Plant Finder

Here is a list of popular tropical garden plants in Malaysia. 

Find out how you can grow (plant care) them in your garden by clicking the links.

Happy gardening!

GARDEN PLANTS IN MALAYSIA

FLOWER PLANTS

FOLIAGE PLANTS

INDOOR PLANTS

The plants below are arranged according to their families:

Acanthaceae
CLIMBER
Thunbergia laurifolia - Laurel Clock Vine, Laurel-leaved Thunbergia or Blue Trumpet Vine
SHRUB
Aphelandra squarrosa - Zebra Plant or Saffron Spike
Crossandra infundibuliformis - Firecracker Flower
Fittonia albivenis cultivars - Nerve Plant, Mosaic Plant, Snake Skin Plant, Silver Net Plant, Painted Net Plant or Lace Leaf Plant
Hemigraphis alternanta - Metal Leaf Plant, Re-flame Ivy or Red Ivy
Hemigraphis alternata 'Exotica' - Purple Waffle Plant or Red-flame Ivy
Hemigraphis repanda - Narrow Leaf Hemigraphis or Dragon Flame Plant
Justicia betonica - Squirrel's Tail, Tapak Murai, White Candle, White Shrimp Plant or Paper Plume
Justicia brandegeeana - Shrimp Plant, False Hop, Fountain Plant or Brazilian Shower Plant
Justicia fulvicoma - Mexican Shrimp Plant, Orange Shrimp Plant or Orange Plume
Ruellia rosea - Wild Petunia or Ruellia
Ruellia simplex - Mexican Petunia, Desert Petunia or Mexican Blue Bell

Amaranthaceae
SHRUB
Alternanthera dentata 'Brazilian Red Hots' - Joy Weed, Calico Plant or Joseph's Coat
Alternanthera dentata 'Purple Knights' - Joy Weed, Calico Plant or Joseph's Coat
Alternanthera ficoidea 'Christmas Tree' or 'Chinese Afro'
Amaranthus Perfect Red - Bayam Merah Pekat, Chinese Spinach, Yin Tsai, Asian Spinach, Edible Amaranth or Leaf Amaranth
Amaranthus tricolor 'Illumination' - Joseph's Coat, Tampala or Summer Poinsettia
Amaranthus tricolor 'Flying Colours' - Summer Poinsettia
Celosia argentea var. cristata - Cockscomb
Celosia argentea var. plumosa - Feathered Amaranth or Feathery Amaranth
Celosia argentea var. spicata - Wheatstraw Celosia
Cyathula prostrata cultivar (purple-green leaves) - Purple Hookweed
Gomphrena globosa 'Global Harmony' - Globe Amaranth, Bachelor Button
Iresine herbstii cultivar - Chicken Gizzard, Beefsteak or Bloodleaf

Amaryllidaceae
SHRUB
Eucrosia bicolor - Peruvian Lily
Hippeastrum vittatum hybrid - Amaryllis
Zephyranthes rosea - Rain Lily, Fairy Lily, Magic Lily or Atamasco Lily

Anthericaceae
SHRUB
Chlorophytum comosum 'Variegatum' -  Spider Plant or Ribbon Plant

Chlorophytum comosum 'Vittatum' - Spider Plant or Ribbon Plant

Alismataceae
SHRUB
Sagittaria sp. - Chinese Arrowhead or Arrowhead

Araceae

CLIMBER

Epipremnum aureum 'Gold' - Money Plant or Devil's Ivy

Epipremnum aureum 'N' Joy' - Money Plant or Devil's Ivy
Scindapsus pictus 'Argyraeus' - Satin Pothos, Silver Vine, Silver Philodendron or Silk Pothos

Syngonium podophyllum - Arrowhead Vine, Nephthytis, African Evergreen or Goosefoot

SHRUB
Aglaonema 'Pride of Sumatra'
Alocasia macrorrhizos 'Variegata' - Variegated Upright Elephat Ear
Alocasia mortfontanensis Andre - Amazon Elephant's Ear, African Mask
Alocasia reginula - Little Queen of Alocasia
Alocasia rugosa
Anthurium clarinervium - White-veined Anthurium
Anthurium cultivar - Tail Flower, Boy Flower, Painted Tongue or Flamingo Flower
Anthurium scherzerianum - Pigtail Anthurium, Pigtail Flamingo Flower or Tail Flower
Caladium x hortulanum - Fancy-leafed Caladium, Elephant Ear or Angel's Wings  
Spathiphyllum wallisii - Peace Lily 
Pistia stratiotes - Water Lettuce

