The array of colours and fragrances is what compels most growers to cultivate flowering plants in their gardens. The plants are not only good for the eyes, their flowers also attract pollinators, such as bees, butterflies and even small birds. They help pollinate not only flowers but also surrounding plants and are an important part of the life cycle of plants.

A garden’s ability to stop people in their tracks often comes down to its unusual specimens — an unexpected colour, an oddly shaped leaf, a bloom nobody quite recognises. Be it a white or purple plant, a red cabbage or punched out leaves — anything different would stop one in their stride.

This is what happened the other day, as my colleagues and I were walking through a garden on our way to a meeting. Several of them bumped into each other, so awestruck they were by a plant. To them, it was “some sort of red chilli with dual shades” growing on a small plant. A closer look revealed that it was a flower that none of them had seen before:........

© Dawn (Magazines)