Garden spider-flower (Cleoserrata speciosa), San Jose
Costa Rica's rich biodiversity also includes trees, plants and wildflowers. Although not a main focus on this trip, I took some photos of trees and plants, and rainforest vegetation from the different regions of the country I visited. Some are displayed on this page. The garden at Hotel Bougainvillea in San Jose offered a chance to get images of the local flora. The 10 acres of botanical garden display a variety of tropical plants found in Costa Rica, including heliconias, bromeliads, orchids, and trees.
This page also includes images of plants seen in Tortuguero National Park at the Caribbean Sea, from the Caribbean lowland (around Tirimbina Lodge near Sarapiqui and Maquenque Ecolodge in Boca Tapada), bordering higher altitude (Arenal area), mid-altitude cloud forest (Monteverde), and on the Pacific Coast (around Cerro Lodge).
I have tried to ID the trees and plants, but some of them are almost certainly wrongly named. So keep that in mind. Corrections are welcomed.
Maybe Brazil's White Angel Trumpet (Brugmansia suaveolens), San Jose
Maybe Brazil's White Angel Trumpet, San Jose
Bougainvillea sp., the plant giving name to the hotel
A partly collapsed Peace Lily (Spathiphyllum wallisii), San Jose
Hanging Lobster Claw (Heliconia rostrata), San Jose
Guarianthe skinneri, an orchid, and the national flower of Costa Rica. Called Purple Country Girl or Guaria Morada in Spanish, San Jose
Most likely a Trumpet Tree (Cecropia sp.), San Jose
Bromeliad species, maybe a Guzmania lingulata, San Jose
Blushing Bromeliad (Neoregelia carolinae), San Jose. Native to Brazil and typically grown as a houseplant
Probably Bulbine frutescens, San Jose. In case, a non-Costa-rican species
The orchid Fringe-Lipped Dendrobium (Dendrobium fimbriatum), San Jose
Fringe-Lipped Dendrobium, San Jose
Probably Hortensia (Hydrangea macrophylla), San Jose
Probably Giant Crinum Lily (Crinum asiaticum), San Jose
Red Ginger (Alpinia purpurata), San Jose
Maybe the fruits of the Milky Way Tree (Tabernaemontana litoralis), San Jose
Acalypha hispida, the Chenille Plant, San Jose
A thorny tree, maybe the Pachote Tree (Pachira quinata), San Jose
Duckweed (Lemna sp.), San Jose
Maybe Dotleaf Waterlily (Nymphaea ampla), San Jose
Prickly Pear Cactus (Opuntia sp.), San Jose
Prickly Pear Cactus (Opuntia sp.), San Jose
Flame Vine (Pyrostegia venusta), San Jose
Flame Vine (orange). Native to Brazil–Argentina, cultivated in many tropical and subtropical areas worldwide
Blue Ginger (Dichorisandra thyrsiflora), San Jose
African Arrowroot (Canna indica), San Jose
Probably Pink Poui (Tabebuia rosea), San Jose
Pink Poui, San Jose
Maybe the Singapore Graveyard Flower (Plumeria obtusa), San Jose
Tufted Air Plant bromeliad, maybe Guzmania sp.? San Jose
Red Hot Poker Tree (Erythrina abyssinica), San Jose
Maybe Expanded Lobsterclaw (Heliconia latispatha)? San Jose
Golden Plume, maybe Schaueria calicotricha, San Jose
Maybe a Talipariti elatum, San Jose
Maybe the Provision Tree (Pachira aquatica)? San Jose
Chinese-lantern (Abutilon pictum), San Jose
Shaving-brush-tree (Pseudobombax ellipticum), San Jose
Interesting form! Shaving-brush-tree, San Jose
Maybe Mexican Bluebell (Ruellia simplex), San Jose
Bromeliad plant, San Jose
Rainforest vegetation pattern, Tortuguero
Torch Ginger (Etlingera elatior), Guapiles. Native to Southeast Asia
Rainforest in Tortuguero National Park
Buttress root of a big tree in the Tortuguero National Park rainforest
Rainforest trees, Tortuguero National Park
Water Hyacinth (Eichhornia crassipes), Tortuguero National Park
Could be a Calathea Plant (Calathea warscewiczii), Tortuguero National Park
Trumpet Tree (Cecropia obtusifolia)? With a Palm Tanager, Tortuguero National Park
