High on hibiscus

Deena Motiwalla's garden in Jumeirah has over 20 varieties of the plant

The bright red hibiscus flowers are a fairly common sight in most gardens in the UAE; but to see these flowers in all their glory one must visit Deena Motiwalla's garden in Jumeirah. The passionate plant lover has over 20 varieties of hibiscus thriving in her care.

Some of the plants bear simple flowers with five fully open petals and the classic long style with easily discernible bright yellow stamens. In others the petals overlap while many other varieties have two or more whorls of petals.

Looking very different are the downturned, barely open flowers of another variety. Right beside these is a tree with long thin flowers pointing straight at the sky.