While its scientific name is Anthurium andraeanum, this flower is more commonly known as the "heart flower." This is an apt name for these heart-shaped flowers budding on a bush of heart-shaped leaves. The flower is made up of a large petal, or spathe, from which emerges a spike of very tiny flowers. Heart flowers are also known as "flamingo lilies" or "flame flowers" and come in colors such as pink, red, purple, white, yellow or orange.
Also known as "chenille plants"or "red hot cattails," monkey tail flowers have teardrop-shaped leaves from which grow red flowers in a long cluster, like a tail. The flowers have soft blooms closely resembling caterpillars ("chenille" is French for caterpillar) or cattails. These plants may grow as tall as eight feet, bloom all year-round and are popular in floral arrangements.
Ubiquitous in the Caribbean region, hibiscus flowers come in an assortment of colors and patterns. Also known as "rose mallows," their colors may range from white to vivid red. Aside from being used as hair ornaments, several types of hibiscus are also utilized all over the world as an ingredient in shampoos or food products and as an herbal medicine.
Orchids are one of the most admired tropical flowers in the Caribbean. Considered by flower enthusiasts as the most stunning and sensuous tropical flower, it may also be one of the most expensive for people to purchase. On their own, orchids sometimes grow on the trunks of trees but they may also be cultivated in almost any color through cross-breeding. These flowers are commonly used as a wedding bouquet.
Heliconias have large and colorful flowers that grow on a long shoot from banana-like leaves. Certain varieties are also known as "lobster-claws" or "false bird-of-paradise" because of their resemblance in shape. The height varies significantly among heliconias; they can range from 2 to 25 feet depending upon the specific variety. Heliconias can be used as container plants as well, since they can grow indoors during the winter in cold areas and readily grow outside during the summer.
