South America

The gourd-like fruit of this species bursts with tremendous strength and loud noise apart. The seeds are fired off at a speed of 250 km/h, so that they can spread up to 100 meters from the tree.

The sapodilla is a tropical fruit tree native to Mexico, Central America and the Caribbean.

Large heart-shaped seeds that spread throughout the entire world via the sea currents and originate from the Amazon. One of the most special seed varieties in the world.

The special decorative seeds look like small purses and are distributed via the sea. It is a tropical vine with purple flowers.

Seagrapes grow in clusters and colour on ripening to red. They taste sweet and sour, can be eaten fresh or processed into jam, juice or wine.

Seed fluff of the silk tree is used for making traditional canoe’s, paper and rope. The species can withstand light frost and resembles to the kapok tree.

The yellow fruits of this plant can be used as a soap to wash for example hair or clothes. It is an easy container plant at a minimum of -5 degC in winter.

A large fruit from Central America which is widely cultivated for making soft drinks. A minimum temperature of 5 degrees Celsius is required.

The young leaves are coloured red-orange with light and dark spots, resembling stained glass.

These leaves can grow up to 2 metres long and only 6 cm wide, so the species does well as a hanging plant.

The scaly fruits have white, sweet fruit flesh and a texture like yoghurt. Provide a warm, sunny spot at a minimum of 10 degrees Celsius.

The Surinamese cherry is a 3 cm large berry with juicy, sweet and sour flesh.

The fruits colour to red on ripening, have yellow flesh and can be scooped or processed just like tomatoes in dishes. The species originates from the Andes. 

The actual tabacco plant, of which tabacco has been produced for over hundreds of years.  It is a decorative plant with big leaves (up to 60 cm), that grows well as an annual plant in the garden.

The tomatillo is an edible fruit native to Mexico and Guatemala, where it grows in the drier highlands.

An interesting plant to grow indoors, with small leaves that fold inward when touched or shaken. The movement is so fast that it scares away herbivores.

A rare passion flower from the jungles of Ecuador that grows as a tree instead of a climber. The tropical tree can grow leaves up to 1 metre long! Can be kept in a pot.

A very decorative species that originates from the south of South-America.

Vanilla is made from the fruits of the vanilla orchid. A tropical climbing vine from Mexico that can be kept in a heated greenhouse.

The leaf of this enormous water lily can grow up to 2 meters wide and bear 40 kg. The large flowers smell like pineapple and bloom for two nights.

This particular palm has distinctive stilt roots growing out of the trunk.

A tropical plant from the rainforest of Costa Rica, with decorative leaves and yellow flowers that have the shape of a windmill.

The white cocoa tree (or Mocambo) is a special and rare variety of regular cocoa.

The flowers of the Plumeria alba are as extraordinary as those of Plumeria rubra. The white flowers, with a yellow center, are accompanied by an amazing smell.

A small species with reddish purple flowers and yellow orange, delicious passion fruit. The stems are winged.

A small passionflower from the dryer forests of South America with white/purple flowers. Grows well as an indoor or container plant at a minimum of 0 degC.

Rare nickernut used for jewellery and various mancala games. They can be found on beaches.

A tropical shrub or small tree, with fragrant yellow flowers and elegant seeds that are also called ‘lucky nuts’.

The yellow pitahaya or yellow dragonfruit is a delicious sweet fruit with a yellow peel and white pulp. Easy plant to take care of.

A yellow variety of the red tree tomato. The fruits resemble tomatoes, and can be scooped or processed just like tomatoes in dishes. An easily kept plant.

The young leaf of the mate plant is used in South America to make a tasty, invigorating drink: mate.