Tropical plants and flora hot business in Bali

Tri Vivi Suryani, Contributor, Denpasar

Green leaves and colorful flowers are inseparable from the lives of most Balinese Hindus. For every religious occasion, they create intricate flower designs arranged with fresh coconut leaves as part of their banten (offerings) to God, ancestors' spirits and deities -- who they believe are protectors of the Universe.

Just visit a Balinese family and you will find beautiful frangipani (plumeria), locally known as jepun jawa -- plants with diverse colors: white, yellow, orange, red and pink. It is a must-have plant for each household.

Heliconia, adenium desert roses, and bougainvillea are commonly found in the gardens and yards of the locals. Water lilies and lotus are placed in the ponds of each Balinese house.

Formerly "home" plants, a number of them, such as adenium, lotus, water lilies and heliconia have become hot commodities in Bali.

Thomas, owner of the Melly Flower shop in Tanjungbungkak in Denpasar, said that among the favorites were adenium. Originating from African desserts, the flowers have many species and colors. The most common color is a combination of white and pink.

"We are growing new species of adenium with more varied colors from purple, yellow to blue," said Thomas.

In the past, he sold a vase of adenium for only Rp 60,000. "Now, it costs between Rp 600,000 and Rp 1 million," Thomas said.

In his shop, Thomas offers various tropical plants and flowers such as heliconia, orchids and other indoor and outdoor plants such as Anthurium and bromelia.

"The tropical plant business is very promising. Our clients are offices, hotels and restaurants which need various indoor plants as decorations," he said.

During peak seasons, his customers also include foreign visitors who look for unique tropical plants like orchids, palm trees, heliconia, foliages and frangipani trees.

Flower shops and nurseries are now mushrooming in Bali. Dozens of nurseries in the Renon and Sanur areas in Denpasar are selling hundreds of exotic tropical plants and animals.

They also sell a range of terracotta and limestone pottery and other garden accessories including garden lamps and statues.

Junaidi, owner of Bonsai Indah Nursery, agreed the beautiful exotic plants had attracted foreign buyers.

"Foreigners visiting my nursery pick up some of the most beautiful bonsai," said Junaidi. Bonsai are dwarf plants usually banyan trees, palms and bamboo.

His foreign customers mostly come from Japan, Germany and Australia. "They like banyan bonsai, which is very aesthetic and unique," Junaidi explained.

Junaidi said he has a vast collection of bonsai plants. "I go as far as Nusa Penida Island, East and Central Java to expand my collection," he added.

The prices for bonsai trees range from Rp 200,000 to Rp 25 million per plant.

"Business would be sluggish if I rely only on selling bonsai trees, so I diversify the plants," Junaidi said.

He also offers a large variety of roses, orchids, chrysanthemums, lotus and water lilies.

Junaidi sees bright prospects for the horticulture business. "A lot of hotels, restaurants, offices and other public facilities prefer to rent indoor and outdoor plants from local nurseries rather than growing their own."

If they rent the plants, they can easily change their landscape gardens or interiors by placing different ornamental plantations every two weeks.

"It is the simplest way for the owners of the properties to create a new atmosphere without having to worry about maintenance of their gardens and interior spaces," he maintained.

The growing number of hotels, resorts and office buildings in Denpasar and other parts of Bali is raising hopes for fledging flower businesses in the future.