Araliaceae
CLIMBER
Hedera helix cv. - Ivy, English Ivy or European Ivy
SHRUB
Polyscias 'Dwarf Variegata' - Dwarf Polyscias
Schefflera arboricola cultivar - Variegated Umbrella Tree

Araucariaceae
Tree
Araucaria heterophylla - Norfolk Island Pine

Asclepiadaceae
SHRUB
Asclepias curassavica - Tropical milkweed, Blood Flower, Scarlet Milkweed, Cotton Bush, Mexican Butterfly weed or Bunga Emas 

Asparagaceae
SHRUB 
Ledebouria socialis - Silver Squill, Bluebell, Violet Squill, Wood Hyacinth, South African Scilla or Leopard Lily

Aspleniaceae
FERN
Asplenium nidus - Bird's Nest Fern

Asteraceae
SHRUB
Brachyscome multifida - Cut-Leaved Daisy, Rocky Daisy or Hawkesbury Daisy
Callistephus chinensis - China Aster
Chrysanthemum x morifolium - Chrysanthemum, Garden Mum, Decorative Mum or Florist Mum
Cosmos Bright Eyes - Sulfur Cosmos or Yellow Cosmos
Gaillardia cultivar & hybrid - Goblin Daisy or Blanket Flower
Gazania sp. - Gazania or Treasure Flower
Gerbera jamesonii cultivar - Gerbera Daisy, Transvaal Daisy or African Daisy 

Rudbeckia hirta cultivar - Gloriosa Daisy, Common Black-Eyed Susan or Prairie Sun Gloriosa Daisy
Symphyotrichum dumosum - Rice Button Aster or Bushy Aster
Symphyotrichum laeve - Smooth Aster or Smooth Blue Aster
Tithonia rotundifolia - Mexican Sunflower
Zinnia 'Profusion White' - Zinnia

Apiaceae
SHRUB
Centella asiatica - Pegaga, Gotu Kola, daun pagaga, Asiatic pennywort, antanan or Indian pennywort
Petroselinum crispum var. neapolitanum - Flat-leaved Parsley or Italian Parsley

Apocynaceae

CLIMBER
Hoya diversifolia - Wax Plant, Porcelain Flower or Hoya
Hoya kerrii - Sweetheart Hoya, Valentine Hoya, Wax Hearts or Porcelain Flowers
Hoya pubicalyx - Harlequin Wax Plant or Wax Plant
SHRUB

Adenium obesum - Desert Rose, Impala Lily
Catharanthus roseus 'Mediterranean Series' - Trailing Vinca

Catharanthus roseus 'Vinca Periwinkle' - Madagascar Periwinkle, Rose Periwinkle
Nerium oleander -Oleander, Rose Bay, East Indian Oleander, Sweet-scented Oleander or Oleander Rose Laurel
Strophanthus preussii - Spider Tresses, Corkscrew Flower, Medusa Flower, Tassel Vine or Poison Arrow Vine

Balsaminaceae
SHRUB
Impatiens balsamina - Garden Balsam, Touch-Me-Not, Rose Balsam or Camellia-flowered Balsam
Impatiens x hawkeri - Impatiens or New Guinea
Impatiens walleriana cvs. - Impatiens or Bussy Lizzie


Brassicaceae
SHRUB
Brassica oleracea cultivar - Chinese Kai-Lan
Brassica rapa var. parachinensis - Choy Sum, Sawi Manis, Sawi Bunga, Cai Xin, Chinese Flowering Cabbage, Oil Vegetable, Hakusai, Mock Pak Choy
Raphanus sativus var. longipinnatus - Chinese Radish

Begoniaceae
SHRUB 
Begonia rex-cultorum hybrids - Rex Begonia or Painted-Leaf Begonia
Begonia x semperflorens-cultorum - Wax Begonia or Fibrous Begonia
Begonia x tuberhybrida - Hybrid Tuberous Begonia

Boraginaceae
SHRUB
Carmona retusa - Fukien Tea Tree, Scorpion Bush or Philippines Tea Tree


Bromeliaceae
SHRUB
Billbergia pyramidalis - Flaming Torch or Summer Torch
Cryptanthus zonatus - Zebra Plant
Guzmania lingulata - Scarlet Star or Orange Star 
Tillandsia ionantha - Air Plant, Blushing Bride

Cannaceae

SHRUB

Canna x generalis - Bunga Tasbih or Canna Lily

Caryophyllaceae
SHRUB 
Dianthus chinensis - Pink or Rainbow Pink
Dianthus chinensis x barbatus (Dianthus interspecific) - Pink 
Gypsophila muralis 'Garden Bride' - Low Baby's Breath

