Bengal clock vine can be found in Singapore

I found this plant in Hoi An, Vietnam. I like that it is a creeper and the elegance of its flowers. What is it called and is it suitable for growing in Singapore? If so, where can I find it?

Eric Yeo

The vine is the Blue Thunbergia or Bengal clock vine (Thunbergia grandiflora). It is a flowering vine you can find in Singapore.

The plant is characterised by its rather broad heart-shaped leaves.

There is another similar species, Thunbergia laurifolia, commonly called the Laurel clock vine, which has narrower leaves.

This plant grows best in full sun, with moist, well-drained soil. It is fast-growing and can become a large vine, so it needs a large and sturdy trellis. It can also become invasive.

Its flowers attract the carpenter bee, which is a large, but relatively harmless species.

Some chilli peppers can be very spicy

I have grown these two chilli plants from seeds for several months. They are now fruiting. The fruit look unfamiliar. What are these species and are the fruit edible?

Gan Sing Hai

It can be difficult to identify chilli peppers as there are many cultivars that look similar. They are all edible and some can be very spicy. Hence, care must be exercised when consuming their fruit.

The plant in photo 1 is a cultivar of Capsicum chinense called Scotch Bonnet, which is a very hot chilli that produces bright orange, hanging, bonnet-shaped fruit.

The one in photo 2 is harder to discern as the fruit are young and developing. From the picture, it seems it may be the Jalapeno, a cultivar of Capsicum annuum, which produces fruit with a range of spiciness, from relatively mild to hot.

Immerse pot in water to get rid of ants

My plant is losing its leaves and looks unhealthy. I also found a lot of ants in the pot. What can I do to kill the ants? Should I remove the plant from its plastic pot and repot it with new soil in a terracotta container?

Hetty Vosselman

The shrub is botanically known as Mussaenda erythrophylla. This particular cultivar is called Dona Luz. It is an ornamental shrub that is valued for its attractive, long-lasting, dark pink floral bracts (modified leaves that surround the actual flowers).

This plant is best grown in the ground and under full sun.

A small pot will not only restrict its growth, but also cause the soil to dry out too quickly as the plant has a high water requirement. This can lead to the yellowing and dropping of leaves on the lower portion of the plant.

As for the ants, eradicate them by immersing the pot of soil in water for several minutes. The ants will move out of the root ball. This can be done periodically to avoid the use of harmful chemicals.

Trumpet Tree an invasive species

May I know the name of this beautiful young tree? I cannot match it to any common local tree. Is it a rare tree?

Elise Chang

It is likely the Cecropia pachystachya (Trumpet Tree), an introduced species that is considered invasive. This tree can be seen growing in sunny areas on the edge of some forests in Singapore.

• Answers by Dr Wilson Wong, a certified practising horticulturist and founder of Green Culture Singapore (www.greenculturesg.com). He is also an NParks-certified park manager.

• Have a gardening query? E-mail it with clear, high-resolution pictures of at least 1MB, if any, and your full name to stlife@sph.com.sg