inside Paradise Palms…

The conservancy that I’m developing in West Delray Beach, FL, has one of the largest and best-curated palm tree collections in the world, as well as a growing collection of outdoor sculptures, a traditionally styled Japanese tea house, a stock of African cycads, and dozens of other exotic plants and trees.

Here’s one of the palms:

A young “red” Highland Betel Nut Palm

Binomial name: Areca macrocalyx

This species is found in New Guinea, Maluku, and Solomon Island rainforests. It is sometimes referred to as a dwarf palm as it only grows to 12 feet. In the “red” variety (which is considered rare), the crown shaft turns bright red as it grows. Its nut is similar to those of other betel nut species, and is used as a stimulant.

For more information about Paradise Palms, click here.