“If I was to be stranded on Dessert Island what three plants I would take? Food is taken care of and there are no limits to growing conditions.”
My Plant No 1 is the the Flamboyant or Royal Poinciana tree. It provides shade and is a beautiful umbrella shape. And of course erupts into fabulous blooms of red or orange.
Plant 2: I love bamboos-the elegant and serene, zen like effect. I know in the US there is the issue of it being “invasive” but I have never heard of that here. Possibly because bamboos are not grown in small surburban gardens, except the small types in pots or as accents. Also, most tropical bamboos are clumpers, not running bamboos. The bamboo plant is a very useful plant, the leaves can be used to wrap food for cooking, the canes for gardening and buildings shelters as well as making baskets and mats, and the shoots of some types are edible.
Plant 3 was a bit harder, as I wanted some colorful and /or scented flowers. The winner is bougainvillea, one of my favourite flowers, with lavender and zinnia coming in second. Bougainvillea can be grown as a bonsai, shrub or vine, and flowers used in vases. I love the clear, hot colors.
