Acanthuses, Mints & Allies - Lamiales
Native / Non-native
Acanthus Family - Acanthaceae
Spiny Bears Breeches - Acanthus ilicifolius Chinese Violet - Asystasia intrusa Black Mangrove - Avicennia marina Philippine Violet - Barleria cristata Bellflower - Codonacanthus pauciflorus Crossandra - Crossandra infundibuliformis Chinese Dicliptera - Dicliptera chinensis Blue Eranthemum - Eranthemum pulchellum Willow-Leaved Hygrophila - Hygrophila ringens Malabar Nut - Justicia adhatoda Shrimp Plant - Justicia brandegeeana Flamingo Plant - Justicia carnea Champion's Justicia - Justicia championii White Justicia - Justicia gendarussa Purple Justicia - Justicia procumbens Black-Leaved Justicia - Justicia ventricosa Rabbit's Tail Flower - Lepidagathis incurva Brazilian Red Cloak - Megaskepasma erythrochlamys Firespike - Odontonema tubaeforme Lollipop Flower - Pachystachys lutea Shooting Star - Pseuderanthemum laxiflorum Mexican Petunia - Ruellia coerulea Brazilian Petunia - Ruellia elegans Sanchezia - Sanchezia parvibracteata Sunny Strobilanthes - Strobilanthes apricus Chinese Indigo - Strobilanthes cusia Dalziel's Strobilanthes - Strobilanthes dalzielii Four-Stamen Strobilanthes - Strobilanthes tetrasperma Black-eyed Susan Vine - Thunbergia alata Bush Clock Vine - Thunbergia erecta Bengal Trumpet - Thunbergia grandiflora Mysore Trumpetvine - Thunbergia mysorensis Bignonia Family - Bignoniaceae Chinese Trumpet Vine - Campsis grandiflora Yellow Trumpet Tree - Handroanthus chrysanthus Jacaranda - Jacaranda mimosifolia Garlic-Scented Vine - Mansoa alliacia Fire-Cracker Vine - Pyrostegia venusta African Tulip Tree - Spathodea campanulata Pink Poui - Tabebuia rosea Yellow Elder - Tecoma stans |
Gesneria Family - Gesneriaceae
Acuminate Basket Vine - Aeschynanthus acuminatus Obtuse Didymostigma - Didymostigma obtusum Chinese Chirita - Primulina dryas Mint Family - Lamiaceae Bugle-Weed - Ajuga nipponensis Indian Catmint - Anisomeles indica Short-Flowered Beautyberry - Callicarpa brevipes Taiwan Beautyberry - Callicarpa formosana Kochi's Beautyberry - Callicarpa kochiana Bare-Flowered Beautyberry - Callicarpa nudiflora Common Bluebeard - Caryopteris incana Rose Glorybower - Clerodendrum bungei Greying Glorybower - Clerodendrum canescens Fragrant Glorybower - Clerodendrum chinense Mayflower Glorybower - Clerodendrum cyrtophyllum Glorybower - Clerodendrum fortunatum Pagoda Flower - Clerodendrum japonicum Starburst Bush - Clerodendrum quadriloculare Flaming Glorybower - Clerodendrum splendens Bleeding Glorybower - Clerodendrum thomsonae Harlequin Glorybower - Clerodendrum trichotomum Wallich's Glorybower - Clerodendrum wallichii Coleus - Coleus scutellarioides Elshotzia - Elshotzia argyi Gmelina - Gmelina arborea Chinese Hatplant - Holmskioldia sanguinea Purple Isodon - Isodon amethystoides Hairy Leucas - Leucas decemdentata Sweet Basil - Ocimum basilicum Cat's Whiskers - Orthosiphon aristatus Water Loosestrife - Pogostemon auricularius Blue Butterfly Bush - Rotheca myricoides Tropical Sage - Salvia coccinea Japanese Sage - Salvia japonica Common Sage - Salvia plebeia Scarlet Sage - Salvia splendens Blueflower Skullcap - Scutellaria formosana Skullcap - Scutellaria indica Germander - Teucrium quadrifarium Sticky Germander - Teucrium viscidum Yellow Bramble - Vitex negundo Beach Vitex - Vitex rotundifolia Seashore Glorybower - Volkameria inermis |
Bladderwort Family - Lentibulariaceae
