Rainforest Plants

Rainforest Plants
The rainforest doesn’t cover a lot of surface area of the earth (less than 2%).  However, the rainforest contains around 2/3rds of all living plants on the earth. 

The plant life is so dense that almost no light ever reaches the ground.  This makes it very competitive to get up to the upper canopy.  For this reason, about 90% of all vines came from the rainforest.

Epiphytes
Epiphytes are plants that grow on other plants.  Many rainforest plants do not make it down to the soil level.  Floating seeds may land on branches of other plants and so many plants grow on branches of other plants. Plant roots can actually get nutrition from the air.

Landscaping Rainforest Plants
Some of the most popular rainforest plants available at the nursery are orchids, passion flower vines, ferns, bamboo, and banana plants.

Orchids
There are so many beautiful orchids that originated in the rainforest.  You can get almost any color you desire. 

Passion Flower Vines
The purple passion flower produces a delicious fruit and the flowers are spectacular.  There is no other flower quite like them. 

Ferns
Ferns are great groundcover for your landscape.  You can even plant certain types of ferns in drier areas. 

Bamboo
Bamboo makes a great privacy screen.  Clumping bamboo is easier to contain.  In Las Vegas, the Bellagio  has a brilliant display of clumping bamboo.  It is planted in the water and the water fogs up to give you a mystical experience.  The display is in the conservatory.

Banana Plants
Many people like to plant the mini banana plants.  They create cute bunches that children love.