Key West Tropical Forest & Botanical Garden

The Key West Tropical Forest & Botanical Garden 11 acres (4.5 hectares) is a frost-free arboretum and botanical garden containing a collection of trees, shrubs, and palms, including several "champion tree" specimens. It is located at 5210 College Road, on Stock Island in Key West, Florida, USA. It is open daily. There is a nominal fee for admission, with free admission for locals on the first Sunday of every month.

The Garden includes seven trees that are either champions or challengers, and one with an honorable mention. (Champions are determined by a point system based on height, circumference of the trunk, crown spread, and physical condition. The best tree in a species is designated Champion; the second best is Challenger. Naming of a National Champion Tree is made by American Forests; Florida champions are named by the Florida Division of Forestry).

Locust-berry (Byrsonima lucida) - National Champion
Wild Dilly (Manilkara bahamensis) - National Champion
Barringtonia (Barringtonia asiatica) - Florida Champion
Cuban Lignum Vitae (Guaiacum officinale) - Florida Champion
Arjan Almond (Terminalia arjuna) - Florida Challenger
Black Olive (Bucida buceras) - Florida Challenger
Pongam (Pongamia pinnata) - Florida Challenger
Royal Poinciana (Delonix regia) - Honorable Mention

Other native and imported trees and shrubs in the Garden include: Poisonwood (Metopium toxiferum), Sea Grape (Coccoloba uvifera), Black Ironwood (Krugiodendron ferreum), Spanish Stopper (Eugenia foetida), Pigeon Plum (Coccoloba diversifolia), Tamarind (Tamarindus indica), Milk Bark (Drypetes diversifolia), Cinnamon Bark (Canella winterana), Gumbo Limbo (Bursera simaruba), Woman's Tongue (Albizia lebbeck), Lignum Vitae (Guaiacum sanctum), Blolly (Guapira discolor), Purge Nut Thicket (Ximenia americana), Canary Island Date Palm (Phoenix canariensis), Senegal Date Palm (Phoenix reclinata), Florida Thatch Palm (Thrinax radiata), Shortleaf Fig (Ficus citrifolia), Marlberry (Ardisia escallonioides), Silver Palm (Coccothrinax argentata), Red Stopper (Eugenia rhombea), Key Thatch Palm (Leucothrinax morrisii), Jamaica Dogwood (Piscidia piscipula), False Tamarind (Lysiloma latisiliquum), Bay Cedar (Suriana maritima), Wild Coffee (Colubrina arborescens), Cinnecord (Acacia choriophylla), Pond Apple (Annona glabra), Limber Caper (Capparis flexuosa), Satin Leaf (Chrysophyllum oliviforme), Paradise Tree (Simarouba glauca), Coral Bean (Erythrina herbacea), Sabal Palm (Sabal palmetto), Buccaneer Palm (Pseudophoenix sargentii), Lime Prickly-ash (Zanthoxylum fagara), Joewood (Jacquinia keyensis), Lancewood (Nectandra coriacea), Green Buttonwood (Conocarpus erectus), Washington Palm (Washingtonia robusta), and Varnish Leaf (Dodonaea viscosa).

Key West Tropical Forest & Botanical Garden

See also