Small Yellow Bladderwort - Utricularia bifida Blue Bladderwort - Utricularia caerulea Asian Bladderwort - Utricularia uliginosa Lindernia Family - Linderniaceae Dry False Pimpernel - Bonnaya ruelloides Round-Leaved False Pimpernel - Lindernia rotundifolia Hong Kong Torenia - Torenia benthamiana Lesser Torenia - Torenia concolor Brittle False Pimpernel - Torenia crustacea Yellow Torenia - Torenia flava Blue Torenia - Torenia fournieri Oblong False Pimpernel - Torenia oblonga Yamazakia - Yamazakia pusilla Mazus Family - Mazaceae Japanese Mazus - Mazus pumilus Olive Family - Olivaceae Formosan Ash - Fraxinus formosana Mock Jasmine - Jasminum elongatum Common Jasmine - Jasminum lanceolarium Formosa Privet - Ligustrum liukiuense Chinese Privet - Ligustrum sinense Osmanthus - Osmanthus fragrans Broomrape Family - Orobanchaceae Bluehearts - Buchnera cruciata Witchweed - Striga asiatica Plantain Family - Plantaginaceae Adenosma - Adenosma glutinosum Snapdragon - Antirrhinum majus Water Hyssop - Bacopa monnieri Big-Leaved Marshweed - Limnophila rugosa Red Fountain Plant - Russelia equisetiformis Sweet Broomwort - Scoparia dulcis Persian Speedwell - Veronica persica Verbena Family - Verbenaceae Golden Dewdrops - Duranta erecta Lantana - Lantana camara Creeping Lantana - Lantana montevidensis Queen's Wreath - Petrea volubilis Cayenne Vervain - Stachytarpheta cayennensis Jamaica Vervain - Stachytarpheta jamaicensis Pink Vervain - Stachytarpheta mutabilis |
Acanthus Family - Acanthaceae
Spiny Bears Breeches 老鼠簕 Acanthus ilicifolius
This is a native Hong Kong plant, also known as 'sea holly' or 'holly mangrove'. It produces its flowers and fruits from April to July and is found in mangrove habitats by the coast. Upright shrub, 1-2 metres high.
Chinese Violet 小花十萬錯 Asystasia intrusa (was A. gangetica micrantha)
Also known as 'African Coromandel' this plant flowers along grassy banks, roads and footpaths from September to December. Perennial ascending herbs up to 0.5 metres high.
Black Mangrove 海欖雌 Avicennia marina
Evergreen shrubs, 1.5 to 6 metres high.
Philippine Violet 假杜鵑 Barleria cristata
Ornamental, seems to be an escapee, growing in the wild in some places. Purple and white flowers occur, but not on the same plant.
Bell Flower 鐘花草 Codonacanthus pauciflorus
Herbs, 20-60 cm tall. Growing in well-established woodland in shady areas.
Crossandra 雀尾花 Crossandra infundibuliformis
Sometimes known as the firecracker flower, this is a genus of plants native to Africa and India, grown ornamentally in Hong Kong. 20 to 40 cm tall.
Chinese Dicliptera 狗肝菜 Dicliptera chinensis
Herbs, 30-80 cm high.
Blue Eranthemum 可愛花 Eranthemum pulchellum
The Chinese name of this plant means 'cute flower'. Its blue flowers appear in the winter. Also known as 'blue sage'. It is not native to Hong Kong.
Willow-Leaved Hygrophila 水蓑衣 Hygrophila ringens
Grows in marshy areas, or abandoned rice paddies. Up to 80 cm tall.
Malabar Nut 鴨嘴花 Justicia adhatoda
Shrimp Plant 蝦衣草 Justicia brandegeeana
Flamingo Plant 珊瑚花 Justicia carnea
Champion's Justicia 杜根藤 Justicia championii
Herbs, up to 50 cm tall.
White Justicia 小駁骨 Justicia gendarussa
Purple Justicia 爵床 Justicia procumbens
A native plant flowering from June to December. It is known as water willow in India. Procumbent herb, 20-50 cm tall.
Black-Leaved Justicia 黑葉小駁骨 Justicia ventricosa
Rabbit's Tail Flower 鱗花草 Lepidigathis incurva
Brazilian Red Cloak 赤苞花 Megaskepasma erythrochlamys
Firespike 紅樓花 Odontonema tubaeforme
Lollipop Flower 金苞花 Pachystachys lutea
Also known as a golden shrimp plant, it is a tropical and subtropical plant. Originally from Peru.
