From spindly, delicate bamboo that look like a Chinese ink and water painting, to thick, sturdy columns that look like the pillars of a palace wall, Bamboo comes in all sizes and colours. Around October, youll catch the spicy scent of the Milkwood on an evening breeze in the cities or the countryside. *Other names: Jungle geranium|chi trang or cm t cu (Vietnamese). The Star Apple is quite a common and much-loved tropical fruit in the south of Vietnam, where its found along the coast, midlands and highlands. which we have in our garden in Saigon. Im not a connoisseur, but it doesnt taste great to me. The tree is quite small and unremarkable, with thick, often crispy leaves. A bush in full bloom is an extravagant sight. Shes beautiful, but a cannonball when she needs to get things done I will try dragonfruit and fried breadfruit, though in Massachusetts we have to wait till they get (maybe) ripe enough to eat. During these months the colour is so vibrant and striking that the trees are like chandeliers of candles lining the streets. So I bought a few illustrated books about tropical foliage plant-spotting guides and, within a couple of weeks on the road, Id ticked off 90% of what was in them. I love flowers and plants . I read a Vietnamese proverb once (although I cant find it anywhere now, and no one else seems to have heard it) that goes:n cy a, ma cy gn: The spirits live in the Banyan tree, the ghosts in the Kapok. Often seen in dry southern coastal regions, Dragon Fruit is famous as one of the most exotic-looking and colourful tropical fruits. Hi, Thank you very much for your article. Clinging to its spindly trunk are clusters of bulging, breast-shaped fruit. Awesome guide to trees from Vietnam! I sent the picture of the cannonball flower and fruit to the Vietnamese state rep in the district next to mine. Vietnam is one of the countries to which the Bodhi is native, and they can be found across the nation. The pods turn bright red when ripe and their seeds have been used as a dye for hundreds of years. The Vietnamese name Cy Keo Bc translates roughly as silver glue tree (I think). The leaves are shapely and thick: a satisfyingly plump heart-shape. In Vietnamese, hoa smeans porcelain flower, so-named because of its whiteness. The petals are cream yellow on the outside and deep red on the inside, with pink and yellow stamens. For me, the smell encapsulates all things Asian and exotic, but some of my Vietnamese friends tell me that many people are allergic to it. Your website is inspiring me to try things that I never had time to think about when I was working! *Other names: Vitis |Chi Nho (Vietnamese), *Where & when you might see it:Central coastal plains[MAP]. Apparently, there are all sorts of usages and folk stories surrounding cactus, especially in the Americas. In fact, the Vietnamese name (, The pink, purple and white petals of bougainvillea have always been symbolic of warm climes and blue seas. And, yes, I remember seeing many of these plants when I was in India too. Its one of the hottest, driest places in the country. The big, green-yellow fruit (similar in appearance to. Thats very helpful. One area in particular is known for it: Binh Thuan, sometimes referred to as Dragon Fruit Province. When travelling to Dalat by road, for example, vast swathes of forest have been cut down, replaced by coffee bushes as far as the eye can see. 
Have I missed it? A pretty little flower with a suitably dainty name, Madagascar Periwinkles seem to grow like a weed along Vietnams coastline. A dark green bush which grows in many places in Vietnam, but particularly in the Central Highlands, the Rose Myrtle has very pretty, violet flowers. Neat, bell-shaped flowers on a small tree with skinny, grey-green leaves, Yellow Oleander grow in gardens in the Central Highlands, or are planted as decorative vegetation along highway partitions in some southern, coastal cities. Vietnam is among the largest producers of cashew nuts in the world. As far as I know, the name in Vietnamese means something like Dragon Head, which I think is referring to the flowers resemblance to the head of the dragons in New Year dances. But its their yellow flowers that make copperpods most recognizable: they bloom in springtime and light up the city streets. In particular, the large, century-old tropical almond trees on, Found in the dry, arid, stark and beautiful coastal plains of the south-central provinces, the Prickly Pear Cactus is a plant that perhaps you wouldnt expect to find in Vietnam. When I travelled in northern Ethiopia, most markets in small, rural towns still set up under big, old Banyans. Oh this is superb! But the most attractive aspect of Lantana for me, is the textured, slightly serrated, mint-like leaves