Tropical Understory Plants

Red Spray Ruella

• Red spray ruella (Ruella brevifolia) is an evergreen perennial herb or subshrub that grows to a mature height of 1 to 2 feet. Red spray ruella is a tropical understory plant that thrives in moist to wet areas in the tropical and temperate regions. The plant blooms with 2-inch-long, red flowers, and the elliptical, 5-inch-long foliage is glossy green with purple undersides. The flowers bloom during the winter. Red spray ruella prefers a fertile soil well amended with humus and areas of bright filtered light. The plant commonly self propagates.

Mountain Rose

• Mountain rose (Brownea ariza) is one of the 12 species of trees native to the tropical rainforest understory of Northern South America and West Indies. Mountain rose thrives in areas of subdued light and is difficult to transplant. The evergreen tree is up to 50 feet tall and blooms intermittently through the year with tubular red flowers inflorescences. The branches arch toward the ground, and the flowers grow on the branch undersides. The foliage grows as 18-inch-long elliptical leaflets. Mountain rose grows best in moist and humid areas and deep, fertile, well-drained ground.

Peacock Ginger Lily

• Peacock ginger lily (Kaempferia pulchra) is a shade-loving understory tropical plant native to Thailand and Burma. The plant grows to a mature height of about 1 foot. It blooms during the summer with pink lavender flowers with white centers. The 6- to 8-inch-long, dark green foliage is 2 to 3 inches wide and ovate and has a pattern of silver wax, which gives it a frosted look. Peacock ginger lily prefers to grow in moist and humid locations and in rich, well-drained soil. The Kaempferia plant family has nearly 50 species of understory plants.