Scientific Name
|
Common Name
|
Origin
|
Description
|
Comments
|
| Acacia tortillis |
Samur |
Arabian Peninsula, North Africa |
Small umbrella shaped tree, indigenous, very tough |
Most common small tree in the UAE |
| Agave attenuata |
-- |
S.W. USA |
-- |
-- |
| Acalypha wilkesiana |
-- |
-- |
-- |
-- |
| Var. macrophylla |
-- |
-- |
-- |
-- |
| var. tricolour |
-- |
-- |
-- |
-- |
| Adenium obesum |
-- |
Oman, Yemen |
Succulent shrub, Frangipani like stem with little foliage. bright pink
tubular flowers in April |
-- |
| Var. Flaming Giant |
-- |
-- |
-- |
-- |
| Albizzia lebbeck |
-- |
-- |
Tree – fast growing, feathery foliage cream/white pom pom flower |
-- |
| Ageratum houstonianum |
Floss Flower |
-- |
Annual with Powder puff blue, white or pink flowers |
Flowers into May, best in March |
| Alacea rosea |
Hollyhock |
-- |
-- |
-- |
| Alestroemia scholaris |
-- |
India |
Large evergreen shade tree |
There is one growing outside snooker club at Hilton |
| Allamanda cathartica |
-- |
-- |
Deep pink tubular flower Climbing plant needs shelter |
-- |
| Aloe striata |
-- |
-- |
-- |
-- |
| Aloe species |
-- |
-- |
-- |
-- |
| Alternanthera versicolor |
-- |
-- |
Low spreading ground cover – green, red, yellow forms |
-- |
| Alyssum maritimum (see Lobularia) |
Sweet Alice |
-- |
Low growing annual, pink, purple, white forms |
Spring flowers, very fragrant. Sow seed direct where to grow. |
| Amaranthus tricolour |
-- |
-- |
Varieties from deep red to green with yellow and orange splashes. |
Variety Joseph’s coat is a mix of yellow, orange, red, green |
| Antigonon leptopus |
Coral Vine |
-- |
Pink coral coloured flowers light green leaves not active in cooler months |
Flowers October/November |
| Antirrhinum majus |
Snapdragon |
-- |
-- |
Need good maintenance to get best performance. Maybe best in parks |
| Arctotis cumbletonii Hybrids |
African Daisy |
-- |
-- |
-- |
| Arundo donax |
Giant Reed |
-- |
-- |
Used at new section of Al Ain Zoo to create part of habitats especially
for large cats.(tigers) |
| Asclepius curassavica |
Blood flower |
-- |
-- |
Not all that impressive. Too much foliage, not enough flower |
| Aster Hybrids |
-- |
-- |
Annuals. Flower colour pink, blue, red, purple |
Not exceptionally hardy. Grow best in parks. Flower March |
| Atriplex cinerea |
Gray Saltbush |
Australia |
Small Shrub, silver gray foliage |
tolerant of heat and dry conditions |
| Atriplex glauca |
Saltbush |
-- |
Low growing, spreading shrub, gray foliage |
ditto |
| Atriplex lentiformis Breweri |
Brewers Saltbush |
USA |
Taller growing shrub, gray foliage |
ditto |
| Atriplex semibaccata |
Saltbush |
Australia |
Low spreading form |
Good for stabilising sand dunes |
| Azaderachta indica |
Neem Tree |
India |
One of the best trees for Al Ain, excellent shade, tolerates heat and salt |
Dormant over winter, new shoots in April |
| Bougainvillea buttiana Hybrids |
-- |
-- |
-- |
-- |
| Bougainvillea glabra |
-- |
-- |
Standard purple/magenta colour, Magnifica (red), Alba (white) other
Hybrids |
Flower November at best |
| Bougainvillea Hybrid Dwarf forms |
-- |
-- |
-- |
-- |
| Cactus – Echinocactus, Echinopsis |
-- |
Central America, sth USA |
Cacti for special purposes needing very little water |
weeding and irrigation control a major problem |
| Calathea |
Hollyhock |
-- |
Tall annual |
Best from February to end March |
| Calendula officinalis |
Marigold |
-- |
Orange or yellow annual early winter to March |
-- |
| Calotropis procera |
Ushar |
-- |
Poisonous large shrub. Gray foliage, desert plant |
grows easily in urban areas but not suitable for cultivation |
| Callistephuus chinensis Milady Hybrids |
China Aster |
-- |
Fast growing annual, spring, early summer flowering. Magenta, scarlet,
pink, white, blue, purple. |
-- |
| Canna indica |
-- |
-- |
Tall Herbaceous perennial red yellow pink orange forms. Dwarf forms avail |
best flowers in October/November |
| Carissa macrocarpa Horizontalis and Green Carpet |
-- |
-- |
Evergreen shrubby ground covers, even in character, white flower, red
berry |
-- |
| Carpobrotus |
Pigface |
-- |
Fleshy ground cover bright magenta flowers |
-- |
| Cassia fistula |
-- |
-- |
Tree with brilliant yellow flowers hanging in racemes. Tree otherwise
unattractive, Mix with shelter trees |
-- |
| Cassia javanica |
-- |
-- |
Apple Blossom Tree |
-- |
| Caesalpinia gillesii |
-- |
-- |
Yellow flowered large shrub, not as attractive as C. pulcherrima |
best flowering in October/November |
| Caesalpinia pulcherrima |
-- |
-- |
Tangerine coloured flower on large shrub. Semi deciduous. |
Best flowering in October/November |
| Calliandra sp |
-- |
-- |
-- |
-- |
| Catharanthus roseus Hybrids |
Madagascar periwinkle |
-- |
Perennial with bright flowers in summer. Magenta purple pink red white.