which, when you rub them, give off an attractive scent that reminds me of essential oils. *Other names: Umbrella tree | Cy bng (Vietnamese), *Where & when you might see it:all coastal regions[MAP]. Is there a change you know the plant and how to take really good care of it. I read a Vietnamese proverb once (although I cant find it anywhere now, and no one else seems to have heard it) that goes: Exotic and almost prehistoric in appearance, I can easily imagine the Travellers Palm dotting the landscapes in which dinosaurs used to roam. To me, the Papaya is a quintessentially exotic, tropical fruit. Because of their splayed branches and thick leaves, Cashews are also great shade trees: during the southern dry season, farmers, travellers, and cattle alike sit out the hottest hours of the day in the pool of cool shade beneath the Cashews. Perhaps this is why they often appear to be associated with the devil or evil spirits in folklore. Over the years, its been sad to see many thousands of Casuarinas along Vietnams coast being cut down to make way for multi-storey resort complexes. A highly decorative and distinctive looking plant, Heliconia come in many varieties, all of which are very colourful. Its somehow benevolent, calming, and reassuring: with it comes the promise of warm weather, sea breezes, salty air, tropical storms. Every part of the Lotus is eaten or used in some way in Vietnam: the seeds, which have a wonderful, flowery flavour, are candied or used in desserts; the stems are used in soups to absorb the broth and add crunch; the roots can be sliced, battered and fried for a crunchy snack; the leaves are used to wrap and steam foods, imparting a subtle flavour, such as in lotus-steamed rice; and all parts, including the flower itself, can be used to make Lotus tea. But, for the most part, I couldnt identify them by name, so I wasnt able to communicate what I was seeing, whether in conversation, in writing, or in my own thoughts. The flower has a rubbery but fragile texture and the scent is glorious. For every flower, plant, fruit and tree in this list, Ive included images and a brief description. The fruit is widely eaten in Vietnam: fresh or cooked. The flowers are a bouquet of small clusters in many colours: red, yellow, violet, orange, pink. In Saigon, I was lucky enough to live next to an urban swamp that was filled with Lotus flowers; until the water was drained and the swamp filled-in with trash and hardcore: the foundations of a future construction project. Tamarinds can be centuries old. This medium-sized tree lives up to its romantic name thanks to the brilliant red-orange flowers which grow at the tip of each branch, looking like lanterns burning along the boughs. A bush in full bloom is an extravagant sight. Nice article about Vietnam trees BUT, A handsome, medium-sized tree with large, green, coarsely textured, serrated leaves, the Breadfruit is quite common in Vietnam as an ornamental tree on city streets and in gardens. Ninh Thuan has a strikingly stark and non-tropical landscape indeed, it looks more like southern Spain than Southeast Asia. Ill be adding to it each week, too. When I started living in Vietnam and, in particular, when I started making road trips through the countryside, I was mesmerized by the colours, smells, shapes, sizes and variety of the flora I saw. With an evocative name and a perfume to match, the Rangoon creeper has been a favourite of mine ever since I first caught its scent on the breeze somewhere in Vietnam many years ago. I wonder if you know the name of tre that has red flower that sort of remind me a pelican feat. Indeed, along the Ocean Road you can usually smell a cashew tree long before you can see it. However, this is usually just one type of morning glory: the one with elongated, diamond-shaped leaves. Papaya is used in dozens of Vietnamese dishes. *Where & when you might see it:Rivers, hills & mountains nationwide[MAP]. Ever since I first smelt it, I felt as though this flowermeantsomething to me. *Other names: Xng Rng (Vietnamese)|Opuntia (academic), *Where & when you might see it:South-central coast & plains[MAP]. From resorts to villas to compounds to farmhouses, the elaborate fan of the Travellers Palms green sails adorns and enlivens many an urban and rural scene. Growing to a height of about 1-4 metres, coffee bushes are squat, glossy-green-leafed shrubs. This has made it popular as a shade tree throughout the world: I remember seeing an age-old local market in rural northern Ethiopia taking place in the shade of an age-old tropical almond tree. So it seems fitting that this is where Vietnams grapes are grown. The area around Khe Sanh, in the central province of Quang Binh, produces some of the best Arabicacoffee Ive ever tasted.
