Climbing plants

Some of the most colourful climbers of the tropics scramble over Bali's walls, gates and trees.

Bougainvillea – Kembang Kertas – bougainvillea spectabilis

The bougainvillea belongs to the four-o'clock family. Its flowers, standing in threes, are actually quite inconspicuous – each is anchored by its stalk in a large, oval, finely veined bract, so the flowers appear surrounded by a three-leaved calyx. In the wild form the bracts are purple; breeding has produced a wealth of varieties in lilac, pink, red, orange and white.

Originally from Brazil, the plant is now widespread in many tropical and subtropical countries. Its name commemorates the French seafarer L. A. Comte de Bougainville, commander of the expedition on which the bougainvillea was discovered. One of our villas is named after it.

Morning glory – pharbitis learii

This bindweed grows in many-flowered, loose clusters; the blossoms later turn purple and pink. Native to tropical America, it is now widespread as an ornamental in tropical and subtropical gardens.

Golden trumpet – Alamanda – allamanda cathartica

This climbing shrub belongs to the dogbane family. The flowers cluster at the ends of the shoots, the lower part of the corolla forming a tube. Native to Brazil, the golden trumpet is a perpetually flowering climber found throughout the warm world.

Philodendron – Samblung – philodendron melinonii

This large-leaved climber from the tropical rainforests of the Americas scales trees and walls all over Bali.