Common name:     Yellow Trumpet Tree Botanical name:     Tabebuia caraiba, T. aurea Family name:           Bignoniaceae In the center island near the entrance to the Vaughn Focus Garden is the Yellow Trumpet Tree. Notoriously shallow roots make Tabebuias susceptible to wind damage. They need to be staked well.  In the spring, yellow trumpet-shaped flowers appear and the leaves may drop just before flowering.  Llamas, Kirsten A. 2003. Tropical Flowering Plants. Timber Press, Portland. Page 143.

This clustering palm from Brazil has clusters of fruit on stalks that resemble ears of corn or coconuts. Internet reference

Common name: Botanical name:     Begonia ‘Black Cauldron’ Family name:           Begoniaceae Another Begonia hybrid is located here and on the opposite (west) side.

Common name:     Van Houtt’s Brazilian Sage (Burgundy Form), Wine Sage Botanical name:     Salvia VanHouttii Family name:           Labiatae Salvias have become a tremendously popular group of plants in America over the past decade.  Of these, the Wine Sage is a very distinctive shrubby species with fabulous burgundy-red flowers that are set off by rich green foliage. Wine Sage blooms all year in South Florida, with the heaviest flush in late winter-spring. It provides  nectar for honeybees, butterflies, and hummingbirds.

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Common name:     Triangle Fig Tree Botanical name:     Ficus deltoidea, Ficus triangularis Family name:           Moraceae    Native to Asia and the Philippines, Triangle Fig Tree is notable for its dark green, thick, leathery, triangular shaped leaves.  In nature it may grow as an epiphytic shrub on a large tree, giving it a common name, mistletoe fig.  It is a large shrub or small tree and can be cultivated as a houseplant for its attractive foliage.  Pollination in the genus Ficus is unique. Each Ficus species has an associated wasp. Only the associated wasp can pollinate that species and, in turn, that wasp can only lay eggs in the associated Ficus fruit. Internet reference

Common name:    Bird's Nest Fern Botanical name:    Asplenium nidus Family name:         Aspleniaceae All of this fern's fronds grow from a central area and may reach 4 feet in length and 8 inches in width. They have a prominent dark midrib.  A. nidus is indigenous to Hawaii, other parts of Polynesia, and to areas as far west as Africa. These ferns grow either terrestrially (on the ground) or epiphytically (in trees or on rocks). Internet reference

Common name:    Bloodleaf, Chicken Gizzard Botanical name:    Iresine herbstii var. Aureo-Reticulata (Aureoreticulata) Family name:         Amaranthaceae From South America, this Iresine variety has striped green and white foliage with notched leaf tips.  Note the red stems and petioles. Internet reference

Common name:     Date Palm Botanical name:     Phoenix hybrid Family name:           Arecaceae Phoenix is a small palm genus of about 17 plus species of the Old World.  The form varies widely but all have pinnate leaves most of which have thorns.  Male and female flowers are on separate plants; both sexes are needed for the female to set fruit.  Phoenix species readily hybridize with each other giving rise to plants of mixed parentage. Riffle, Robert L. 1999. The Tropical Look. Timber Press, Portland. Page 273.

A clump of ferns near the Seasore Palm include a Polypody Fern, the Japanese Holly Fern (Cyrtomium falcatum), on the left, described in the Jungle Garden, and Bear's Paw, previously described in the Florida Native Garden on the boardwalk.

To the right of Golden Penda is a striking Aranda hybrid on a tree stump.

Common name:     Golden Penda Botanical name:     Xanthostemon chrysanthus Family name:           Myrtaceae Near the Vaughn Garden Pool is Golden Penda, a medium sized rainforest tree from Australia.   The leaves are glossy green and the flowers near the ends of the branches are bright yellow.  Flowering occurs in summer and autumn. It responds well to pruning and may be kept to large shrub proportions if pruned annually. Internet reference

Common name:      Umbrella Palm Botanical name:     Cyperus alternifolius Family name:           Cyperaceae Native to the swamps of Madagascar, the evergreen Umbrella Palm does best in moist soil.  The slender stems grow to 5 feet. On top are many drooping bracts radiating like the spokes of an umbrella. It is a relative of C. papyrus, the Egyptian paper reed of the Nile River. Riffle, Robert L. 1999. The Tropical Look. Timber Press, Portland. Page 138.

After conducting business in a Harvard University Museum for 60 years the AOS needed a new home. The Vaughns donated their six acre estate  in West Palm Beach, Florida to the AOS where the AOS moved in 1984.  Sale of this property allowed the AOS to break ground for its current home in Delray Beach, Florida in September 1999. The South Florida Orchid Society donated this plaque describing the contributions of these orchid pioneers, Lewis and Varina Vaughn, and Winona Jordan, Varina’s sister.   Lewis

Common name: Botanical name:     Dracaena reflexa 'Honoriae' Family name:           Agavaceae This Dracaena has colorful white leaf margins.