Clusiaceae
TREE
Garcinia subelliptica - Happiness Tree, Fukugi Tree, Philippines Fortune Tree or Common Garcinia

Crassulaceae

SHRUB
Bryophllum x crenatodaigremontianum - Mother of Millions

Kalanchoe blossfeldiana - Christmas Kalanchoe, Flaming Katy, Kalekana, Brilliant Star or Madagascar Widow's Thrill
Kalanchoe fedtschenkoi (variegated) - Lavender Scallops
Kalanchoe orgyalis - Copper Spoon
Kalanchoe pumila - Flour Dust Plant
Kalanchoe tomentosa - Panda Plant, Pussy Ear
Sedum sp. - Stonecrop

Commelinaceae

CLIMBER
Tradescantia pallida - Purple Heart
Tradescantia zebrina - Silver Inch Plant
SHRUB

Siderasis fuscata - Bear Ears, Brown Spiderwort

Convallariaceae
SHRUB
Ophiopogon japonicus 'Kyoto Dwarf' - Dwarf Mondo Grass, Monkey Grass

Convolvulaceae

CLIMBER

Ipomoea batatas - Ornamental Sweet Potato Vine
Ipomoea batatas - Sweet Potato or Kumara
Ipomoea quamoclit - Cypress Vine

Costaceae
SHRUB
Monocostus uniflorus - Lemon Ginger, Yellow Spiral Ginger, Single Flower Ginger or Crepe Ginger

Cyperaceae
SHRUB
Carex oshimensis 'Evergold' - Japanese Sedge Grass, Oshima Sedge or Oshima Kan Suge

Dracaenaceae

SHRUB

Sansevieria trifasciata 'Laurenti' - Mother-In-Law Plant or Variegated Snake Plant

Droseraceae
HERBACEOUS PLANT
Dionaea muscipula - Venus Flytrap

Ericaceae
SHRUB
Rhododendron simsii - Azalea

Euphorbiaceae
SHRUB
Acalypha wilkesiana 'Java White' - Fiji fire plant, Beef Steak Plant, Copper Leaf, Jacob's Coat, Fire Dragon
Acalypha wilkesiana 'Mosaica' - Fiji fire plant, Beef Steak Plant, Copper Leaf, Jacob's Coat, Fire Dragon
Codiaeum variegatum cultivars - Garden Croton, Croton or Codiaeum 
Euphorbia bracteata - Tall Slipper Flower, Candelilla
Euphorbia milii - Crown-of-thorns or Christ Plant
Euphorbia pulcherrima cv. - Poinsettia

Euphorbia tithymaloides - Jacob's Ladder, Christmas Candle, Devil's Backbone, Redbird Cactus, Zig-zag Plant, Japanese Poinsettia, Lelipan, Shoe Flower, Penawar Lipan or Slipper Spurge
Euphorbia tithymaloides ssp. smallii 'Nanus' - Small's Redbird Plant, Dwarf Zig-zag Plant, Dwarf Devil's Backbone or Jacob's Ladder
Euphorbia tithymaloides ssp. smallii 'Variegatus'- Variegated Zig-zag plant or Variegated Devil's Backbone
Jatropha integerrima cv. Variegated - Variegated Spicy Jatropha or Peregrina

Fabaceae
TREE
Castanospermum australe - Lucky Bean Plant, Moreton Bay Chestnut, Black Bean or Jack and the Beanstalk

Gentianaceae

SHRUB
Exacum affine - Perian violet, German violet or Arabian violet

Generiaceae
SHRUB
Pelargonium sp. - Mosquito Plant or Citrosa Geranium

Gesneriaceae

CLIMBER
Episcia cupreata - Flame Violet, Carpet Plant or Episcia
SHRUB
Chrysothemis pulchella - Copper Leaf, Sunset Bells or Black Flamingo  
Nematanthus sp. - Goldfish or Guppy Fish Plant 
Saintpaulia ionantha - African Violet
Sinningia speciosa - Brazilian Gloxinia, Florists' Gloxinia


Hamaelildaceae
SHRUB
Loropetalum chinense var. rubrum - Chinese Fringe Bush


Hydrangeaceae
SHRUB
Hydrangea macrophylla - Hydrangea or Pokok Kembang Tiga Bulan


Labiatae
CLIMBER
Clerodendrum thomsoniae 'Variegatum' - Variegated Bleeding Heart Vine, Lolly Bush or Glory Bower 


