Top 20 Most Common Plants in Iquitos

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Top 20 Most Common Plants in Iquitos

In Iquitos, you can find African basil, Wax mallow, Royal poinciana, Guinea henweed, Garden croton, and more! There are 20 types of plants in total. Be sure to look out for these common plants when you’re walking on the streets, in parks, or public gardens.

Most Common Plants

African basil

1. African basil

African basil (Ocimum gratissimum) has an accurate name since it is a member of the basil family native to Africa, although you'll now find it in many tropical and subtropical climates as an introduced species. This aromatic herb is used in cooking to flavor foods. It is also grown commercially because it's widely used as an essential oil.

Wax mallow

Commonly grown as an ornamental plant in gardens, the wax mallow is native to Central America. It’s cultivated in sunny or shady areas to attract hummingbirds and butterflies. The showy and bright red flowers remain close and resemble a Turkish Turban, hence its other name, Turk’s Cap. The individual blooms generally last for about two days but contain enough nectar to attract birds.

Royal poinciana

3. Royal poinciana

Royal poinciana (Delonix regia) is also known as the “peacock tree” or the “flamboyant tree.” It’s a Madagascar native and is known for its brilliant crimson or red-yellow flowers. It grows exceedingly fast, reaching its maximum height of around 12 m in a short amount of time.

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Guinea henweed

4. Guinea henweed

A perennial herbaceous shrub native to the Amazonian region, guinea henweed is deeply rooted with small greenish flowers. Its root has a strong, pungent, garlic-like smell that taints the milk and meat of animals who graze on it. Hence, it is used as a bat and insect repellant.

Garden croton

5. Garden croton

The garden croton is a showy tropical display that does well indoors or in warm climates. Known for its attractive foliage, this plant can have both color and structural variations in its leaves. Leaf colors can include orange, yellow, scarlet, white, and green, and many times all are present on one plant.

Giant taro

Giant taro is native to Southeast Asian rainforests. It was first cultivated in the Philippines. Its massive leaves resemble elephant ears. If cooked for a long time, these leaves are edible; however, the sap from the plant might hurt the skin. This plant is toxic to dogs, cats, and horses.

Desert rose

Desert rose is widely cultivated as a houseplant or as bonsai for its beautiful flowers. As a succulent plant originating from the Sahara and tropical Africa and Arabia, it requires a minimum temperature of 10 ℃ to survive. Its sap was used to poisoning arrows in Africa.

Moon Valley Pilea

8. Moon Valley Pilea

Moon Valley Pilea (Pilea mollis) is a low clustering and trailing plant that doesn't enjoy too much sun. It's a good understory plant for taller plants that can provide shade.moon Valley Pilea gets its name from the creative thought that its deeply dimpled leaves look like the moon's craters and valleys.

Common milkweed

9. Common milkweed

Asclepias syriaca, commonly known as common milkweed, is a flowering perennial herbaceous plant native to North America. It contains milky latex which can be toxic to sheep, cows, and other larger mammals (including humans) if it is consumed in large amounts. Many insect species are attracted to common milkweed, most notably monarch butterflies.

Devil's-backbone

10. Devil's-backbone

Devil's-backbone (Euphorbia tithymaloides) is a succulent species of spurge native to North and Central America. It has been planted in gardens since the 17th century and valued for its unique appearance and its habit of attracting hummingbirds. However, nearly all parts of this species are toxic and should not be consumed.

Boston fern

11. Boston fern

The Nephrolepis exaltata is commonly known as the boston fern or sword fern. It is a common and popular houseplant that is native to tropical environments. While the boston fern can survive droughts, it prefers humid environments and should be misted regularly. It is generally considered non-toxic and is pet friendly.

Trumpet tree

12. Trumpet tree

Not to be confused with other species with the same common name, trumpet tree, or Cecropia obtusifolia, is native to Central America. Though its large, wavy leaves don't resemble trumpets in shape, they can be rolled up and used as makeshift trumpets - thus the name. A quick-growing tree that thrives in disturbed areas, the trumpet tree has become invasive throughout Hawaii.

Japanese laurel

13. Japanese laurel

Japanese laurel is native only to Japan, and Korea, where it grows along streams and in moist woodland areas and thickets. It has been introduced sporadically in Europe, East Asia, and the US as a garden plant. It is considered invasive in Virginia.

Golden shower tree

14. Golden shower tree

Golden shower tree (Cassia fistula) is a plant that is found in tropical and subtropical regions. It is at its peak during the middle of the summer. Golden shower tree is both the national flower and tree of Thailand. The Latin name "Cassia" comes from "Kassia", which means "fragrant plant." It holds a sacred place in scriptures like the Ramayana and Mahabharata.

White sweetclover

15. White sweetclover

White sweetclover (Melilotus albus) is a flowering herbaceous plant also known as white melilot and honey-clover. White sweetclover is a sweet-scented herb. The leaves of this species are divided into three leaflets and have small, sharp teeth.

Kris plant

Kris plant (Alocasia sanderiana) is a vigorous tropical perennial with prominently lobed leaves that have broad, silvery-white veins and red-green undersides. This indigenous Mindanao plant grows primarily on moist hillsides at low elevated deep forest areas. It's frequently grown for ornamental purposes.

Red huckleberry

17. Red huckleberry

Red huckleberry (Vaccinium parvifolium) is a slow-growing, deciduous shrub that often grows on old tree stumps in forest areas. Birds and all types of animals are attracted to its seeds, foliage and twigs.

Silver squill

18. Silver squill

Silver squill (Ledebouria socialis) is a perennial plant native to South Africa. Silver squill is a common plant cultivated for ornamental purposes and grows well with minimal maintenance. The latter word in the Latin name Ledebouria socialis means "growing in colonies."

Geranium aralia

19. Geranium aralia

The geranium aralia is a shrub plant native to tropical Asia. Without pruning, these plants can grow very tall, with stiff, spreading branches. They take well to shaping, so they have been used to create both bonsai trees and hedges. The green leaves sometimes have white or yellow outlines.

Fairy castle cactus

20. Fairy castle cactus

Fairy castle cactus is a miniature Cereus tetragonus 'Fairy Castle' that grows as clumps of columnar spires that resemble a castle’s turrets. A spiny succulent that grows slowly and blooms only infrequently, it is an extremely popular choice for indoor growing in full-sun locations.

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South America > Peru > Loreto > Iquitos

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