Seoul Street Pots

Seoul is an densely populated city full of skyscrapers without much ground for gardens, however small. But there are pots and trees everywhere - a desire for something growing and green despite the often concrete environment. This is a brief snapshot of everything I saw growing in Seoul end of October 2017.

chrysanthemums in front of the Gyeongbokgung Palace gate

I see two bees on these chrysanthemums

ornamental cabbage

the palace is quite a controlled environment but a cheeky smooth sow thistle has manged to self-seed along the wall

on the other side of the path, a bee on white clover

and an unknown shrub

and on the other side of the palace, with those black berries, this should be distinctive, will research

close-up of those purple and white flowers at the end

there's a moth or butterfly on these pink flowers which are enjoying the intense sun on Gwanghwamun Square

in additon to the intentional planting, of course, there are weeds

I don't know what this feathery plant is, and whether weed or welcome self-seeder

there's a small park near the Jogyesa Buddhist Temple where I noticed a few plants

many buildings have trees on the roof

building with trees on the roof

trees (typical pine trees) in front of buildings, wherever they can be fit into the urban landscape

I think this is an aster seedling

and another, although I see the leaves are a bit different

gallant soldier

a type of ivy?, I'm not sure

at first I thought this might be a pine tree seedling but looking at it more closely, I think those are seed pods

a couple of prickly sow thistle, I've seen a few of these in Seoul

I'm not sure what this white flower is

this was a common weed to me in my walks around Seoul, I'm not sure what it is, similar to nipplewort

chrysanthemum to the left with those distinctive leaves

oxalis, same the world over I guess

I was interested to see aloe leaves being sold like this.

perilla, chillis and other leaves for sale

 

Insa-Dong, Seoul, end of October

I saw a few plantings of agastache in Seoul.

most of the flowers are spent on this cleome, giving a good view of the seed pods

nightshade

miniature rose in a planter

nasturtium, dandelions, not sure what else

nasturtium, gallant soldier, dandelion, oxalis

I've seen a few marigolds in Seoul.

plants on roofs

salvia

this salvia looks like the one sold in the UK as "Hot Lips"

in the centre of Ssamziegil mall/market/shopping centre in Insa-Dong

I love the bulb-like artwork

I saw a few of this type of shrub in Seoul. It has distinctive flowers so I hope to be able to identify it after a bit of research. -update - just came across Mirabilis jalapa (August 2018) which seems to be a match

Most of the signs I saw in Seoul have Chinese, as well as Korean.

close-up of those flowers and fruits

the Poop Cafe in Ssamziegil has cacti and succulents on the windowsills, popular plants in Seoul

 

Sejong Village, Seoul, end of October

Tongin Market, typical Seoul view: traditional roof, pine trees, street pots, scooter

close-up of those plants on the far left, not sure what they are

Asters are a very popular flower for the pots and small public plantings in Seoul, presumably Aster koraiensis.

I didn't see many buddleja. I think this is the only example.

cleome

I think the purple flower is gentian

marigolds, agastache, others

I'm not sure what this white flower is.

pyracantha, not sure what the white flower is

there are lots of morning glory's  in Seoul

rosemary

cacti are popular in Seoul, indoors or out

unknown weeds in Sejong Village, Seoul, end of October

-update- wondering purslane for the one on the right?

typical weed scene the world over: a seed grasping a hold wherever it can, Sejong Village, Seoul, end of October

this is the largest close-up I can get, still don't know what it is

looking up towards Mt Inwangsan in the distance