Start flowers April finish December |
Best flowering November |
| Celosia cristata |
Cockscomb |
-- |
Medium height annual with Coral like flowers in red orange, vermilion and
pink |
best flowering in spring months |
| Celosia plumosa Hybrids |
Prince of Wales Feather |
-- |
Annual with red, yellow, orange, magenta and pink feathers |
Medium height and dwarf forms available. Flower from spring into early
summer. |
| Centaurea cyanuus |
Blue straw flower |
-- |
Gray foliage vivid blue flower |
Untried in Al Ain |
| Cestrum nocturnum |
Night Scented Jessamine or Lady of the Night |
-- |
Medium rambling shrub for sheltered locations aromatic flowers at night |
Use as background plant under trees |
| Chorisia speciosa |
Floss Silk Tree |
-- |
Pink flowered tree worth trying in parks |
-- |
| Chrysanthemum see Dendranthema |
-- |
-- |
-- |
-- |
| Citrus species |
Lemon |
-- |
Not very successful due to virus; excellent fragrance. Use as background
plant in parks for scent. |
-- |
| Cleome hassleriana |
Spider Flower |
-- |
Tall annual, pink flowers |
Best March April in Al Ain |
| Clerodendrum inerme |
Indian Privet |
-- |
Commonly used as a hedge |
Light prune only when growing. |
| Clitoria ternatea |
Butterfly Pea |
-- |
Climber blue flower, fresh green leaves. Also as rampant ground cover |
-- |
| Coccoloba uvifera |
Sea Grape |
-- |
Small tree glossy circular leaves – spikes of small white flowers and
purple fruit edible |
-- |
| Conocarpus lancifolius Syn. Anogeissus latifolius |
-- |
-- |
Medium height, slender tree with great tolerance for salt and wind. |
-- |
| Coreopsis tinctoria syn C. grandiflora |
Calliopsis |
-- |
Annual, early summer, medium tall, yellow flowers |
Plant close together for best flowering effect |
| Cordia myxa |
Tree cordia |
-- |
Medium height untidy looking tree with fragrant white flowers |
Very Hardy |
| Cordia sebestena |
-- |
-- |
Large shrub with large green leaves; can become small tree; orange
flowers. Needs shelter and summer water |
-- |
| Cosmos bipinnatus |
Common Cosmos |
-- |
early summer annual; feathery foliage, pink, lavender, blue flowers –
tall |
-- |
| Crinum pedunculatum |
Beach Lily |
-- |
Broad light green strap leaf, salt tolerant white flower lily |
-- |
| Cryptostegia madagascarensis |
-- |
Madagascar |
Woody twining plant beautiful pink/purple flowers |
Hardy |
| Cycas revoluta |
Sago palm |
-- |
Small palm for containers in sheltered places |
Shelter from afternoon sun |
| Cyperus involucratus |
Umbrella Sedge |
-- |
Reed like plant with umbrella whorl on top. |
Shelter from afternoon sun |
| Dahlia Hybrids |
-- |
-- |
Tall and dwarf forms of annual. Red ,yellow, pink, purple, white, orange |
Best from March to April |
| Delonix regia |
Royal Poinciana |
-- |
Medium tree with feathery foliage and brilliant orange red flowers in
early summer, late April May |
Needs shelter in Al Ain and plenty of summer water. Cut water in winter |
| Dendranthema Hybrids |
-- |
-- |
Annual forms |
-- |
| Dianthus chinensis Hybrids |
-- |
-- |
Low growing, mainly green foliaged annual red, pink, white, serrated edge, |
Best March April |
| Dimorphetheca sinuata |
Cape Marigold |
-- |
Creamy white flower, gray foliage, low, spreading plant |
Probably untried in Al Ain |
| Dodonaea viscosa |
Shahs |
Oman |
Indigenous evergreen shrub to 2m |