Lamiaceae
CLIMBER
Petraeovitex wolfei, Petraeovitex bambusetorum - Nong Nooch Vine or Wolfe's Vine
SHRUB
Holmskioldia sanguinea - Chinese Hat Plant, Chinaman's Hat, Mandarin's Hat, 
Mentha sp. - Mint
Ocimum basilicum - Sweet Basil or Garden Basil/Tulsi
Ocimum tenuiflorum - Holy Basil, Sacred Basil, Tulasi or Tulsi
Parasol Flower or Cup-And-Saucer Plant
Plectranthus 'Mona Lavender' - Mona Lavender, Plectranthus Hybrid, Swedish Ivy or Spurflower
Rosmarinus officinalis - Rosemary 
Salvia officinalis - Garden Sage or Common Sage
Solenostemon scutellarioides - Coleus or Painted Nettle

Leguminosae
SHRUB 
Christia obcordata 'Stripe' - Butterfly Leaf, Iron Butterfly, Butterfly Stripe or Swallowtail
Christia vespertilionis - Red Butterfly Wing or Mariposa


Linderniaceae
SHRUB
Micranthemum 'Monte Carlo' - Monte Carlo or Large Pearl Grass

Lythraceae
SHRUB 
Cuphea hyssopifolia - False Heather

Malpighiaceae
SHRUB
Malpighia pendiculata - Weeping Malpighia
Malpighia punicifolia - Barbados Cherry, Acerola, West Indian Cherry, Native Cherry, French Cherry or Garden Cherry

Malvaceae

SHRUB
Abelmoschus esculentus - Okra, Lady's Finger, Bhendi, Gumbo

Hibiscus acetosella - Falese Roselle, African Rosemallow, Cranberry Shield, Red Leaf Hibiscus or Maple Sugar
Hibiscus moscheutos cv. - Crimson-eyed Rose Mallow, Marshmallow or Swamp Rose Mallow

Hibiscus rosa-sinensis cultivars
Hibiscus rosa-sinensis 'Laluna' - Laluna
Hibiscus syriacus 'Minerva' - Minerva Rose of Sharon, Rose Mallow, St. Joseph's Rod

Marantaceae

SHRUB

Calathea majestica 'Sanderiana' - Pin-stripe Plant

Calathea roseopicta - Prayer Plant
Calathea zebrina - Zebra Plant
Goeppertia makoyana - Peacock Plant
Maranta leuconeura var. kerchoviana - Rabbit's Foot, Rabbit's Track or Prayer Plant
Maranta leuconeura var. erythroneura - Herringbone, Fishbone or Red-veined Prayer Plant

Melastomaceae
SHRUB
Medinilla cumingii (dwarf) - Chandelier Tree, Showy Medinilla or Showy Melastome

Musaceae
SHRUB
Musa x paradisiaca - Banana tree

Myrsinaceae

SHRUB

Ardisia crenata - Coral Ardisia, Coral Berry, Hilo Holly, Australian Holly, Hen's Eyes, Spice Berry or Christmas Berry

Nelumbonaceae

SHRUB

Nelumbo nucifera - Sacred Lotus

Nepenthaceae

CLIMBER

Nepenthes x hookeriana - Hooker's Pitcher Plant 

Nyctaginaceae

CLIMBER
Bougainvillea spp., hybrids & cultivars - Bougainvillea
SHRUB

Mirabilis jalapa - Four O'Clock, Marvel of Peru, Beauty of the Night, False Jalap, Coat of Many Colours

Nymphaeaceae

SHRUB

Nymphaea cultivar & hybrid - Water Lily

Oleandraceae

FERN

Nephrolepis exaltata cv. - Sword Fern

Orchidaceae

SHRUB

Arundina species (Dwarf) - Mini Bamboo Orchid

Spathoglottis spp. - Garden Orchid, Ground Orchid or Terrestrial Orchid
Phalaenopsis sp. - Moth orchid

Oxalidaceae
SHRUB
Oxalis spiralis ssp. vulcanicola - Volcanic Sorrel or Velvet Oxalis

Phytolaccaeae

SHRUB

Rivina humilis - Pigeon Berry, Blood Berry, Rouge Berry, Baby Pepper or Coralito

Piperaceae

SHRUB
Peperomia argyeria - Watermelon Peperomia

Peperomia obtusifolia 'Variegata' - Baby Rubber Plant or Variegated Peperomia
Peperomia caperata cultivars - Emerald Ripple Peperomia
Peperomia scandens 'Variegata' - Variegated Cupid Peperomia

