A Journey Around the World in 20 Plants: Oceania and America

Travel through our planet's world of plants without stepping foot outside of Madrid's Royal Botanic Garden.

Royal Botanic Gardens (RJB-CSIC)

Carolina pepperRoyal Botanic Gardens (RJB-CSIC)

The Royal Botanic Garden in Madrid (RJB-CSIC) is home to a diverse collection of cultivated plants from every continent in the world. Join us as we go on a journey around the world, looking at plants from Oceania and America.

Mimosa acaciaRoyal Botanic Gardens (RJB-CSIC)

Mimosa / Acacia dealbata

The next stop is Australia and Tasmania, where this shrub is found—all without leaving the Royal Botanic Garden in Madrid. But look out: this plant is listed in the Spanish Catalogue of Invasive Alien Species (Catálogo de Especies Exóticas Invasoras).

Red swabRoyal Botanic Gardens (RJB-CSIC)

Cliff bottlebrush / Callistemon comboynensis

This shrub originated from southeastern Australia and is also known as red bottlebrush. It has an intense red color and its flowers are grouped in spikes. It is a revered ornamental plant.

Carolina pepperRoyal Botanic Gardens (RJB-CSIC)

Carolina allspice / Calycanthus floridus

Crossing from Virginia to Carolina in the United States, we find this deciduous shrub whose flowers resemble the shape and sweet scent of magnolias. When crushed, its leaves smell like camphor.

Virginia jasmineRoyal Botanic Gardens (RJB-CSIC)

Trumpet vine / Campsis radicans

This plant is also called the trumpet creeper, because it is a woody, clinging vine native to the southeast of the United States. It is very popular in that region, but is considered an invasive plant in many other countries.

Dog LaurelRoyal Botanic Gardens (RJB-CSIC)

Highland doghobble / Leucothoe fontanesiana

Native to the southeast of the United States, this plant is also known as mountain doghobble because it grows in mountainous forest regions in that area. It also goes by the name drooping laurel, but has nothing to do with the aromatic laurel tree, though its leaves are very similar. It is an ornamental plant.

Orange-tree MexicoRoyal Botanic Gardens (RJB-CSIC)

Mexican orange / Choisya ternata

Originating from Mexico and Central America, this plant is also called Mexican orange blossom. Its white, five-petal flowers have a strong scent. This plant is highly resistant to pollution.

Pope JasmineRoyal Botanic Gardens (RJB-CSIC)

Hardy fuchsia / Fuchsia magellanica

In southern Argentina and Chile, this plant grows in the undergrowth and is also called queen's earrings or aljaba, meaning quiver (because of its shape). Its berries are edible and it is grown in many countries around the world.

HuinganRoyal Botanic Gardens (RJB-CSIC)

Chilean pepper tree / Schinus polygama

This shrub is very widespread and can be found throughout Argentina and Chile, as well as Peru, Bolivia, and Uruguay. It grows in dry, arid soil and its edible fruit is used to make aguardiente (a liquor), as well as having medicinal uses, such as disinfecting wounds and treating hazy vision.

Japanese azaleaRoyal Botanic Gardens (RJB-CSIC)

If you haven't already done so, continue your journey …

Complete your journey around the world in 20 plants in this article, where you'll find species from Europe, Africa, and Asia.

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