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Botanical Gardens: Edison's tropical botanical garden, one of the most complete in America, contains more than a thousand varieties of plants imported from all over the world, including African sausage trees and a Banyan tree, which was a gift from Harvey Firestone in 1925.

Originally, this was an experimental garden. Edison was interested in the various products and byproducts of the plants, which he used in many of his scientific investigations. Later Mrs. Edison enhanced the garden with many beautiful plants, including roses, orchids and bromeliads.

Detailed Botanical Tour: Edison�s tropical botanical garden, one of the most complete in America, contains more that one-thousand varieties of plants imported from all over the world, including African sausage trees and a Banyan tree from Calcutta, India that is approximately 400 feet. The Banyan tree was a gift from Harvey Firestone in 1925. Originally, this was an experimental garden. Edison was interested in the various products and by-products of the plants, which he used in many of his scientific investigations. Later, Mrs. Edison enhanced the garden with many beautiful plants, including roses, orchids and bromeliads.

East Gate Area

	COMMON NAME	BOTANICAL NAME	LOCATION	DESCRIPTION	COUNTRY OF ORIGIN
1	Bird of Paradise Plant	Strelitzia reginae	East side of café	Orange and blue flowers shaped like a bird’s head	South Africa
2	Fishtail Palm	Caryota mitis	East side of café	Seeds in large hanging clusters	South East Africa
3	Iodine Bush	Tabernaemontana orientalis	Near picnic area	Small white flowers have buttery fragrance	SE Asia
4	Crape Myrtle Tree	Lagerstroemia spp.	Near picnic area	Large lavender plumes; smaller than Queen’s Crape Myrtle	South Asia
5	Carob Tree	Ceratonia siliqua	Next to Powderpuff	Small petal-less dull red flowers; all parts of tree useful	South and East Africa
6	Pink Powderpuff Tree	Calliandra surinamensis	Mid-section	Powderpuff-like balls of bright pink stamens	Mexico, Guatemala
7	Yellow Flame Tree, Copperpod	Peltophorum pterocarpum	Mid-section, North side of driveway, and in picnic area	Bright yellow flowers; copper seed pods	Malaysia to Australia
8	Kassod Tree	Senna siamea	North side of driveway near east gate	Small tree with long, slender seed pods	Indonesia
9	Cabbage Palm (Florida State Tree)	Sabal palmetto	Mid-section and several on both Estates	White flowers	SE United States
10	Kei Apple Tree	Dovyalis caffra	Near east gate	Small white flowers; fruit has apricot flavor	South and East Africa
11	African Tulip Tree	Spathodea campanulata	South property line near east gate	Large tulip-shaped orange flowers	Tropical Africa
12	Tabebuia Tree	Tabebuia spp.	Mid-section	Tall with pale pink flowers	Tropical America
13	Royal Palm	Roystonea regia	Throughout both Estates & lining McGregor Boulevard	Large stems of small yellow flowers	Cuba, USA
14	Royal Poinciana Tree	Delonix regia	Several trees on both Estates	A few remaining red orange flowers	Madagascar
15	Yellow Ixora	Ixora lutea	Mid-section	Clusters of small yellow flowers	South Asia
16	Mahogany Tree	Swietenia mahogani	Mid area at fork of driveway	Erect, oval, woody seed; wood used for furniture	Florida Keys, West Indies
17	Ochrosia Tree	Ochrosia elliptica	Mid-section near south property line	Small tree has large bright red seeds	South Pacific
18	Golden Rain Tree	Koelreuteria elegans	Along fence close to McGregor Blvd and parking lot	Yellow flowers turn to rosy-salmon papery seed pods	Taiwan, Fiji
19	Peace Lily	Spathiphyllum spp.	Near Banyan tree	White spathe turns green with age	Asia
20	Java Glory Bower	Clerodendrum speciosissimum	Near Banyan tree	Bright red flowers; heart-shaped leaves	Asia
21	Bromeliad	Billbergia pyramidalis	Under many trees throughout garden	Purple-tipped red flowers in pink bracts	Brazil
22	Banyan Tree (Edison signature tree)	Ficus benghalensis	Near west entrance gate	Small reddish seeds; many auxiliary trunks	India
23	Foxtail Palm	Wodyeti bifurcata	South side of the gazebo	Large seeds; fronds resemble foxes’ tails	Northern Australia
24	Red Ixora	Ixora coccinea	At museum east entrance	Large clusters of small red flowers	South Asia
25	Lobster Claw	Heliconia rostrata	SE corner of museum	Hanging red and yellow flowers	South America
26	Chinaberry Tree	Melia azedarach	West side of white house on Larchmont Ave.	Clusters of small round seeds	South Asia
27	Ixora	Ixora chinesis ‘Fraseri’	North side of executive trailer on Larchmont Ave.	Large clusters of salmon pink flowers	South Asia

