Flowers from Malta – part 2

Stephanotis floribunda

Stephanotis floribunda (also called Madagascar jasmine, waxflower, Hawaiian wedding flower, bridal wreath) is a species of flowering plant, native to Madagascar. Growing to 6 m (20 ft) or more, it is an evergreen woody climber with glossy, leathery oval leaves and clusters of pure white, waxy, intensely fragrant tubular flowers. Madagascar's climate, with its moderate temperatures, high humidity and seasonal cycles of hot, wet summers and cool, dry winters provides the optimal growing conditions for Stephanotis. Grown commercially, the trumpet-shaped blooms are in season year-round, provided they are given enough light and water, and are a popular component of bridal bouquets. It is a vigorous climber, tough-stemmed, bearing dark green leathery leaves, which grow in pairs at regular intervals along the vine.

Oleander

Oleander grows up to 20 feet in height, with flowers that grow in clusters 

at the end of each branch; they are white, pink to red. They grow in a

broad area from Mauritania, Morocco and Portugal eastward through

the Mediterranean region and the Sahara (where it is only found

sporadically), to the Arabian peninsula, southern Asia, and as far as

southern parts of China. On the East Coast of the US, it grows as far

north as Virginia Beach, Virginia, while in California and Texas it is

naturalized as a median strip planting, as is the case in Malta. In Texas

they are so prolific that Galveston is known as the 'Oleander City.’