Heliconia species, maybe Heliconia wagneriana? Tortuguero
Red Ginger (Alpinia purpurata), Tortuguero. Native to Malaysia
Banana, Tortuguero
Hanging Lobster Claw (Heliconia rostrata), Tortuguero
Opened coconut
A fern and a bromeliad? Tortuguero National Park
According to the guide, a Morning Glory, probably Asystasia gangetica, Tortuguero National Park
Canal vegetation, Tortuguero National Park
A bromeliad, maybe Aechmea nudicaulis, Tortuguero National Park
A vine in Tortuguero National Park
Calyptrogyne ghiesbreghtiana, commonly called the Coligallo Palm (I think), Tortuguero
Maybe Sunset Bells (Chrysothemis pulchella), Tortuguero
Carambola, or Star Fruit, is the fruit of Averrhoa carambola, Tortuguero
Could be the Star of Bethlehem (Hippobroma longiflora), Tortuguero
A climbing vine in Tirimbina Nature Reserve
Maybe Hawaiian Wood-rose (Merremia tuberosa), Tirimbina Nature Reserves
Powder-puff Plant (Calliandra sp.)? Tirimbina Nature Reserve
Tirimbina Nature Reserve
Maybe Aphelandra scabra, Tirimbina Nature Reserves
Fabaceae species, Tirimbina Nature Reserves
Tree Orchid, Selva Verde Nature Reserve
Shaving Brush Tree (Pseudobombax ellipticum), Tortuguero
A Scarlet-rumped Tanager in a Powder-puff Plant, Maquenque Ecol
Water Snowflake (Nymphoides indica), Maquenque Ecolodge
Primrose-willow, Water-purslane, Water-primrose (Ludwigia sedioides), Maquenque Ecolodge
Ferns and bromeliads, Maquenque Ecolodge
King Kong Heliconia (Heliconia vellerigera), La Fortuna
Orchid, could be another Guarianthe skinneri, La Fortuna
Air plant bromeliad (Tilandsia sp.), Caño Negro
Maybe Brazilian Red-cloak (Megaskepasma erythrochlamys), La Fortuna
Maybe Singapore Gold (Sanchezia nobilis), La Fortuna
Could be the flower of the Pachote Tree (Pachira quinata), Caño Negro
No idea, really, Pl@antNet suggests Couroupita nicaraguensis. Caño Negro
Maybe the palm Attalea rostrata, Caño Negro
Hummingbird Bush (Hamelia patens), La Fortuna
Bromeliad air plants in Caño Negro
Bamboo Orchid (Arundina graminifolia), Maquenque Ecolodge
Bamboo Orchid (Arundina graminifolia), La Fortuna
Cream Garland-lily (Hedychium flavescens), a non-native species, La Fortuna
A Bananaquit feeding on a Blue Porterweed (Stachytarpheta jamaicensis), La Fortuna
Maybe Bronze-leaved Clerodendrum (Clerodendrum quadriloculare). In case, a non-native species, La Fortuna
Coral Porterweed (Stachytarpheta mutabilis), La Fortuna
Lollipop Plant (Pachystachys lutea), La Fortuna
Sore-mouth Bush (Psychotria poeppigiana). La Fortuna. The common name of this flower is Hot Lips / Hooker's Lips, or even more vulgar names ...
Maybe Parakeet Flower (Heliconia psittacorum), La Fortuna
Heliconia species (Heliconia sp.), La Fortuna
Coffee (Cofea arabica), La Fortuna
Strangler Fig (Ficus sp.), Monteverde Cloud Forest
Tree Fern (family Cyatheaceae), Monteverde Cloud Forest
Wet vegetation, Monteverde Cloud Forest
Ferns. With about 2500 plant species in the Monteverde Cloud Forest, it is hard to correctly name them!
Mushroom, Monteverde Cloud Forest
Drymonia conchocalyx, Monteverde Cloud Forest
Lichen in Monteverde Cloud Forest
A bromeliad in the Monteverde Cloud Forest
Tufted Airplant (Guzmania nicaraguensis), A bromeliad in the Monteverde Cloud Forest
A Trumpet Tree (Cecropia sp.), Monteverde Cloud Forest
Pepper (Piper sp.), Monteverde Cloud Forest
Maybe a Boraginaceae, or perhaps a Ruellia sp. (no idea, really), Cerro Lodge
Peacock Flower (Caesalpinia pulcherrima), Cerro Lodge
Unknown plant, Cerro Lodge Entrance Road
An escapee, the Hibiscus flower (Hibiscus rosa-sinensis), Cerro Lodge Entrance Road
Maybe Poui (Handroanthus sp.), Cerro Lodge
Maybe Gumbo-Limbo (Bursera simaruba), Cerro Lodge Entrance Road
Coconut Palm (Cocos nucifera), Cerro Lodge Entrance Road
Pl@ntNet suggests Ixora coccinea, Cerro Lodge