Good hedge plant, do not over water esp. in winter. |
| Dombeya walichii Also D. elegans |
-- |
-- |
Large shrub/small tree with maple like evergreen leaves and masses of deep
pink balls of flowers in March |
-- |
| Echeveria elegans many other species |
-- |
-- |
Succulents with pink flowers compact rosette foliage bluish grey |
No water in winter |
| Echinacea purpurea |
-- |
-- |
Tall summer flowering annual deep pink/magenta flower |
-- |
| Euphorbia millii syn splendens |
Crown of Thorns |
-- |
Red flowers on stark, ferociously thorned stems |
-- |
| Euphorbia |
Snow on the Mountain |
-- |
-- |
-- |
| Ficus benghalensis |
Banyan |
-- |
Medium to large eg tree med to large leathery leaves |
Very tough shade tree |
| Ficus microcarpa Nitida |
-- |
-- |
Finer leaf, good shape |
Needs shelter and well watered |
| Ficus religiosa |
Peepul Tree |
-- |
Superb large tree with poplar like fresh green foliage all year |
Very good tree for Al Ain |
| Ficus ufectoria |
-- |
-- |
Medium e.g. tree, larger leaf than Nitida |
Needs to be well watered |
| Gaillardia pulchella syn grandiflora Hybrids |
Blanket Flower |
USA |
Annual grey green foliage orange red/yellow edge flowers. Double form
orange/red colour |
Very hardy flower most of year best early summer |
| Gazania rigens Syn G. splendens |
-- |
-- |
Daisy flower colours from orange, gold, yellow, cream, pink, bronze-red
Grey green foliage |
Very good ground cover should be more widely grown. |
| Geranium see Pelargonium zonale |
-- |
-- |
-- |
-- |
| Gomphrena globosa |
Globe Amaranth |
-- |
Magenta coloured annual med height. Also white form |
Excellent summer annual |
| Helianthus annuus |
Common Sunflower |
-- |
Tall yellow annual for winter months |
-- |
| Hibiscus rosa sinensis |
Hibiscus |
-- |
Common red double form only. |
Hybrids do not survive salinity |
| Hibiscus tileacious |
Sea Hibiscus |
-- |
Yellow flower small tree, large heart shaped leaves |
Salt tolerant |
| Hymenocallis festalis |
Spider Lily |
Central and South America |
White flowered lily with green strap leaves. |
Flowers in May |
| Impatiens balsamina |
Balsam |
-- |
Medium height annual pink, lavender flowers |
Best March April |
| Ipomoea palmata |
-- |
-- |
Climber |
-- |
| Iresine herbstii |
-- |
-- |
Perennial ground cover esp var. Brilliantissima |
Best shaded from afternoon sun in Al Ain. Needs regular pruning in growing
season. |
| Ixora |
-- |
-- |
Small shrub, shiny waxy leaves, red berries. |
Only for greenhouse use in Al Ain, sensitive to saline water, needs
humidity |
| Jasminum sambac |
Razji or Arabian jasmine |
-- |
Single and double forms on low shrubs of irregular habit |
Grown for scented flowers |
| Jasminum grandiflora |
Common Jasmine |
-- |
Climbing plant, deep green foliage, white fragrant flowers |
In Al Ain, best if shaded from afternoon sun, plant on east facing wall |
| Kalanchoe sp. |
-- |
-- |
Limited use in pots |
Shade from afternoon sun |
| Kochia scoparia |
Summer Cypress |
-- |
Fine foliage, summer annual, green and autumn red form |
Needs to be grown in mass beds for best effect |
| Koelreutaria elegans |
Flamegold Tree |
Taiwan |
Tree as yet untried in Al Ain |
-- |
| Lantana camara |
Common Lanatana |
-- |
Good shrub and ground cover plant yellow, white, orange, pink forms |
Do not over water esp in winter. Needs pruning during growing season.