Hence another of its colloquial names: the umbrella tree. *Other names: Chinese honeysuckle | S qun t or trang leo (Vietnamese), *Where & when you might see it:coastal and midland regions[MAP]. The Yellow Mai is also referred to as Apricot Blossom, but, as far as I know, this is a misnomer. Slowly, the host tree dies and, over time, rots away completely, leaving a hollow void where once the original tree stood. There are hundreds of species of, A dark green bush which grows in many places in Vietnam, but particularly in the Central Highlands, the Rose Myrtle has very pretty, violet flowers. In Vietnam, several strands of the cactus are grafted to a concrete post and encouraged to grow up the pillar. Ripe, orange and yellow mangoes are sweet, juicy, soft, luscious, and sticky. Papaya is also supposed to be very healthy. I love beautiful plants and flower in Vietnam. *Where & when you might see it:Mekong Delta, Coastal regions[MAP]. A great piece of work, Tom Breadfruit is particularly good when sliced, battered and lightly fried in oil to produce a crispy, flat chip (or fry), which is great for dipping in a sauce. The flowers are so neatly presented in bunches that they look like cheerleaders pompoms. Theyre used in smoothies and desserts. When the flowers are in full bloom and in the bright sunlight of a good highlands day, the Mimosas leaves and flowers glow like candles. There is a man planting this flower to cover his roof of the house in Bao Loc, Lam Dong. I know that many of the items technically belong in both categories, but I have simply chosen to put each one in the category that I most associate it with. In Vietnam, too, bougainvillea has a similar radiance: growing over doorways and entrances to peoples homes by the coast, decorating gardens in the highlands, and showering the porches of, A remarkable flower with a fittingly romantic name, Angels Trumpet is a kind of bush from which hang dozens of large, colourful, tubular flowers. Thanks so much! On this page, Ive compiled an informal, illustrated list of. These are very spicy but also have a wonderful, flowery aroma. *Other names: Indian date | Cy me (Vietnamese), *Where & when you might see it:Coast, lowland plains & midlands, especially southern & central regions[MAP]. The Central Highlands region, in particular between Bao Loc, Dalat and Buon Ma Thuot, underwent huge transformation to accommodate the profitable cash crop. But youd never guess it from its pleasing appearance. In Vietnamese, the fruit is called. The Central Highlands region, in particular between Bao Loc, Dalat and Buon Ma Thuot, underwent huge transformation to accommodate the profitable cash crop. Thousands of little, tubular, bright orange or red flowers pop out from the green leaves, fraying at their tips. Hi Tom, someone gave me a piece of plant said it was from Vietnam Nam. Appropriately named, the Golden Shower tree blooms in coastal regions of Vietnam between March and June. But its the fruit that stands out the most. The fruit is bright pink with green tips at the end of several flame-like fins. There are hundreds of species ofconvolvulus, but most of them grow by the water in horizontal vines, straddling sandy beaches, muddy riverbanks, cliffs and lakeshores. In some exceptional and admiral cases, resorts have chosen to build around the trees, incorporating them into the design, such as at.
One area in particular is known for it: To my mind, the king of trees in Asia, the Banyan is grand, exotic, heroic, mysterious and majestic. Click an item from the two indexes below: Flowers & Plants| Fruits & Trees: A General Map of the Geographical Regions of Vietnam, *Other names: Hoa S (Vietnamese) |Plumeria (Latin), *Where & when you might see it:south, south-central & central coast, Mekong Delta[MAP]. Inside, the flesh is white (or red or purple in some cases) with little black seeds. But their fruit, too, holds a special place in Vietnamese culinary culture. Its not unusual to see Angels Trumpets exhibiting their showy flowers in the Central Highlands, particularly during the southern dry season. Essentially a small, green tree with bursts of red leaves, Poinsettias are a fairly common sight in and around Dalat, where temperatures are around 10 degrees cooler than lowland areas. *Other names: Chi Thng Thin (Vietnamese), *Where & when you might see it:Coastal regions & Central Highlands[MAP]. Apparently, Adenium is related to the, The national flower of Vietnam, the Lotus grows in freshwater ponds and lakes throughout the country. But I think if you go to any local market in Vietnam and ask for ht mc mt you should be able to find it. But, for the most part, I couldnt identify them by name, so I wasnt able to communicate what I was seeing, whether in conversation, in writing, or in my own thoughts. Growing in clusters on the vine, the flowers are large, wide, and open. Increasingly, however, farmers are turning to the Arabicavariety, which only grows at high altitude andis quite delicate, but brings a much higher price. *Other names: Cy tch |ga ty (Vietnamese), *Where & when you might see it:in the Central Highlands & northern mountains[MAP]. Although Spider Lilies are used to adorn private and public grounds, I find theres something a bit sinister about their shape and form: they look like the Martians from H.G. I love flowers and trees. We use the leave for cooking. I wanted to have words for these beautiful things, I wanted to learn the lexicon of nature. The chilli plants are small and delicate, with the little red peppers dotted all over the bush like drops of blood. A low, shrub-like plant, peanuts are grown in fields between homes and on farmland. Whats more, Vietnamese coffee culture is becoming more and more sophisticated, trendy and, hopefully, environmentally conscientious. Ninh Thuan has a