Hong Kong is home a wide variety of trees and plant life. Among the common urbantree species in the city are numerous members of the ficus family, including Chinese Banyans (ficus macrocarpa), Big Leaved Fig (ficus virens), Indian Rubber Tree (ficus elastica), Common red-stem Fig (ficus variegate) and Opposite-leaved Fig (ficus hispida). There are plenty of fine examples of Camphor (cinnamomum camphora), Chinese Hackberry (celtis sinensis), Queen Crape Myrtle (lagerstroemia speciosa), White Jade Orchid (michelia alba), Chinese Fan (livistona chinensis) and Small Fishtail (caryota mitis) Palms and Horsetail (casuarina equisetifolia) and Northfolk Island (araucaria heterophylla) Pines, not to mention some obvious native species such as the Hong Kong Orchid tree (Bauhinia blakeana) and the Elephant’s Ear (macaranga tanarius var. tomentosa).
In this section, I will try to profile each type, show you how to recognise them and where to find the real thing in our lovely city. I am learning as I go, but join me in my journey to get to know the city’s trees and their individual personalities.
Urbantrees of the World 