Museum Area

	COMMON NAME	BOTANICAL NAME	LOCATION	DESCRIPTION	COUNTRY OF ORIGIN
28	Sausage Tree	Kigelia africana	Near east gate, & behind ticket office	Large tree, red flowers, sausage-shaped seed pods	Africa
29	Dendrobium Orchid	Dendrobium spp.	Near north fence & on Mango tree	Cluster of small white, lavender or yellow flowers	Central & South America
30	Grand Crinum Lily, Tree Crinum, Poison Bulb	Crinum x asiaticum	Near north fence	Tall stems with clusters of white flowers	Asian Hybrid
31	Sacred Burmese Lily	Crinum procerum Var. splendens	Near north fence	Tall stems with wine-colored flowers	South Asia
32	Milk & Wine Crinum	Crinum augustum	Near north fence	Large, fragrant wine and white flowers; stems often droop	Sumatra
33	Variegated Pineapple	Ananas comosus varietgatus	Near north fence	Ornamental pineapple with variegated foliage	South Pacific
34	False Lavender, Iboza	Tetradenia riparia	Near north fence	Large lavender plumes with musky fragrance; soft leaves	South Africa
35	Pin Cushion, African Peach	Sarcocephalus latifolius	Behind Garden Shoppe tent	Round white fragrant flowers; edible orange fruit	Africa

Moonlight Garden Area

	COMMON NAME	BOTANICAL NAME	LOCATION	DESCRIPTION	COUNTRY OF ORIGIN
36	Bleeding Heart	Clerodendrum thomasii	Moonlight Garden	White with red flowers	West Africa
37	Bougainvillea, “Barbara Karst”	Bougainvillea spectabilis	Around perimeter of Moonlight Garden	Red bracts; white flowers	Brazil
38	Gardenia, “Miami Supreme”	Gardenia augusta – Miami Supreme	Moonlight Garden	White flowers	China
39	Begonia, “Giant White Angel”	Begonia odorata	Moonlight Garden	White flowers	Tropical World
40	Pentas	Pentas lanceolata	Moonlight Garden	White flowers	East Africa
41	White Plumbago	Plumbago auriculata-alba	Moonlight Garden	White flowers	Tropical World
42	Blue Daze	Evolvulus glomeratus	Moonlight Garden	Blue flowers	Tropical America
43	White African Iris	Dietes iridiodes	Moonlight Garden	White flowers	South Africa
44	Blue Plumbago	Plumbago auriculata	Moonlight Garden	Blue flowers	Tropical World
45	Lily of the Nile	Agapanthus africanus	Moonlight Garden	Blue flowers	South Africa
46	Azalea	Rhododendron sp. “Red Ruffles”	Moonlight Garden	Red Flowers	Worldwide
47	Angel’s Trumpet	Brugmansia spp. (often called Datura)	Moonlight Garden	Yellow/Pink Flowers	South America
48	Pentas	Pentas lanceolata	Moonlight Garden	Pink flowers	East Africa
49	White Lantana	Lantana camara	Moonlight Garden	White flowers	Tropical World
50	Prosperity Rose	Rosa spp. “Prosperity”	Moonlight Garden	Antique white climbing rose	Worldwide
51	Roses, Antique	Rosa spp. “Mrs. B. R. Cant”	Moonlight Garden	Pink rosette flowers	Worldwide
52	Queen’s Wreath Vine	Petrea volubilis	Moonlight garden at chimney	Purple flowers in lavender bracts in spring	Mexico to Panama
53	Waterlily, “Islamorada”	Nymphaea “Islamorada”	Moonlight Garden	Lavender flowers	Hybrid
54	Waterlily, “Josephine”	Nymphaea “Josephine”	Moonlight Garden	White flowers	Hybrid
55	Waterlily, “Mrs. Martin E. Randig”	Nymphaea “Mrs. Martin E. Randig”	Moonlight Garden	Deep blue flowers	Hybrid
56	Podocarpus	Podocarpus macrophyllus, “Maki”	Moonlight Garden	Trees on inside of garden	Japan
57	Yesterday, Today, and Tomorrow	Brunfelsia pauciflora	Moonlight Garden	Over three days, flowers change from lavender to pale lavender to white	Brazil
58	Dwarf Papyrus	Cyperus isocladus	Moonlight Garden	In blue strawberry urns	South Africa
59	Sweet Potato Vine	Ipomea batas “tricolor”	Moonlight Garden	In blue strawberry urns	SE Africa
60	Turf Grass	Zoysia tenuifolia	Moonlight Garden	Lawn grass	Mascarene Islands
61	Wart Fern	Microsorum scolopendrum	Outer edge of Moonlight Garden	Green ground cover	North America