Flowers most of year. |
| Lathyrus odoratus |
Sweat Pea |
-- |
Scented annual, best in winter months, pink, purple, red, white |
Limited use in parks |
| Lawsonia inermis |
Henna |
-- |
Large shrub loosely branched background plant only |
-- |
| Leucaena leucocephala |
-- |
-- |
Fast growing small tree with fluffy yellow ball flowers |
Hardy tree tolerates salinity |
| Limonium sinuuatum |
Statice |
-- |
Annual, papery flowers in purple, yellow, white and pink colours |
Best for flower arrangements |
| Lobularia maritima |
Alyssum or Sweet Alice |
-- |
See Alyssum |
-- |
| Macfadyena unguis catii |
Cat’s Claw Creeper |
-- |
Vigorous climbing plant, yellow/orange trumpet flowers |
-- |
| Mangifera indica |
Mango |
-- |
Evergreen Tree with good foliage but needs shelter of Date palms |
-- |
| Matthiola incana |
Stock |
-- |
Grey green foliage annual with large spikes of magenta pink, purple, pale
pink, white. |
Winter flower only |
| Millingtonia hortensis |
Millingtonia |
India |
Columnar Tree with white, tubular fragrant flowers in November |
-- |
| Mirabilis jalapa |
Four O’clock |
-- |
Med/tall Pink flowered annual, also white and stripe, red, yellow. |
Early summer, actually perennial but grown as annual in Al Ain |
| Moringa oleifera |
Drumstick Tree |
India |
Medium graceful tree to 10m. Highly scented white flowers and long bean
like seed pods |
Seed pods used as a vegetable especially by Indians |
| Moringa perigrina |
-- |
Oman |
Fast growing small tree like Tamarisk. White/pink flowers |
Common around Al Ain non irrigated areas. Very hardy |
| Myrtus communis |
Myrtle or As |
Mediterranean region but also grows wild in Oman |
Evergreen shrub to 3 metres |
Suitable hedge plant |
| Nerium mascatense syn. Nerium oleander |
Haban or Oleander |
Native to Oman |
Oleander of cultivation is same as N. mascatense. Mainly pink flowering
evergreen shrub. Cultivars grown in the West of USA |
Extremely poisonous plant |
| Ocimum tenuifolium |
Perennial Basil |
-- |
Medium height herbaceous plant with aromatic leaves |
Can be used as a hedge |
| Pelargonium zonale |
-- |
-- |
Attractive annual pink red white. At best late March through April early
May |
-- |
| Pennesetum setaceum " " Rubra |
-- |
-- |
White flowered grass, green leaves. Pink flowered grass, ruby leaves |
Very successful in Al Ain, especially spring months, March April |
| Petunia grandiflora |
Petunia |
-- |
Excellent annual flower single colours ranging from white to purple,
pinks, reds and even yellow. |
Best from October to late May, early June |
| Petunia multiflora |
Petunia |
-- |
As above but also fragrant, flowers are smaller and are usually sold in
mixed colour forms |
they are hardier than P. grandiflora but need occasional trimming to keep
them in shape and flowering continuously |
| Phlox drummondii |
Annual Phlox |
-- |
Pink red white range of colours |
Best for parks |
| Phoenix dactylifera |
Date Palm |
-- |
Of primary importance both culturally and in terms of oasis character of
Al Ain |
Flower in march April, fruit late summer August September October |
| Pithecelobium inga dulce |
Manila Tamarind |
Philippines |
Good shade tree |
Salt tolerant to 2000ppm |
| Plumbago capensis |
-- |
-- |
Blue flowered small shrub |
Must have shelter from afternoon sun |
| Plumeria obtusa |
Frangipani Arabic is Yasmin Hindi |
-- |
White flower spring early summer. Leaves have a round3ed end |
-- |
| Plumeria rubra |
Frangipani |
-- |
Fragrant white or pink flowers, Long pointed leaf |
-- |
| Portulacca grandiflora |
Portulacca |
-- |
Summer annual, fine leaf, low spreading colours purple, pink, yellow, red |
Flowers from May to December |
| Prosopis cineraria Syn P. spicigera |
Ghaf |
-- |
Indigenous tree species protected by Sh Zayed |
Salt tolerant to 4,500ppm |
| Punica granatum |
Pomegranate |
-- |
Small tree with sparse green foliage, red flowers and large fruit which
colours red when ripe. |
Ancient fruit believed to be the forbidden fruit of biblical times.
