well-drained soil and produces sweet, aromatic fruits. We found that growing Guava provided us with a bountiful harvest of delicious fruits.
Heliconia
Height: 1-3m (3-10ft)
Color Varieties: Red, yellow, orange, pink
Growing Conditions: Tropical climates, well-drained soil
Heliconia is a vibrant plant with exotic flowers native to tropical regions of South America. It produces striking, colorful bracts that look like lobster claws which make it look similar to most American cacti and succulents, adding an exotic touch to your garden. We found that Heliconia thrives in well-drained soil and requires regular watering to maintain its colors.
Amaranth
Height: 0.5-2.5m (1.6-8ft)
Color Varieties: Green, red, purple, gold
Growing Conditions: Full sun, well-drained soil
Amaranth is a versatile plant known for its vibrant foliage and edible seeds and if you don't let it outgrow like in the image you can use it amazingly for wild spaces, informal garden borders or cottage garden borders.
The plant's leaves are rich in nutrients, and its seeds are used as a grain substitute.
Sources
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Victoria amazonica: Victoria amazonica - Wikipedia
Passion Flower: Passionflower: Care & Grow (thespruce.com)
Theobroma cacao: Theobroma cacao - Wikipedia
Bromeliads: Bromeliads – Wisconsin Horticulture
Angel’s Trumpet: Angel’s Trumpet, Brugmansia – Wisconsin Horticulture
Heliconia: Heliconias – Wisconsin Horticulture
More information on South American plants: Conifer | Britannica, South America - Rainforest, Flora, Fauna | Britannica, Category: Plants of South America - Wikipedia
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Calin has been in the garden industry for 5 years and knows much about gardening and plants. He owns this website and is responsible for most of the content.