QUINTESSENCE
Insights into signature aspects of the world’s most spectacular places
You expect certain things when entering the walls of UNESCO World Heritage Cartagena de Indias for the first time: cobbled alleys, massive fortifications, Spanish colonial architecture and Caribbean flavors. And it certainly has all that … and then some. But what struck us more than anything was its striking array of vine-based flowers climbing seemingly over every wall, tree and stately facade.
Here are three ubiquitous flower varieties to be on the lookout for.
Bougainvillea
The small flowers of this see-it-everywhere climbing plant are generally white, each cluster of three surrounded by three or six bright, paper-thin petals in a range of colors: magenta, purple, red, orange, white and yellow.
Morning Glory
True beauties, Morning Glories have funnel- or cone-shaped blossoms in white, red, blue, purple and yellow. Each leaf — having a similar paper-thin consistency as Bougainvillea — has a heart-shaped profile.
Hibiscus
Hibiscus flowers stand out for their large size. They are large and trumpet shaped with five or more petals. Colors come in a range of hues: white, pink, purple, red, orange, peach and yellow.
