Non-Native Plants

Clivia  Miniata. These striking perennials are native to South Africa. With  their lush, dark green foliage and clusters of brilliant, trumpet-shaped  flowers, Clivias are true showstoppers. The vibrant orange, yellow, and  red blossoms make a stunning contrast against their glossy leaves,  creating a spectacle that's impossible to ignore.  Hundreds of such flowering displays are in the Gardens.

Glen Brown of Hawthorne, Florida, collected and propagated cacti from around the world,  creating the most extensive collection in the southeastern United  States. His daughters have donated the collection to Cedar Lakes Woods  and Gardens.  The collection is housed in a specially designed greenhouse with soil layering to mimic natural habitat.  Soil moisture is constantly monitored.

Sometimes, non-native plants provide necessary habitat for native animals,  such as the depicted native Florida green tree frog nestled in a non-native bromiliad plant.   The Florida landscape is changing as development moves in and native plants get pushed out.  To  make up for lost habitat, people erect bat houses, wood duck houses, and plant non-native flowers to attract native pollinators.