strikingly stark and non-tropical landscape indeed, it looks more like southern Spain than Southeast Asia. Where did you find your tropical plant and flowers book? A remarkable flower with a fittingly romantic name, Angels Trumpet is a kind of bush from which hang dozens of large, colourful, tubular flowers. Its not at all difficult to see how the Lotus came to be so loved and used in religious iconography: its a beautiful, broad flower, with pink and white petals opening and closing into a bulb with the coming and going of the day and night; the flower sits atop a delicate stem rising out of the water from wide, green pads floating on the surface. As one of the worlds largest producers and exporters of coffee, parts of the Vietnamese countryside are completely blanketed in coffee bushes. But in the attractive, desert-like areas of the provinces of Binh Thuan, Ninh Thuan, Khanh Hoa, Phu Yen and Binh Dinh, cactus are not an unusual sight. Introduced by the colonial French in the 19th and 20th centuries, Vietnam continues to grow grapes for wine production, honey, raisins and candies. Thanks for the wonderful guide both write up and pictures! Known as, Growing by the beaches and rivers throughout Vietnam, Morning Glory is a common name given to this weed-like plant with pretty flowers. Fortunately, Im not one of them. Often used in resort gardens as ornamental plants, Heliconia usually have broad, stiff, green leaves and storky stems which burst open at the tips in a cascade of colourful, beak-like flowers. Papaya trees grow in abundance all over the country: Ive seen them in the cool highlands, the hot, arid plains, and theyre prolific on the tropical coast, especially in the southern provinces. In Vietnam, since the 1980s and 90s, coffee production has soared. Also known as Chinese honeysuckle, its aroma is seductive and irresistible, attracting all who pass by. With strikingly straight trunks like a ships mast (which I presume they were used for at some point in time) the leaves of the teak tree are very large. This implies the Banyan has a benevolent nature; a sentiment Im inclined to agree with. *Other names: Christmas Star|hoa trng nguyn. Its not at all difficult to see how the Lotus came to be so loved and used in religious iconography: its a beautiful, broad flower, with pink and white petals opening and closing into a bulb with the coming and going of the day and night; the flower sits atop a delicate stem rising out of the water from wide, green pads floating on the surface. Growing to a height of about 1-4 metres, coffee bushes are squat, glossy-green-leafed shrubs. Teak is a valuable wood its often used to make expensive furniture so much of it has been cut down in the jungles of Vietnam. From homes to piping to food and utensils, Bamboo has long been one of the most useful, versatile and strong plants in the world. Theyre pretty little things and easy to spot. Im told that there are several distinct kinds of similar-looking bushes. Questions, updates and trip reports are all welcome. I might do. Vietnam has some incredible riding roads: possibly some of the most scenic in the world. I am an ikebanist living in Hanoi. That was on my first trips to the southeastern coast, where Casuarinas grow in the brackish water between the beach and the ocean. In the misty forests on the slopes of the Blao mountains, the young Buddhist monk, Thch Nht Hnh, came to build a retreat in the late 1950s. One of them is Sweet pea, Sweet pea is a vine.The pictures are for Yesterday today& tomorrow( Brunfelsia Grandiflora), yesterday today and tomorrow comes from the flowers that open purple, fade to lavender and then white. The majority of Vietnams coffee isRobusta, which is a tough, high-yield, but poor quality variety. Handsome, strong, and friendly trees, theres also something mildly haunting about Casuarinas: perhaps its their ghost-like pallor and the diaphanous quality of their canopy. For example, crushed peanuts are sprinkled on shellfish, or in noodle soups. An animated, bright and playful creeper, the Flame Vine is often seen in the Central Highlands, where it brightens even the grayest, mistiest of days. *Other names: Purple bauhinia |mng b tm & hoa ban (Vietnamese), *Where & when you might see it:Central Highlands & coastal regions[MAP]. Her family name was Frangipani. In Vietnamese, the fruit is calledv sa, meaning breast milk or milky breast. Hi Tom, So dont go eating them. Its potential as a slave feed was quickly realized and the tree was soon exported and grown on the Caribbean islands. Particularly, in one of the Mekong Deltas finest and most complex noodle soups, bn mm, the stems of water lilies slim shoots with a purple shine are used as a garnish, their honey-combed interior perfect for absorbing the nutritious, flavourful broth. It is not rau mung (which is water spinach) in Vietnamese, it should be bm bm. *Where & when you might see it:Central & northern highlands & midlands[MAP]. They are the cathedrals of the forest. Famous as the tree under which Siddhartha Gautama attained enlightenment and thus became the Buddha, the Bodhi Tree, which means perfect knowledge, has strong spiritual associations and is found in most temple grounds in Vietnam. Theres an area between Phan Rang and Ca Na, in Ninh Thuan Province, known as the Dragons Graveyard. A good reference point if youre ever lost! *Other names: Convolvulus|hoa rau mung (Vietnamese), *Where & when you might see it:Coastal & river delta regions nationwide[MAP]. And abundance: rarely do you see a palm without a healthy cluster of coconuts green, brown, or red clinging to the top of its long, tall trunk. There are two plants that listed here. This page is just a list of plants, trees and flowers that I see regularly and love; its not an encyclopedia of all Vietnams flora.