Estates Area

	COMMON NAME	BOTANICAL NAME	LOCATION	DESCRIPTION	COUNTRY OF ORIGIN
62	Mango Tree	Mangifera indica	Throughout both Estates	Popular edible fruit	Asia
63	Frangipani Tree	Plumeria ruba	On right at service gate	Pink flowers used in leis and perfume	Central America
64	Akee Tree	Blighia sapida	Next to Mysore Fig; to left of service gate	Rosy fruit is high in tree; toxic fruit must be fully ripe to be edible	Tropical Africa
65	Chenille	Acalypha hispida	Left of walk	Drooping, fluffy red flowers	South Pacific
66	Golden Champaca Tree	Michelia champaca	Near Chenille	Yellow flowers used for “Joy” perfume	India, Indonesia
67	Gardenia, Cape Jasmine	Gardenia augusta	Several plants near tall bougainvillea	Fragrant white flowers; popular for corsages	China
68	Bougainvillea	Bougainvillea glabra	Center of walkway; very tall	Purple bracts with small white flowers	Brazil
69	Java Glorybower	Clerodendrum speciossimum	Opposite bougainvillea	Large red flower spikes, heart-shaped leaves	Java
70	Bullhorn Acacia Tree	Acacia sphaerocephala	Near litchi tree	Ants inhabit thorns	Central America
71	Lipstick Plant, Annatto	Bixa orellana	At foot of tall bougainvillea	Pink flowers; bright red seed pods have fiber used as food and cosmetic dye	Tropical America
72	Fringed Hibiscus	Hibiscus schizopetalus	West side of large bougainvillea	Pink flowers have recurved petals and a long stamen	Tropical Africa (hybrid)
73	Double Fringed Hibiscus	Hibiscus schizopetalus plenus	Small plant; near old fringed hibiscus	Double red flowers; recurved petals, but short stamens forming clusters of frilled petals like a rose	Mutant from Colombia
74	King Palm, Alexandra Palm	Archontophoenix alexandrae	Near SE corner of Moonlight Garden	Three tall palms; have white flowers with red seeds	Australia
75	Yellow Allamanda	Allamanda cathartica	South side of Bougainvillea	Tubular yellow flowers	Brazil
76	Avocado Tree	Persea americana	North side of walk	Small tree small greenish flowers; edible fruit	West Indies, Mexico
77	Rata Tree, Gamboge	Garcinia xanthochymus	North side of walk	Small tree; first fruit; yellow when ripe	East Indies
78	Barbados Cherry Tree	Malphigia glabra	North side of walk	Pink flowers. Edible fruit high in Vitamin C.	Tropical America
79	Rose Apple Tree	Syzyglum jambos	East side of Edison Caretaker’s House	Fruit tastes like a rose blossom smells	East Indies
80	Common Fig Tree	Ficus carica	Close to north property line	Pear-shaped edible fruit; related to Banyan tree	Asia Minor
81	Moreton Bay Chestnut Tree	Castanospermum australe	Near north fence	Chestnut-like seeds are poisonus	Australia
82	Mamey Sapote Tree	Pouteria sapota	Near Rose Apple	Sweet edible fruit has brown skin	Mexico and Central America
83	Firebush	Hamelia patens	Against north fence	Tubular red flowers	Caribbean
84	Tiger Grass	Thysanoleana maxima	Near north fence	Showy plumes; resembles bamboo	Madagascar
85	Moses-in-the-Cradle	Rhoeo spathacea	At foot of Camphor tree	Small white flowers in center of bracts; dark green foliage with purple beneath	Mexico
86	Fire Wheel Tree	Stenocarpus sinuatus	Near the large Camphor Tree	Red with yellow stamens like a pinwheel	Australia
