This environment reflects lowland tropical forests, where temperatures range from the 60s at night to the 80s during the day and humidity is 70–80%. Among the plants found here are unusual palms, aroids, ant plants, and orchids. Notable species include the rare Osa pulchra, Brownea macrophylla, cacao (Theobroma cacao), and the cannonball tree (Couroupita guianensis)
Cool, misty mountain slopes in the tropics at elevations between 2,600 and 11,000 feet (800–3,500 meters) are often the setting for cloud forests, where temperatures range from 50s at night and 70s during the day, with humidity of 70–80%. Trees in this habitat are frequently covered in epiphytic plants like orchids, ferns, and bromeliads. This section of the Conservatory also features aroids, cycads, and some notable trees, including the only oak that is found south of the Equator (Quercus humboltii).
This habitat is home to some of The Huntington’s most unusual American plants. In addition to Venus flytraps, American pitcher plants, sundews, butterworts, and bladderworts from the coastal bogs of the Carolinas, Georgia, and Florida, a special display features California pitcher plants (Darlingtonia californica). Other plants include bog orchids, Mexican liquidambar, cypress, and sassafras.
Many plant families include carnivorous members. The ability of some plants to consume animal tissue is an adaptation to the nutrient-poor habitats where they evolved—generally bogs, swamps, and other wetland areas. By trapping and digesting small prey, primarily invertebrates, carnivorous plants obtain nitrogen and other nutrients. Photo by Sandy Masuo.
The Plant Lab offers an engaging, hands-on introduction to botany, including opportunities to learn about different plant parts and how adaptations help plants survive.
The Huntington’s diverse tropical collections continue to support scientific research, engage visitors, and foster sharing with other botanical gardens. Propagating and distributing rare tropical plants help ensure their survival in cultivation. Conservation horticulture, an informal global cooperative, is distinct from efforts to save plants in the wild.
The ownership history of a valued item is generally associated with works of art. Plant provenance is more challenging since live plants cannot be permanently labeled. Provenance generally refers to the source or chain of sources from which the Huntington acquired a plant. If the natural habitat of a plant is known, it also refers to information about when, where, and by whom the plant was collected. Provenance is a type of authentication that can make a plant more valuable for research, conservation, education, and exchange.
