Enter the Formal Lawn between the two stately Mast Trees.

Common name:    Tree Wisteria Botanical name:   Bolusanthus speciosus Family name:        Fabaceae Rhodesian Wisteria is a small evergreen tree from Central and South Africa.  In early spring it produces long, drooping racemes of bluish-purple flowers that resemble wisteria. Fruit pods that are enjoyed by native animals follow the flowers. Even out of bloom this tree is very attractive with delicate pinnate leaves that form a lacy upright canopy. Mature specimens develop a dark brown, deeply fissured bark. The wood is used to make furniture; the roots and inner bark are alleged to help gastrointestinal symptoms.

Common name:    Satake Palm Botanical name:   Satakentia liukiuensis Family name:         Palmaceae This palm  was named 'Satakentia Liukiuensis' in recognition of its original discovery and identification by Toshihiko Satake.  It comes from  Ishigaki Island and Iriomote Island, in the Okinawa Islands, Japan.  The leaves are like large feathers (pinnate). It likes a sunny, moist, well-drained position and is frost tolerant and slow growing. Internet reference

Common name:  Weeping Mast Tree Botanical name:  Polyalthia longifolia pendula Family name:      Annonaceae This tree is indigenous to India.  The column grows straight up with newer branches at the top and older ones at the bottom.  Without the branches it would look like a tall flag post, hence the name Mast Tree. There are two varieties of this tree. One has branches that grow straight up like the

Aranda hybrid

Common name:     Tea Olive Botanical name:    Osmanthus fragrans Family name:          Oleaceae (Olive family) Tea olive is native to Asia and has glossy evergreen leaves.  Small white flowers appear almost all year, especially autumn to spring. The fragrance is powerful, delicious, and memorable.   Tea olives make a nice hedge or screen in warm climates planted where the scent can be enjoyed. Internet reference

Common name:      Chinese Evergreen Botanical name:     Aglaonema `Jade Queen' Family name:          Araceae Aglaonema includes over 20 species of evergreen herbs from tropical Asia.  There is considerable natural leaf variation.  Jade Queen is a hybrid.  Aglaonema thrive mulched under trees.  Llamas, Kirsten A. 2003. Tropical Flowering Plants. Timber Press, Portland. Page 76.

Common name:    Bayur Tree Botanical name:   Pterospermum acerifolium Family name:         Sterculiaceae From India, this tree is grown for shade.  Its valuable wood is similar to oak and teak. In the spring large, white, finger-shaped flowers appear. Alberts & Merkel Brothers, Inc. donated this specimen. Internet reference

Common name:    Flax Lily Botanical name:    Dianella tasmanica `Variegata' Family name:          Liliaceae   The bold white striped leaves stand out in this evergreen perennial from Australia.   In the spring attractive blue berries follow small flowers.  It grows 2-3 feet tall and is drought resistent. Internet reference

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flowering occurs in the summer. The species name greenii comes from David Green, an amateur botanist who discovered this wonderful plant. An appropriate common name is “Wild Bush Petunia”. Internet reference

Located at the north end of the Formal Lawn is the following group of plants.

Common name:     King's Mantle Botanical name:    Thunbergia erecta Family name:          Acanthaceae Several of the best-known Thunbergia species are climbers, but this native of tropical Africa is a sprawling shrub, very useful in mixed beds or as a low hedge.  The tubular flowers are a rich blue-purple with a yellow throat.  Shaping it into a bushy shrub inhibits flowering. Internet reference

Common name:    Teddy Bear Palm Botanical name:     Dypsis leptocheilos Family name:          Arecaceae The fuzzy reddish crown shaft covered with velvety hairs gives this palm from Madagascar the common name, "Teddy Bear Palm".  The drooping feather shaped leaves (pinnate) give it a tropical look.  It does best sheltered from strong winds. Internet reference

Common name:    Copperleaf Botanical name:   Acalypha wilkesiana  `Raggedy Ann’ (`Razzle Dazzle’) Family name:        Agavaceae Copperleaf is native to Fiji and nearby islands in the South Pacific. It grows as a spreading evergreen shrub with upright branches that tend to originate near the base.  The flowers are small and inconspicuous but the leaves are outstanding for their color. `Razzle Dazzle’ is a new Australian cultivar with narrow, highly serrated, maroon leaves. Internet reference

This is a very beautiful, drought-resistant tree that is seldom seen and should be more widely used in our area. The Tree Wisteria and Satake Palm alternate along the east and west sides of the Formal Lawn. Internet reference

column.  The other has branches that grow downward covering most of the length of the trunk.  This latter variety is called pendula and is the one most preferred. Root extracts of this tree possess significant antibacterial activity. Internet reference Internet reference

Common name:   Variegated vanilla Botanical name:    Vanilla planifolia `Variegata' Family name:        Orchidaceae Variegated vanilla is a climbing orchid native to Mexico, Central America, the West Indies and northern South America.  It clings to trees, shrubs and rocks by its aerial roots, climbing to 50 feet or more.  Of the more than 35,000 species of orchids known, vanilla is the only member of its family which is used commercially as a food product. Internet reference

Mokara hybrid

Along the greenhouse wall on the east side of the lawn is a special gift from the Malasian Orchid Society in the fall of 2002, a display of Aranda andMokara orchids. These are mounted on lattices on each end of the greenhouse where they will get ample sunshine. With our similar climates, these beautiful plants are very much at home here.

Common name:     Purple Lace, Wild Bush Petunia, Green's Baleria Botanical name:    Barleria greenii Family name:          Acanthaceae Barleria greenii was officially named in 1984.  It is endemic to  KwaZulu Natal in South Africa where it is found in a small area of open rocks. The flowers are large and striking and produce a lot of nectar that attracts bumblebees.  Fragrance at night attracts hawk moths that are the pollinators.  Prolific

Common name:    Pagoda Flower, Glory Bower Botanical name:    Clerodendrum speciosissimum Family name:           Verbenaceae Spectacular clusters of brilliant orange-red flowers adorn this large perennial shrub that grows to six feet.  It cannot tolerate the cold and may die back to emerge again in the spring. Internet reference

Common name:    Christmas Palm Botanical name:    Veitchia merrillii, Adonidia merrillii Family name:          Arecaceae Native to the Phillipines, this palm's crownshaft supports about a dozen, arching, pinnate leaves.  It is a neat and small palm growing only to about 16 feet.  By autumn flowers are replaced by greenish-fruit that turn to brilliant red in time for Christmas. The Christmas Palm is susceptible to lethal yellowing, a fatal disease for which there is no effective cure.  Avoid planting this palm if that disease is in your area. Internet reference

Common name:     Guacamaya Vine Botanical name:     Juanulloa aurantiaca Family name:           Solanaceae J. aurantiaca is a solanaceous vining shrub from Central and South America. The bright orange flowers peek out from sprays of  the calyxes and attract hummigbirds. Blooming cycles continue for weeks. Internet reference