Shooting Star 紫雲杜鵑 Pseuderanthemum laxiflorum
Mexican Petunia 蘭花草 Ruellia coerulea
Brazilian Petunia 紅花蘆莉 Ruellia elegans
Sanchezia 小苞黃脈爵床 Sanchezia parvibracteata
Shrubs 1-3 metres tall.
Sunny Strobilanthes 山一籠雞 Strobilanthes aprica
Chinese Indigo 馬藍 Strobilanthes cusia
A herbaceous plant growing in damp areas. Due to the presence of indigo in the leaves it can be used for dye extraction. It is also used in traditional Chinese medicine. In January these plants flower in an immense profusion at Kadoorie Farm. They can also be found growing in Ma On Shan Country Park near Kwun Yam village as they used to be cultivated there for dye production.
Dalziel's Strobilanthes 曲枝馬藍 Strobilanthes dalzielii
Four-Stamen Strobilanthes 四子馬藍 Strobilanthes tetrasperma
Black-eyed Susan Vine 翼葉老鴉嘴 Thunbergia alata
Bush Clock Vine 硬枝老鴉嘴 Thunbergia erecta
Native to West Africa. It seems unlikely this is a vine despite the name. Used to make ornamental hedges. Also known as 'Bush Thunbergia'. Upright shrub, up to 2 metres high.
Bengal Trumpet 大花老鴉嘴 Thunbergia grandiflora
Woody vines, up to 8 metres or longer. Watch for the leaves, if long and thin, likely to be Thunbergia laurifolia as the flowers are similar.
Mysore Trumpetvine 黃花老鴉嘴 Thunbergia mysorensis
Bignonia Family - Bignoniaceae
Chinese Trumpet-Creeper 凌霄 Campsis grandiflora
Yellow Trumpet Tree 黃鐘木 Handroanthus chrysanthus
A native of South America this is the national tree of Venezuela. It flowers in early spring (Feb-Mar) before the leaves appear. Also known as a yellow pui or trumpet tree it has been widely planted in parks in Hong Kong.
Jacaranda 藍花楹 Jacaranda mimosifolia
Deciduous trees, up to 10-15 metres high.
Garlic-Scented Vine 蒜香藤 Mansoa alliacia
Woody vine
Fire-Cracker Vine 炮仗花 Pyrostegia venusta
Originally from Brazil this vine is grown ornamentally in Hong Kong, flowering from January to June. In some places it has escaped cultivation and can cover whole trees. It doesn't seem to spread far from its original location.
African Tulip Tree 火焰樹 Spathodea campanulata
Native to East Africa this is an ornamental species planted extensively in Hong Kong. The bright, red flowers appear in profusion in January and February. The flowers collect water and can be used as toy water squirters by children. Evergreen trees 5-12 metres high.
Pink Poui 紅花風鈴木 Tabebuia rosea
Yellow Elder 黃鐘花 Tecoma stans
Upright shrub, 3-6 metres high.
Gesneria Family - Gesneriaceae
Acuminate Basket Vine 芒毛苣苔 Aeschynanthus acuminatus
Obtuse Didymostigma 雙片苣苔 Didymostigma obtusum
Native to Hong Kong. Flowering June to October.
Chinese Chirita 唇柱苣苔 Primulina dryas
Perennial herbs, growing in wet, rocky areas, often near streams, especially Tai Mo Shan, Lantau Peak, Tai Tam CP etc.
Mint Family - Lamiaceae
Bugle-Weed 紫背金盤 Ajuga nipponensis
Annual or biannual herbs, 10-20 cm tall.
Indian Catmint 廣防風 Anisomeles indica
Erect stems, up to 1-2 metres tall.
Short-Flowered Beautyberry 短柄紫珠 Callicarpa brevipes
Taiwan Beautyberry 杜虹花 Callicarpa formosana
Kochi's Beauty Berry 枇杷葉紫珠 Callicarpa kochiana
A common understory shrub in the central New Territories. The leaves and stems are furry. Pink flowers appear in midsummer and the white berries in the autumn. 1-4 metres high.
Bare-Flowered Beautyberry 裸花紫珠 Callicarpa nudiflora
A tall, flailing shrub, with clusters of flowers reminiscent of the other Hong Kong callicarpa species.