87	Porterweed	Stachytarpheta spp.	West of large Bougainvillea	Blue flowers (a volunteer plant)	Asia
88	Pigeonberry, Golden Dewdrop	Duranta repens f-alba	South side of little office supporting orchids	Clusters of white flowers; golden berries	Caribbean
89	Giant Bird of Paradise	Strelitzia alba	Northwest corner of little office	Tall plant, white flowers w/ blue bract	Natal
90	Miracle Fruit Tree	Synsepalum ducificum	North side of bath house	Sour food tastes sweet after eating the berry; tiny white flowers	West Africa
91	Climbing Ylang Ylang	Artabotrys uncinatus	Near cistern	Fragrant flowers at night; yellow seeds	Madagascar
92	Rubber Vine	Cryptostegia madagascariensis	Next to cistern	Purple flowers; plant used in rubber research	Madagascar
93	Inkberry	Scaevola plumieri	Native area near swimming pool	White fan-shaped flowers; black berries	South Florida USA
94	Banana Plant	Musa acuminata	Near swimming pool	Long hanging fruit with red flower	SE Asia
95	Pond Apple Tree	Annona glabra	Three trees – south side of pond, west side of pond, near pier	Edible, but not popular, fruit	Caribbean
96	Papyrus	Cyperus papyrus	Right side of lily pond	First paper made from stalks c. 2750 B.C.	Northern & Tropical Africa
97	Umbrella Plant	Cyperus alternifolius	Left side of lily pond	Smaller than African Papyrus	Madagascar
98	Coconut Palm	Cocos nucifera	At river edge; numerous trees	Edible fruit	Pacific Islands
99	Button Mangrove Tree, Buttonwood	Conocarpus erectus	At riverside in the coconut grove	Tiny round green flowers	S. Florida; West Indies
100	White Mangrove Tree, White Buttonwood	Laguncularia racemosa	At riverside in the coconut grove	Small white tubular flowers	Tropical America
101	Red Mangrove Tree	Rhizophora mangle	At riverside in the coconut grove	Stilt-rooted tree; yellow flowers	Tropical America
102	Black Mangrove Tree	Avicennia germinans	At riverside in the coconut grove	Stilt-rooted tree; white flowers	S. Florida
103	Yellow Flame Tree, Copperpod	Peltophorum pterocarpum	At riverside in coconut grove	Copper seed pods	Malaysia to Australia

104	Bougainvillea	Three varieties: deep pink, white, lavender	Along north fence in coconut grove	White flowers in center of colored bracts	Brazil
105	Frangipani Tree	Plumeria ruba	Along north fence in coconut grove	Nine trees with variety of colored flowers	Mexico and Central America
106	Glossy Privet Tree	Ligustrum lucidum	Small trees along north fence in coconut grove	Glossy, dark green, thick leaves; small white flowers in clusters	China, Korea, Japan
107	Hibiscus Tree	Hibiscus tillaceus	At river edge	Yellow flowers turn deep red	Caribbean
108	Cycad Collection	Cycas spp. – some with seed pods	South side of walk, near river	Oldest known seed-bearing plant; eaten by dinosaurs	Africa & Asia
109	Dwarf Poinciana	Caesalpinia pulcherrima	West side of Litchi Tree-Replacement for original tree	Red and yellow flowers	West Indies

Rose Garden

A formal garden of 16 antique roses has been installed on the north side of the Edison House. This represents Mrs. Edison’s interest in roses. A long list of her roses is in the Edison Archives.

