Palm House Plant Life
Asia | Africa | Europe | Australasia | The Americas
American Plants
Plants from North, Central and South America can be found in this border. It is dominated by two specimens of the Washington Palm, Washingtonia robusta, from the deserts of California. On the left-hand end can be seen a display of cacti and succulents, also from the arid regions of the continent, including Agaves, which are now cultivated outside in many warm, dry regions of the world.
A very attractive shrub which grows in this bed is the Powder-Puff Plant, Calliandra haematocephala, so-called because of the shape of its striking red flowers.
Climbing overhead on the left side of the Americas Border is Passiflora quadrangularis, a very large Passion Plant with impressive purple flowers. The edible fruit sometimes falls to the floor.
A prominent feature of the native flora of Central and South America are the Bromeliads, many of which grow epiphytically on tree trunks and branches. Some are popularly called 'Urn plants' because they contain a central pool of water, in which tree frogs and insects naturally breed. Several specimens of Bromeliad can be seen in this border. The familiar Pineapple is the fruit of one species.
See more botanical ilustrations in the Palm House Collectables
- Agave spp.
- Bougainvillea glabra
- Bromeliads
- Brugmansia arborea
- Caliandra haematocephala
- Carludovica palmata
- Cacti incl. Cereus
- Clusia flava
- Eupatorium sordidum
- Jacaranda
- Jacobinia carnea
- Malvaviscus
- Passiflora quadrangularis
- Plumeria rubra
- Washingtonia filifera
- Yucca specimens
Watercolour thought to be by Margaret Meen (1770-1820)
species in bold print were used in the original planting