Common Bluebeard 蘭香草 Caryopteris incana
Rose Glorybower 臭牡丹 Clerodendrum bungei
Shrubs, 1-2 metres high.
Greying Glorybower 灰毛大青 Clerodendrum canescens
Shrubs, 1 to 3.5 metres high.
Fragrant Glorybower 重瓣臭茉莉 Clerodendrum chinense
An erect, free-branching wild shrub. Often grows in thickets near villages. Is tolerant of both shade, sun and wet soil.
Mayflower Glorybower 大青 Clerodendrum cyrtophyllum
Shrubs or small trees, 1 to 10 metres tall.
Glorybower / Gloryberry 白花燈籠 Clerodendrum fortunatum
Shrubs, up to 2.5 metres high. The most common type of clerodendrum growing in the wild in Hong Kong. Grows most readily in grassland and open forest.
Pagoda Flower 赬桐 Clerodendrum japonicum
Deciduous shrubs, 1-4 metres tall.
Starburst Bush 煙火樹 Clerodendrum quadriloculare
Flaming Glorybower 紅龍吐珠 Clerodendrum splendens
Bleeding Glory-Bower 龍吐珠 Clerodendrum thomsoniae
An ornamental exotic native to West Africa. It's an evergreen climber reaching up to 4 metres in height. The leaves smell unpleasant.
Harlequin Glorybower 海州常山 Clerodendrum trichotomum
Wallich's Glorybower 垂茉莉 Clerodendrum wallichii
This evergreen shrub is native to India and Nepal. The flowers and fruit appear from October to April. It is also known as 'Bridal Veil'.
Coleus 五彩蘇 Coleus scutellarioides
Elsholtzia 紫花香薷 Elsholtzia argyi
Annual herb, 0.5 to 1 metre high.
Gmelina 雲南石梓 Gmelina arborea
Deciduous trees, up to 15 metres high.
Chinese Gmelina 華石梓 Gmelina chinensis
Trees, 4 to 12 metres high.
Chinese Hatplant 冬紅花 Holmskioldia sanguinea
Evergreen bushes, woody stems are 3-7 metres long.
Purple Isodon 香茶菜 Isodon amethystoides
Hairy Leucas 疏毛白絨草 Leucas decemdentata / Leucas mollissima var. chinensis
Upright herbs, up to 1 metre high.
Sweet Basil 羅勒 Ocimum basilicum
Cat's Whiskers 貓須草 Orthosiphon aristatus
Perilla 紫蘇 Perilla frutescens
Water Loosestrife 水珍珠菜 Pogostemon auricularius
Blue Butterfly Bush 藍蝴蝶 Rotheca myricoides
Tropical Sage 朱唇 Salvia coccinea
Japanese Sage 鼠尾草 Salvia japonica
Common Sage 荔枝草 Salvia plebeia
Annual herb, 15-90 cm tall.
Scarlet Sage 一串紅 Salvia splendens
Blueflower Skullcap 藍花黃芩 Scutellaria formosana
Skullcap 韓信草 Scutellaria indica
This small purple plant flowers during the Hong Kong winter, often along minor roads in the central country parks of Hong Kong in clusters.
Germander 鐵軸草 Teucrium quadrifarium
Erect subshrub. 30 to 110 cm tall.
Sticky Germander 血見愁 Teucrium viscidum
Yellow Bramble 黃荊 Vitex negundo
Deciduous shrubs or small trees.
Beach Vitex 單葉蔓荊 Vitex rotundifolia
Shrub. Stems prostrate to creeping, roots at nodes. Often found just above the high tide line on sandy beaches.
Seashore Glorybower 假茉莉 Volkameria inermis
Bladderwort Family - Lentibulariaceae
Small Yellow Bladderwort 挖耳草 Utricularia bifida
Blue Bladderwort 短梗挖耳草 Utricularia caerulea
Asian Bladderwort 濕地挖耳草 Utricularia uliginosa
Lindernia Family - Linderniaceae
Dry False Pimpernel 旱田草 Bonnaya ruellioides
Native to Hong Kong, flowering from June to October. Tends to grow in damp areas, but also in the middle of paths (in damp areas). Annual herbs, 10-15 cm tall.
