The Abatia parviflora is the only native species of its genus found in Colombia and can be observed as a street tree in Bogotá. It thrives between elevations of 6,500 to 11,000 feet. The tree's yellow-flowered terminal racemes are a magnet for bees. Photographed in the eastern Andes mountain range of Colombia (Cordillera Oriental)

Colombia boasts a remarkable diversity of plant species, with over 130,000 different types and a higher number of endemic species than any other country. Every nature trip is a discovery of new, beautiful flowers. Even with the abundance of beautiful plants native to Colombia, surprisingly the most popular plants cultivated in gardens are imported ornamental plants. While almost all of Colombia is either tropical or sub-tropical terrain many tropical and sub-tropical plants will have a limited elevation range where they can thrive in Colombia. This is due to the constant year-round temperature range at any given elevation. For instance, an area at an elevation of 5,000 feet will maintain a temperature range with a high of around 80°F and a low of around 60°F throughout the year. Plants that need more heat or cold may not germinate or flower at this elevation.

This tree is the first of over 1,300 species photographed in Colombia. The plants are listed in alphabetical order by family, genus, or species depending on the closest identification determined. The site map on our website provides a comprehensive listing of all the plants.