Seasons: Monsoon

Blue butterfly pea — a light climber that fixes nitrogen and makes blue tea.

Passion flower — intricate blooms and the host plant of tawny coster butterflies.

Host plant for tiger butterflies — plant one and the caterpillars arrive.

A relentless nectar plant — and an invasive that must be kept in a pot.

Flat clusters of small stars that butterflies can actually land on.

Yellow chandeliers in May, when the city most needs something to look at.

The flame tree of Indian summers; fast, spectacular and shallow-rooted.

Orchid-like flowers in February, and buds that go into the north-Indian kitchen.

Huge red cups in February that feed every bird in the neighbourhood at once.

A fast native shade tree with scented ball flowers and city birds in it.