The Drunken Sailor Drops By

Right Hand Corner of Front Garden with the 'Sepenuh' plant in full bloom, a rare occurrence.

I introduced another species of heliconia to add variety to the collection, which has long, wide and green  banana-like leaves as seen on the right foreground.

Lately I have been closely watching the right hand corner of the front garden in Kuching.  The plants seemed to be doing very well.  The variegated wild banana leaves have provided much needed shade to the plants below.  On this trip I saw the  'Sepenuh' (Eurcycles amboinensis ) plant in full flower, an uncommon sight and therefore considered myself lucky.  I was enthralled to see the 'Drunken Sailor' (Quisqualis indica ) droppin' by.  Somehow, it has managed to creep over the banana leaves and unabashedly  show off itself at a tight spot by the right hand corner of the front garden.

 

Sometimes referred to Red Jasmine the flowers are scented.  When in bloom the petals initially appear pale pink then gradually turning red as the day develops, akin to the face of a drunken sailor.  I am still undecided of  what to do with the Drunken Sailor.  Should I allow it to remain as a permanent feature or prune it?  Well, let's see how worthy the Drunken Sailor proove itself.  Then we decide.  I guess for this time around I can extend some patience with the Drunken Sailor.

A Drunken Sailor in Kuching

It beats me why this beautiful creeper is hilariously called  'The Drunken Sailor'.  My best guess is that its flowers first appear as white then gradually changes to red as it stays older.  It's a hardy climber and can reach pergolas, fences and roofs of building in quick time.

A CU View the 'Rangoon Creeper' flowers on a Kuching wall.

The flowers are fragrant indeed and due to that is referred to also as 'red jasmine' on account of its jasmine-like petals and strong scent. Otherwise it is commonly known too as the 'Rangoon Creeper'(Quisqualis indica) which probably indicates its tropical origins i.e. Rangoon ( Myanmar, previously Burma)