Common name:     Wine Leaf Banana Botanical name:     Musa'Red Iholene' Family name:           Musaceae Wine Leaf Banana is an edible banana hybrid from Hawaii with reddish coloration to the undersides of leaves and leaf petioles. John Murawski donated this specimen. Internet reference

Phalaenopsis Hybrid (pink)

Nobile Dendrobium (white)

When given full sun and moist, well-drained soil, it will quickly reach a height of 6 feet or more.  It is desirable to prune it back hard annually to keep it compact. – Darrin Duling

Common name:      Scarlet Leadwort, Whorled Plantain Botanical name:     Plumbago indica Family name:           Plumbaginaceae Plumbago consists of about 20 species of herbs or subshrubs native to the tropical regions of the world. The name is derived from the Latin plumbum, lead, and the reason for this naming is obscure. P. indica, a native of South Asia, has thin stems that tend to climb, growing to a height of up to 6 feet. The leaves are oval-shaped, hairless, mid to deep green, and up to 4 inches long. The tubular red flowers occur mostly in the winter and are borne in 4 to 12 inch long terminal recemes.

A group of nobile type Dendrobium and Phalaenopsis hybrids are mounted on the Triangle Fig.

Common name:     Seashore Palm Botanical name:    Allagoptera arenaria Family name:          Arecaceae

Dendrobium Yellow Magic  'Festival'

Phalaenopsis Hybrid (white, red lip)

Common name:     Rattle Box, Scarlet Wisteria Tree Botanical name:    Sesbania punicea Family name:          Fabaceae Native to Brazil, Argentina, and Uraguay, S. punicea has evenly pinnate leaves. The flowers are a brilliant orangey-scarlet and are borne on drooping racemes. The seedpods have four 'wings'. When mature, the seeds loosen and rattle within the pod - hence the name "Rattle Box".  In natural wetland areas this tree can be difficult to control. It has been naturalized in central and northern Florida. Internet reference

Common name:    Variegated Pineapple Botanical name:    Ananas comosus  var. variegatus Family name:         Bromeliaceae Ornamental pineapples are large plants with leaves that can reach three to five feet long. They require strong light, rich soil, regular feeding and plenty of moisture. The plants have dense rosettes of spiny leaves from which the flower develops to produce a typical pinecone-shaped fruit. Pineapples can be propagated from pups at the base of the plant or by planting the topknot of the fruit.  Internet reference

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Common name:      The Match Stick Plant Family name:           Aechmea gamosepala Family name:            Bromeliaceae This bromeliad species is located at the head of the Vaughn pool and likes to grow on rocks.  The very striking long-lasting individual purplish-blue flowers protrude from the numerous large pink bracts and are displayed high above the contrasting foliage. Its country of origin is Brazil. Internet reference

Common name:     Queen Emma’s Lily Botanical name:     Crinum augustum 'Queen Emma' Family name:           Amaryllidaceae The royal purple and white Queen Emma Lily was named after Queen Emma Liliuokalani, the last reigning monarch of Hawaii. Internet reference

The Delray Orchid Society generously donated  the paving of the circular walkway in this area.

The corolla tubes are 1 inch long. Like Wild Plumbago, the roots contain plumbagin, a chemical (naphthoquinone) that has antimicrobial activity. Internet reference

Common name:     Black Taro Botanical name:     Alocasia plumbea nigra Family name:          Araceae Alocasias come from tropical Asia and have colorful, large heart-shaped or arrow-shaped leaves.  All have inflorescences consisting of a spathe and spandex.  The pictured variety has almost black leaves and grows in bogs. Riffle, Robert L. 1999. The Tropical Look. Timber Press, Portland. Page 39. Internet reference

Common name:  White Shrimp Plant, Squirrel's Tail Botanical name: Justicia betonica Family name:       Acanthaceae This evergreen shrub from the tropics blooms most of the year.  Small pink flowers arise from white bracts that have dark green veins.  It is a hardy shrub that should be pruned to keep its shape. Internet reference

Common name:     Seashore Palm Botanical name:   Allagoptera arenaria Family name:          Arecaceae

Vaughn was the 11th president of the AOS.  The Vaughn Focus Garden is rightfully dedicated to the Society’s greatest benefactors.

Around the Vaughn pool and scattered elsewhere is the ground orchid (garden orchid), Spathoglottis. Colors are purple, yellow and white.  Pictured here is a purple variety of Spathoglottis plicata.These are hardy terrestrial orchids suitable for use in landscaping in South Florida.   Internet reference

A hedge of the Lady Palm is located here.  The description appears for the specimen in the Jungle Garden adjacent to the greenhouse.

In the center island are clumps of the Bamboo Orchid, Sobralia decora. This species is native to Central America and has bamboo-like canes.  When the clump is large and tall enough, cattleya-like flowers are produced that last only a day or so but many blossoms are produced over several weeks. Another clump is described in the Jungle Garden. Internet reference