Banyans are stranglers, meaning they feed upon a host tree by wrapping vines around its trunk and branches then sending tentacles down to the forest floor to get nutrients from the soil. Weighing in at over 50kg, its the largest tree-borne fruit in the world. Whats more, the Lotus is also a practical flower. *Where & when you might see it:Coastal regions[MAP].
Most of the chillies I see in Vietnam are grown in the hotter, drier regions, such as the south and central coast. From resorts to villas to compounds to farmhouses, the elaborate fan of the Travellers Palms green sails adorns and enlivens many an urban and rural scene. Indeed, the plants name in Vietnamese,nhum,means dye. *Other names: Apricot blossom, Tet flower|Hoa mai vng, *Where & when you might see it:Southern regions during Lunar New Year, flowering January-March[MAP]. *Where & when you might see it:coast & midlands of south & central provinces[MAP]. If you ride along the scenic, All along Vietnams long and meandering coastline are found large stands of Casuarina trees. In Vietnam, I generally see Kapoks in midland regions between the coast, the plains, and the mountains. I always associate the Orchid Tree with cool, clear days in Dalat, in the Central Highlands, during the dry season months of November to February. I cannot see any mention of the Xun u tree Its very refreshing with a rubbery texture, or, when served in a cold salad (, The quintessential, exotic, tropical hardwood tree, teak is found in pockets throughout Vietnams highlands. I usually see the Flame Tree in full, glorious bloom on the south and south-central coast from late spring to early summer (April-June). If I ever have a garden of my own in Vietnam, Id want a couple of Travellers Palms in it. (A good, easily accessible place to see impressive, old Banyans in the forest is on Son Tra Peninsular). Your article is amazing. These were trees that, being native to Southeast Asia and the Indian subcontinent, had grown there for centuries, greeting all who came and went on the beaches over generations. Also, where my limited knowledge allows, Ive included the Vietnamese names, which are often very poetic, too. A saying I read once (but have never heard again since) goes:n cy a, ma cy gn: The spirits live in the Banyan tree, the ghosts in the Kapok. With strikingly straight trunks like a ships mast (which I presume they were used for at some point in time) the leaves of the teak tree are very large. And the flesh is often made into candy (mt da or ko da), among other things. Thank you, Im glad you enjoyed it. I can still remember when I first became aware of it: on the beach at, This medium-sized tree lives up to its romantic name thanks to the brilliant red-orange flowers which grow at the tip of each branch, looking like lanterns burning along the boughs. Indeed, along the, As one of the worlds largest producers and exporters of coffee, parts of the Vietnamese countryside are completely blanketed in coffee bushes. In Vietnam, water lilies arent only decorative; theyre a source of sustenance, too. Flaming Trumpet is also called hoa chm t or hoa rng ng. The flowers are so delicate that, just a couple of days after the New Year celebrations, it starts to shed its petals, which fall to the ground creating a yellow carpet. You cant not love the coconut palm. Seen all across coastal regions of Vietnam, the tropical almond can be a short, stocky and almost bush-like tree, or a giant, old, gnarled, grandfather tree. Like many large, old trees, theres an atmospherewhenever you stand beneath them. In particular, the Mekong Delta, southern islands, and south-central coast are blanketed with these spindly palms, growing on beaches, hillsides, riverbanks, canals, and fields. A great place to be among the Lotuses is the Mekong Delta province of Dong Thap, in the homestays on the Lotus fields. But for the layman, like me, Angels Trumpet is the only name I need. I see it most often in coastal resorts on the southern coast or Phu Quoc Island, where African Tulip trees are planted for their aesthetic value. Thanks for the information Ive just updated it. I dont know much about cactus but, well, theyre green, thorny and exotic; they bear pinkish fruit (or are they flowers); andthey seem to grow on rocky, sandy, windswept terrain.