Plumbaginaceae

SHRUB

Plumbago auriculata - Cape Leadwort, Cape Plumbago or Sky Flower

Poaceae

SHRUB
Axonopus compressus (dwarf) - Pearl Grass

Triticum aestivum - Common Wheat or Bread Wheat
Zoysia japonica - Philippines Grass, Japanese Grass or Korean Grass

Podocarpaceae

TREE

Podocarpus macrophyllus - Japanese yew, fern pine, kusamaki, inumaki Buddhist pine, 羅漢松 or luóhàn sōng (arhat pine)

Polygonaceae

SHRUB

Oxalis regnelli 'Atropurpurea' - Variegated Purple Oxalis

Polypodiaceae

FERN

Microsorum punctatum 'Grandiceps' - Fish-Tail Fern

Platycerium coronarium - Staghorn Fern

Pontederiaceae
SHRUB
Eichhornia crassipes - Water Hyacinth

Portulacaceae

SHRUB

Portulaca grandiflora cultivar - Eleven O'clock, Sun Plant or Moss Rose

Portulaca oleraceae cultivars - Purslane

Primulaceae

CLIMBER
Lysimachia procumbens 'Aurea' - Variegated Golden Globe
SHRUB

Cyclamen cultivars - Florist's Cyclamen or Persian Cyclamen

Pteridaceae

FERN

Pteris ensiformis 'Victoriae' - Victoria Fern

Rosaceae

SHRUB

Potentilla indica - Mock Strawberry

Rosa spp., cultivars and hybrids - Rose or Bunga Mawar

Rosa hybrid - Roses Forever® mini rose

Rubiaceae

SHRUB

Coffea liberica - Liberian Coffee or Liberica Coffee

Gardenia jasminoides - Common Gardenia or Cape Jasmine 

Ixora 'Dwarf Pink'

Pentas lanceolata hybrid - Dwarf Pentas Hybrid

Serissa foetida - Tree of a Thousand Stars, Japanese Serissa, Snowrose or Japanese Boxthorn

Sarraceniaceae

HERBACEOUS PLANT

Sarracenia Juthatip Soper - North American Pitcher or Trumpet Pitcher Plant 

Selaginellaceae
SHRUB
Selaginella plana - Asian Spikemoss, Paka Merak or Cypress Clubmoss
Selaginella kraussiana - Spreading Clubmoss, African Clubmoss or Krauss' Spikemoss

Solanaceae

SHRUB
Capsicum annuum cultivars - Ornamental Pepper or Chilli Pepper
Capsicum sp. - Chilli Pepper or Chilli
Lycium chinense - Wolfberry or Goji Berry

Solanum melongena - Brinjal, Eggplant, Terung, Aubergine, Eggplant or Guinea Squash

CLIMBER

Solandra longiflora - Chalice Vine or Trumpet Plant

Solandra maxima - Golden Chalice Vine, Cup of Gold Vine, Gold Cup Vine, Chalice Vine and Hawaiian Lily

Scrophulariaceae

SHRUB

Antirrhinum majus - Snapdragon, Bunny Rabbit or Bear's Mouth

Russelia equisetiformis - Firecracker Plant, Russelia, Letup-letup, Coral Bush, Coral Fountain, Coral Waterfall or Prathat Chine

Torenia fournieri - Bluewings, Clown Flower or Wishbone Flower
Otachanthus azureus - Amazon blue, Brazilian snapdragon

Taccaceae

SHRUB

Tacca chantrieri - Black Bat Flower, Cat's Whiskers, Bat-head Lily, Devil Flower

Urticaceae

SHRUB

Pilea cadierei - Aluminium plant, watermelon pilea
Pilea depressa - Baby toes or baby tears

Pilea involucrata cultivar - Friendship plant, Moon Valley Pilea or Panamiga

Pilea microphylla - Artillery plant, pistol plant, gunpowder plant, military fern

Verbenaceae

Shrub

Lantana camara - Bush lantana, Bunga Tahi Ayam or Tick Berry

Zingiberaceae

SHRUB

Curcuma alismatifolia Pink - Siam Tulip
Curcuma longa - Turmeric, Turmeric, Kunyit, Haldi or Indian saffron
Globba sherwoodiana - Weeping Goldsmith
Globba winitii - Dancing Girl Ginger, Mauve Dancing Ladies or Dancing Ballerinas
Kaempferia pulchra - Resurrection Lily, Peacock Ginger or Limestone Kaempferia
Zingiber officinale - Chinese ginger or common ginger