Round-Leaved False Pimpernel 圓葉母草 Lindernia rotundifolia
Hong Kong Torenia 毛葉蝴蝶草 Torenia benthamiana
Lesser Torenia 單色蝴蝶草 Torenia concolor
Native to Hong Kong, China, Vietnam, Laos and Taiwan. This is a creeping herbaceous perennial with blue-purple flowers.
Brittle False Pimpernel 母草 Torenia crustacea
Yellow Torenia 黃花蝴蝶草 Torenia flava
Erect herb, 25-40 cm tall.
Blue Torenia 藍豬耳 Torenia fournieri
Oblong False Pimpernel 棱萼母草 Torenia oblonga
Yamazakia 細莖母草 Yamazakia pusilla
Annual herbs, semi-upright.
Mazus Family - Mazaceae
Japanese Mazus 通泉草 Mazus pumilus
Olive Family - Olivaceae
Formosan Ash 光蠟樹 Fraxinus formosana / Fraxinus griffithii
Semi-deciduous trees, 10-15 metres tall.
Mock Jasmine 扭肚藤 Jasminum elongatum
Native to Hong Kong this is a slender climbing or scrambling shrub, its branches smooth, tough and wiry.
Hong Kong Jasmine 清香藤 Jasminum lanceolarium
Large climbing shrub, 10-15 metres high.
Formosa Privet 台灣女貞 Ligustrum liukiuense
Found at altitude on Tai Mo Shan.
Chinese Privet 山指甲 Ligustrum sinense
Native to Southern China, Taiwan and Vietnam the Chinese privet blooms in spring, with a strong scent from its many small, white flowers. Very common as it's cultivated in parks and gardens in addition to being a native plant. Evergreen in Hong Kong. 2-4 metres high.
Osmanthus 桂花 Osmanthus fragrans
Native to Asia east of the Himalayas. This is the city flower of Guilin and also the 'gui' part of the name. The flowers are used in Shanghainese desserts. Evergreen shrubs 3-5 metres high.
Broomrape Family - Orobanchaceae
Bluehearts 黑草 Buchnera cruciata
Upright herbs, 8-50 cm high, semi-parasitic on the roots of other plants.
Asiatic Striga / Witchweed 獨腳金 Striga asiatica
Plantain Family - Plantaginaceae
Adenosma 毛麝香 Adenosma glutinosum
A herb up to 60cm high with tube-shaped purple flower. Flowering period in the late summer and early autumn. Common along woodland paths.
Snapdragon 金魚草 Anthirrhinum majus
Water Hyssop 假馬齒莧 Bacopa monnieri
Creeping herb, growing in watery areas.
Big-Leaved Marshweed 大葉石龍尾 Limnophila rugosa
Red Fountain Plant 爆仗竹 Russelia equisetiformis
Native to Mexico this plant is widely grown for ornamental purposes. Also called a 'coral plant'.
Sweet Broomwort 野甘草 Scoparia dulcis
Persian Speedwell 阿拉伯婆婆納 Veronica persica
Verbena Family - Verbenaceae
Golden Dewdrops 假連翹 Duranta erecta
This climbing plant is native to the Americas from the southern US to Brazil. It is also known as pigeon-berry and blue-sky flower. It is recognisable for its mixture of pastel purple flowers and golden yellow fruit. The branches are spiny and the flowers act as a food plant for butterflies.
Lantana 馬纓丹 Lantana camara
Flowering all year round this is a tall straggling shrub with thorny branches and an aromatic odour. The flowers are popular with butterflies. It is native to Central and South America but has become naturalised in many tropical locations around the world. It is toxic to livestock.
Creeping Lantana 小葉馬纓丹 Lantana montevidensis
Closely related to the more common Lantana camara this species of Lantana is more of a ground hugger and does not grow into a bush. The Latin name hints at the plants origin near Montevideo, the capital of Uruguay in South America.
Queen's Wreath 藍花藤 Petrea volubilis
Woody vine, up to 5 metres long.
Cayenne Vervain 藍蝶猿尾木 Stachytarpheta cayennensis
Leaves are crinkly compared to Jamaica vervain. Both a garden ornamental and invasive weed.
Jamaica Vervain 假馬鞭 Stachytarpheta jamaicensis
Leaves are smooth compared to Cayenne vervain. Both a garden ornamental and invasive weed, less common than Cayenne Vervain.
Pink Vervain 紅花假馬鞭 Stachytarpheta mutabilis
Pink flowers and crinkly leaves.