Hibiscus (Gumamela) Collection Laiban Gardens

Called Gumamela in Tagalog, the Philippines has the largest (and most amazing) variety of hibiscus I have ever seen. In Kuala Lumpur I visited a dedicated hibiscus garden, expecting it to be quite exceptional since the hibiscus is their national flower. To say the least, it was a disappointment. Here in the Philippines it seems that most people take nature too much for granted and one sees amazing plants but rarely do they seem to be well taken care of. There is no “national botanical garden”. As I already commented on earlier, the zoological park is a good candidate for the worst I have seen.

My small effort is an exercise in trying to create some sort of natural environment with both endemic and cultivated plants. Unfortunately despite their often stunning beauty these hybridized varieties lack any smell and do not seem to attract very many bees or butterflies. Nonetheless I find them rather spectacular and they form an important part of my collection.