Plants & Flowers of St. Croix

Scientific & Common Name:

Aloe vera, commonly known as  Chinese aloe, Indian aloe, true aloe, burn aloe, first aid plant

Native to:

The natural range of aloe vera is unclear, as the species has been widely cultivated throughout the world; however, it is believed to have originated on the Mediterranean coast of Africa. 

Description:

Aloe thrives in climates such as the Caribbean as well as Central and South America. It has large, fleshy, grayish-green, strap-like leaves close to the ground edged with spines and a pointed tip. Aloe vera grows to about 24 to 39 inches tall. The aloe vera flowers in the summer on a spike up to 35 inches tall, each flower being pendulous, with a yellow tubular corolla about an inch long.

Practical Uses:

In the Virgin Islands, the external uses are numerous. It is used as an emollient, a bath, hair conditioner, and sunscreen. When stewed, aloe has immense benefits to the hair, nails, and especially skin. In South America, it is often worn as a mosquito repellent, and whole plants hung upside down to repel insects.

Medicinal Uses:

Aloe is used frequently in the treatment of burns, cuts, and sores. Internally, it has been used for the treatments of colds and fevers, coughs, and intestinal worms. Aloe vera juice is also marketed to support the health of the digestive system. 

The bird of paradise is actually a large tropical herb that is a member of the banana family which typically reaches 5 to 10 feet tall. It’s large leaves are 12 to 79 inches long and 4 to 30 inches broad, similar to a banana leaf in appearance but with a longer petiole, and arranged strictly in two ranks to form a fan-like crown of evergreen foliage. The flower stalks are actually a combination of blue petals and orange petal-looking leaves that emerge from a beak-like leaf structure. The species was brought to the Caribbean because of its beauty and its ability to do well in our warm, humid climate.

Bougainvillea is a tropical and subtropical woody, evergreen, shrubby vine. Typically multi-trunked or with clumping stems, it has a spreading, round plant habit with a height and spread of up to 20 feet. It climbs by sending out slender arching canes armed with stiff curved thorns. Leaves are small, elliptical, and become narrow to a point. Paper-like flowers grow in clusters of bright colors ranging from a dark pink or purple to a subtle white. Enclosed inside each paper-like case is a single, tiny, tubular, white flower. This plant is named after Louis de Bougainville, a French navigator. While in Brazil, he found these beautiful plants and brought them back to his home in Europe for cultivation. They readily root from cuttings, prefer full sun, and can withstand drought as well as heavy pruning. When admiring these beauties, be careful not to grab a hold of their stem because of the large, widely spaced thorns.

Many different types of cacti are present throughout St.Croix, mostly on the dry terrain of the East End. The “prickly pear” (a) can be found throughout the island. Many use it for it’s decorative properties. This particular cactus possesses jointed stems formed of flattened segments covered with hairs. The flowers are yellow or orange, sometimes blushed red near the base. The fruits are purple. During harvesting, gloves can be worn to avoid being wounded by the spines and hairs. The sweet fruit is usually eaten raw, alone or placed in fruit salads. The Turks Cap (b) is completely covered with spines, has a short, stubby, barrel-like bottom with a taller, cylindrical top usually red and bristly. It can grow as large as 30 cm in height by 8 cm in diameter. Pink flowers develop among the bristles and spines so it makes for a great ornamental cactus. It thrives in arid, rocky areas along the coasts. Night-Blooming Cactus (c) is flaccid with a diameter of 1 to 3 cm, and usually requires the stability of another plant, so it is often found wrapped and hanging from other plants. It grows as a vining shrub with fleshy stems that are covered with silky spines up to 1.5 cm long and with deciduous white or yellow hairs. At night the white flowers bloom. Native to Jamaica, the Cayman Islands, and Cuba, it inhabits the scrub woods near the coast. It has been sold throughout the states for its ornamental purpose, and is also subject to large-scale cultivation since it yields a medicinal substance that stimulates the cardiovascular system. The Pipe Organ cactus (d) also commonly seen throughout the east end of the island stands tall and thin and is covered with woody, needle-like spines, varying in lengths to 2 inches long. Fluting is an adaptation to provide the plant with a greater green surface.

This very intimidating thorn-covered bush is seen almost everywhere on St. Croix. The species grows to a height of up to 26 feet and has a lifespan of about 25 to 50 years. Its leaves are numerous, each about an inch long and blunt tipped. The casha bush also holds tiny spherical yellow flowers and a nearly cylindrical legume pod, 4 to 5 inches long. The stem is thin and woody, usually contorted and covered with whitish thorns an inch or more long on mature stems. Be careful when hiking, as the casha thorns can do some damage to exposed knees, legs, and feet.

