PlantsMap

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15 plants worth knowing

Colombia

Colombia is one of the most biologically diverse countries on Earth: three ranges of the Andes with high-altitude páramo, the humid Chocó forests on the Pacific – among the rainiest places on the planet – the savannas of the Llanos, the Amazon and the dry forests of the Caribbean coast. No country has more orchid species – over four thousand have been described here.

Hover over a plant to see on the map where it grows.

where it grows

plants in our catalogue; native and endemic according to WCVP (Kew) · source
  1. Quindío wax palm 1

    palm · National tree of Colombia

    native

    Quindío wax palm

    Ceroxylon quindiuense

    The world’s tallest palm – its slender trunks reach over 50 metres, soaring above the mist of the Andean valleys.
  2. Christmas orchid 2

    orchid · National flower of Colombia

    nativeendemic

    Christmas orchid

    Cattleya trianae

    A showy orchid with white-and-pink petals and a purple lip, chosen in 1936 as the national flower of the land of orchids.
  3. Arabica coffee 3

    crop

    cultivated

    Arabica coffee

    Coffea arabica

    Colombian arabica from the Andean slopes is one of the world’s best-known coffees – grown at altitudes of up to 2,000 m.
  4. Frailejón 4

    perennial

    nativeendemic

    Frailejón

    Espeletia grandiflora

    The fluffy “monk” of the Andean páramo grows about a centimetre a year and acts like a sponge that supplies millions of people with water.
  5. Guadua bamboo 5

    bamboo

    native

    Guadua bamboo

    Guadua angustifolia

    Colombia’s “vegetable steel” – a giant bamboo used for centuries to build houses, bridges and modern pavilions.
  6. Sugarcane 6

    crop

    cultivated

    Sugarcane

    Saccharum officinarum

    For centuries Colombians have boiled cane juice into panela – an unrefined sugar used to make aguapanela, an everyday drink.
  7. Cape gooseberry 7

    crop

    cultivated

    Cape gooseberry

    Physalis peruviana

    A golden berry hidden in a papery husk – Colombia is the largest exporter of uchuva, which travels from here to tables around the world.
  8. Carnation 8

    flower

    Carnation

    Dianthus caryophyllus

    Colombia is the world’s largest exporter of carnations – flowers from the Bogotá savanna fill florists’ shops in the USA, Europe and Japan.
  9. Flamingo lily 9

    flower

    native

    Flamingo lily

    Anthurium andraeanum

    Born in Colombia’s humid forests, its glossy heart-shaped spathe and yellow spadix made it one of the world’s most popular pot plants.
  10. Andean oak 10

    tree

    native

    Andean oak

    Quercus humboldtii

    South America’s only oak – Colombia’s Andean oak forests protect river sources, and the tree itself is protected by law.
  11. Banana 11

    crop

    cultivated

    Banana

    Musa acuminata

    Bananas from Urabá and Magdalena reach tables in Europe and the USA, while plantains fried as patacones are eaten all over the country.
  12. Avocado 12

    crop

    introduced or naturalised

    Avocado

    Persea americana

    Colombia has become one of the biggest avocado producers – slices of aguacate are added to almost every dish here.
  13. Naranjilla 13

    shrub

    native

    Naranjilla

    Solanum quitoense

    A fuzzy orange fruit with tangy green flesh – lulo juice is one of the most Colombian flavours of all.
  14. African oil palm 14

    palm

    cultivated

    African oil palm

    Elaeis guineensis

    The African oil palm that makes Colombia the largest palm oil producer in the Americas.
  15. Peach palm 15

    palm

    native

    Peach palm

    Bactris gasipaes

    A spiny palm whose boiled fruits, served with salt and honey, are sold by street vendors in Cali and all along the Pacific coast.