Commonly grown in Omani wadi Oases, fruit is smaller than in Spain, Italy,
Greece |
| Rudbeckia hirta |
Rudbeckia |
-- |
Annual, med tall, yellow orange and some with red centre orange edge |
-- |
| Ruellia ciliosa |
-- |
Brazil |
Small shrub with deep pink trumpet flowers |
Good for dry places under trees |
| Salvia splendens |
-- |
-- |
Red flowering annual |
Feb March at best |
| Senecio cineraria |
Dusty Miller |
-- |
Perennial grey foliage, yellow flowers |
-- |
| Senna didymobotria |
Senna |
-- |
Yellow flowers in winter on spikes. Shrub to 2.5m |
-- |
| Sesevium |
-- |
-- |
Fleshy leafed herbaceous ground cover. Grey green foliage |
Thrives on low water supply. being widely used in place of turf grass in
Al Ain. |
| Tabernae montana |
Crepe Gardenia |
-- |
2m high shrub, glossy, deep green foliage, white fragrant flowers in May
also November. |
-- |
| Tabebuia chrysotricha |
Golden Trumpet Tree |
-- |
Tree to 40 ft brilliant yellow flowers in end March early April |
-- |
| Tabebuia heterophylla |
Pink Trumpet Tree |
-- |
Tall semi deciduous tree but mainly evergreen tree with pink trumpet
flowers |
-- |
| Tecoma stans |
-- |
-- |
Yellow flrg large shrub – Jan Feb, early March |
Commonly used along highways |
| Tecomella undulata |
Farfar |
Oman |
Tall shrub, grey green fine weeping foliage Yellow to orange flowers late
March early April – very attractive. Can also flower in November. |
In median on Dubai road between Hilli and Al Oha roundabouts |
| Tagetes patula |
French Marigold |
-- |
Annual, Orange and yellow and orange/red forms. Many hybrids |
Flowers from November to May |
| Tagetes erecta |
African Marigold |
-- |
Medium tall annual with yellow or orange flowers |
-- |
| Tamarindus indica |
Tamarind Tree |
-- |
Tall stately tree, grey green, featheery foliage, not unlikr Ghaf Tree. |
Not common in Al Ain |
| Terminalia ajuna |
-- |
-- |
Smaller leaf, attractive trunk |
-- |
| Terminalia catappa |
Indian Almond |
-- |
Tree with large leaves, very good shade tree |
Does better on coast where there is humidity. Needs water and some shelter
to thrive in Al Ain |
| Thespesia populnea |
Indian Tulip Tree |
-- |
Tree to 40 ft yellow flower, Poplar like leaf |
One very good specimen in roundabout, to south of Jebel roundabout in
Municipality Road. Should be more widely grown. |
| Thevetia peruviana |
-- |
-- |
Large, poisonous shrub, yellow flowers, |
Hardy, can use as hedge |
| Tradescantia pallida |
-- |
-- |
Purple leafed, pink flowered ground cover from Mexico |
Shade from afternoon sun |
| Verbena tenuisecta |
Blue Verbena |
Chile/Argentina |
Lilac/Blue flowered perennial, fine foliage. |
Attractive ground cover should be widely used. Low water need. |
| Verbena Hybrida |
Rose Verbena |
-- |
Annual, colour range from light pink through darker pink, red, white and
purple |
-- |
| Verbena peruviana |
-- |
-- |
Perennial ground cover, red and pink colours |
-- |
| Vitex trifolia Syn. V. agnus-casti |
Kaffmiriam or Arabian Lilac |
-- |
Purpurea has purple underside of leaf, V. Variegata has bright green
leaves, edged with yellow. |
-- |
| Wedelia trilobata |
Creeping Daisy |
-- |
Ground cover, deep green foliage, yellow flowers |
Hardy, should be widely used |
| Yucca filementosa Yucca gloriosa |
-- |
-- |
Southeast USA striking creamy white flower spikes summer |
-- |
| Zinnia elegans |
-- |
-- |
Annual from Mexico, big colour range and sizes vary from dwarf to tall. |
Flower from November to May |
| Zyziphus jujuba |
Chinese date (also Sidr but is not indigenous species) |
China |
Larger edible fruiting form of weeping tree. |
Cream flower October/November |
| Zyziphus spina-christi |
Sidr |
Arabian Peninsula |
Tree of weeping character, thorny, Indigenous and protected by Sh Zayed
decree |
Cream coloured Flowers October, early November. Attracts many insects.
Fragrant. |