Although it is called the century plant, it typically lives only 10 to 30 years. It has a spread of about 6 to 10 feet with gray-green leaves of 3 to 5 feet. The century plant resembles an aloe plant, except it is much larger and possesses sharper spines on the leaves’ edges and its pointed tip is sharp and strong. Until flowering, each plant has a single stem bud which produces leaves in clusters near the ground. When the plant has stored enough food, usually after a decade or so, the stem bud starts to grow – this is called ‘flowering’. At flowering, the main stem elongates rapidly to reach a total height of up to 25 to 30 feet. Flowers grow in lateral groups of tubular, 6-parted yellow clusters that look like upturned candelabras. When it is done, it dies and the whole plant dies with it, although a new plant usually sprouts from the roots.

Crown of thorns is a succulent climbing shrub growing up to 5 feet tall. It's blooms are mostly red and its thick stems are covered in thorns. The straight, slender spines, up to 1 inch long, help it scramble over other plants.Cuttings from this plant can be stuck directly in the soil and grow with out an existing root system. The leaves are found mainly on new growth, and are green and tear-shaped, up to 1 inch long and half an inch broad.

Cup of gold is a striking vine with glossy leaves and large showy white to bright yellow flowers that are 6 to 8 inches long and are chalice shaped.  They have a yellow corolla , with 5 purple lines. Cup of gold blooms intermittently through the year, usually from February until May. The thick and woody ropelike stems branch frequently and root at their nodes, and can run for more than 30 to 40 feet, clinging with aerial rootlets and scrambling over everything in the way. The evergreen leaves are leathery, about 6 inches long and elliptic, with prominent lighter colored midribs and lateral veins. They are fragrant, especially at night, with a scent reminiscent of coconut. The fruits, rarely seen in cultivation, are round berries, about 2 inches in diameter.

These beautiful flowers are most commonly seen as white with a diffused yellow center, or bright pink with a yellow to orange center. The flowers grow singly or clustered among narrow to broadly elliptical leaves. The basic branching pattern of a frangipani look like ‘Y’s. Today, the Frangipani is mostly used for ornamental purposes, though traditionally the milky sap was applied to fresh wounds as a disinfectant. However, it is usually noted that plants containing a milky sap are dangerous and should not be touched, and definitely not eaten.

Native to tropical and subtropical America, Texas, New Mexico and Florida, this beautiful yellow flower can be found thriving year round on St. Croix from hillsides and thickets alike. Ginger Thomas is so abundant that it is considered our territory’s flower. Not only is it a pleasure to look at, but historically, it has proved to have great medicinal value. The leaves of the Ginger Thomas are used to reduce fever and to strengthen a woman’s body after childbirth. The leaves have also been known to ease symptoms of the common cold, diabetes, headaches, and high blood pressure, while the roots have been used to ease symptoms of syphilis. Take a moment to smell the flowers! The scent is fragrant, like that of champagne. No wonder it's the Official Flower of the USVI!

Because of its great beauty and hardiness, the Hibiscus has become a well-known and well-loved plant. It may be the official flower of Hawaii, but the Hibiscus can be seen in the Virgin Islands growing wildly along the roadside, or elegantly covering a window by someone’s home. Its presence is also seen in the states, unfortunately, during winter month’s, it can only thrive indoors. There are many different species of this beauty, one being from Asia, the Hibiscus rosa-sinensis, and one from East Africa, the Hibiscus schizopetalus. Hibiscus rosa-sinensis has leaves that are simple and broadly oval. They narrow into a point and are about 3 to 6 inches long. Blooms are solitary, enormous, 5-parted and come in colors of red, orange, pink, yellow, lavender, or white. Less common are combinations of these colors. Schizopetalus, has coarsely toothed leaves, narrowing outward into a point, and a shorter stalk with a somewhat wavy surface. Flowers are a pale red. The 5 petals are bent back, deeply and repeatedly cut and curved into a striking display. They are very similar to one another, except the schizopetalus has leaves that are more distantly spaced, and the branches are more delicate. The flower from any Hibiscus, whether on or off the plant, will remain fresh all day, and then wilt in the evening. A dye obtained from the red petals, though useful, will stain clothes. The petals of the Hibiscus can also be boiled, sweetened and made into a tea. A cutting from this hardy plant, when placed in water for a few weeks, will readily root. Locally, these plants are attacked and harmed by tiny white insects. Green Tea, steeped and sprayed on the infected leaves, helps to rid these pests without the use of chemicals.

Also called Leadwort because of its lead colored roots. Plumbago can be found growing wildly along the roadside or in planters around the island as decoration.In clusters among simple, elliptical leaves, the flowers are a light blue or lavender color. Each flower is 5 parted, long and tubular, with a distinctive mid-vein. The tube of each flower is covered with sticky hairs, making it easy for the flowers to rest in one’s hair or clothes for a little island color.These hairs aid in seed dispersal. This plant, grown as a very colorful hedge, should be pruned vigorously to reduce its sprawl. Because it is native to South Africa, Plumbago accepts our full sun and tropical heat.