Blue Jacaranda

Binomial name: Jacaranda mimosifolia

We have several Jacarandas at Paradise Palms. They are among my favorites of what I think of as our exotic trees. Jacarandas are native to sub-tropical South America. But because of their beautiful foliage, they are cultivated almost everywhere in the world where there is no risk of frost. The tough, brown pods are often gathered and used in dried arrangements and to decorate Christmas trees.

For more information about Paradise Palms, click here.

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.

This is one of them:

Lychee Tree

Binomial name: Litchi chinensis

This tropical tree is native to southeastern China. Cultivation began in 1059 AD, but it is referred to in unofficial Chinese records as far back as 2000 BC.

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.

This is one of the palms:

Ivory Crownshaft Palm

Binomial name: Pinanga dicksonii

The Ivory Crownshaft is a clustering species of palm from southern India. It is a slender tree with pinnate leaves, golden to pale yellow crownshafts, and bright pink inflorescence. (The inflorescence is the complete flower head of a plant, including stems, stalks, bracts, and flowers.)

For more information about Paradise Palms, click here.

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.

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:

The Everglades Palm

Also known as: Paurtois Palm and Madeira Palm
Binomial name: Acoelorrhaphe wrightii

We have several large species in the Florida section of the park. I like them because (1) they are native to Florida, (2) they are a clustering plant, which makes me think of the jungle, and (3) they are a monotypic genus, which is pretty rare. (A monotypic genus is one with only a single species.)

The Everglades Palm is native to southern Florida, as I said, but it’s also native to Central America, Colombia, and the Bahamas.

The trunks are covered in fibrous matting. The petioles (leaf stems) are long and orange with sharp teeth along the edges. The leaves are palmate (fan-shaped). A distinctive feature of the Everglades Palm is the production of small green flowers that turn into pea-sized fruit. (Like you see below.)

The ripe fruit of an Everglades Palm

The fruit starts out orange and turns black when mature.

For more information about Paradise Palms, click here.

The conservancy that I’m developing in West Delray Beach, FL, is destined to be (if I have anything to say about it) one of the largest and best-curated palm tree collections in the world. It also features a growing collection of outdoor sculptures, a traditionally styled Japanese tea house, a Zen Garden, and a Yoga/Jiu Jitsu House in the shade of a little bamboo forest. Not to mention a stock of African cycads, dozens of other exotic plants and trees, and one of Florida’s highest “mountains” at nearly 20 feet!

This is one of the cycads: Dioon mejiae

Dioon mejiae is a species of cycad that is native to Honduras and Nicaragua. Its common name is palma teosinte, which means “sacred ear.” This is an ancient plant that can be traced back millions of years.

For more information about Paradise Palms, click here.

The conservancy that I’m developing in West Delray Beach, FL, is destined to be (if I have anything to say about it) one of the largest and best-curated palm tree collections in the world. It also features a growing collection of outdoor sculptures, a traditionally styled Japanese tea house, a Zen Garden, and a Yoga/Jiu Jitsu House in the shade of a little bamboo forest. Not to mention a stock of African cycads, dozens of other exotic plants and trees, and one of Florida’s highest “mountains” at nearly 20 feet!

This is one of those exotic plants:

Bird of Paradise

Also known as Crane Flower and Bird’s-Tongue Flower 

Binomial name: Strelitzia reginae

The Bird of Paradise is a perennial, native to South Africa, that is related to the banana. It is stunning, distinctive, and beautiful. It grows to over six feet, and is designed to support the weight of birds that stop to drink the nectar. It has become a common ornamental plant in places that feature a warm climate year-round, like here in South Florida. But with enough light, it can be grown indoors.

For more information about Paradise Palms, click here.

The conservancy that I’m developing in West Delray Beach, FL, is destined to be (if I have anything to say about it) one of the largest and best-curated palm tree collections in the world. It also features a growing collection of outdoor sculptures, a traditionally styled Japanese tea house, a Zen Garden, and a Yoga/Jiu Jitsu House in the shade of a little bamboo forest. Not to mention a stock of African cycads, dozens of other exotic plants and trees, and one of Florida’s highest “mountains” at nearly 20 feet!

But the main attraction is the collection of palm trees. Here’s one of them:

Betel Nut Palm

Also known as: areca palm, Indian nut, Pinang palm, and catechu
Binomial name: Areca catechu

The betel nut palm is a species of palm tree that is found in the tropical zones of Asia, Africa, and the Pacific Islands. It’s believed to have originated in the Philippines.

As you can see from the photo, it has orange seeds that grow below the leaves. It’s a handsome, medium-sized plant that grows slowly in the shade. Because of that, it’s used frequently for indoor landscaping.

We have more than a dozen in the park. Ours are still young. But because we get lots of sun and our plants get lots of nutrients, our specimens are already 20 to 30 feet. They will get to 60 feet when fully mature.

Interesting: These seeds and and the leaves contain alkaloids (arecaidine and arecoline) which, when chewed, are stimulants.

For more information about Paradise Palms, click here.

The conservancy that I’m developing in West Delray Beach, FL, is destined to be (if I have anything to say about it) one of the largest and best-curated palm tree collections in the world. It also features a growing collection of outdoor sculptures, a traditionally styled Japanese tea house, a Zen Garden, and a Yoga/Jiu Jitsu House in the shade of a little bamboo forest. Not to mention a stock of African cycads, dozens of other exotic plants and trees, and one of Florida’s highest “mountains” at nearly 20 feet!

Here’s a peek at one of those exotic trees:

Autograph Tree

Also known as: balsam apple, pitch-apple, copey, or Scotch attorney
Binomial name: Clusia rosea

The autograph tree is native to the Bahamas, Hispaniola, Cuba, Puerto Rico, and Florida. Unlike most other plants, it can absorb carbon dioxide during nighttime hours. It’s called the autograph tree because its leaves are so hard you can carve into them. In the West Indies, the leaves were used to make playing cards.

For more information about Paradise Palms, click here.

A peek inside my palm tree garden…

Situated on 10 acres in West Delray Beach, Florida, Paradise Palms & Sculpture Gardens has one of the largest and best-curated private palmetums in the world, as well as a stock of African cycads and dozens of other exotic botanicals.

Click here to see a Butterfly Palm (a.k.a. Areca Palm, Bamboo Palm, or Cane Palm) located on the west border of the park in the Cuba section.