	COMMON NAME	BOTANICAL NAME	LOCATION	DESCRIPTION	COUNTRY OF ORIGIN
110	Tabebuia Tree	Tabebuia rosea	Northwest side of Edison house	Two trees in one; lavender and red/purple flowers	Caribbean
111	King’s Mantle	Thunbergia erecta	NW corner of Edison house	Purple flowers with yellow throat	Tropical Africa
112	Java White	Acalypha wilkesiana	West side of Edison house	Variegated green & white leaves with small, white spike flowers	Pacific Islands
113	Bismarck Palm	Bismarckia nobilis	West side of Edison house	Grayish fronds; large round seeds	Madagascar
114	Ceylon Gooseberry Tree	Dovyalis hebecarpa	West side of Edison house near river	Purple fruit; sharp thorns	Sri Lanka
115	Florida Apricot Tree	Dovyalis hebecarpa X abyssinica	Next to Ceylon Gooseberry	Orange fruit resembles apricot; no thorns	Florida hybrid
116	Roxburgh Fig Tree	Ficus auriculata	West side of Edison House	Edible figs on the tree trunk; bright red inside	India
117	Candlenut Tree	Aleurites moluccana	Midway between Edison Houses on the Riverside	Round green seeds yield oil for commercial use	SE Asia
118	White Frangipani Tree	Plumeria alba	Near river at Edison Guest House	Very old tree; does not lose its foliage as do most plumerias	West Indies

Pergola Area

The area of the pergola between the two houses has been newly planted with specimens both historical and modern in accordance with the 1928-1930 map.

	COMMON NAME	BOTANICAL NAME	LOCATION	DESCRIPTION	COUNTRY OF ORIGIN
119	Calabash Tree	Crescentia eujete	Near river at Edison Guest House	Green flowers; hard-shelled seed pods used as cups and bowls	Central America
120	Ear Tree	Enterolobium cyclocarpum	West side of Edison House on river’s edge	Seed pods are shaped as a human’s ear	Tropical America
121	Floss Silk Tree	Ceiba speciosa	West side of Edison Guest House	Showy pink orchid-like flowers in spring and fall; trunk heavily spined	Brazil, Argentina
122	Queen’s Crape Myrtle Tree	Lagerstroemia speciosa	Near Ford garage	Seed pods used in dried floral arrangements	India & East Indies
123	Scarlet Spiral Flag	Costus spiralis	Southwest corner of Edison Guest House	Tight cone of red bracts and florets	South America
124	Sausage Tree	Kigelia africana	South side of Edison Guest House	Hanging red flowers open at night	Africa
125	Milk and Wine Crinum	Crinum augustum	East side Edison Guest house	Large fragrant flowers	Sumatra
126	Ylang Ylang, Perfume Tree	Cananga odorata	East side Edison Guest House	Yellow flowers used for perfume	Asia & East Indies
127	Ground Orchid	Spathoglottis plicata	At base of Swollen Silver Thatch Palm	Purple flowers; terrestrial orchid	Malaysia
128	Bougainvillea	Bougainville spectabilis	At SE corner of Edison House	Small white flowers in bright red bracts	Brazil
129	Tamarind Tree	Tamarindus indica	East of Edison Main House	Brown seed pods; all parts are used commercially; small yellow flowers resemble orchids	Africa
130	Red Pineapple	Ananas bracteatus	Under the Mysore Fig Tree	Ornamental plant	Brazil
131	Cluster Fig Tree	Ficus racemosa	Northeast side of Edison house	Fruit edible, but not desirable	Asia
132	Longan Tree	Dimocarpus longan	North side of cluster fig	Brown fruit resembles litchi	India
133	Blue Plumbago	Plumbago auriculata	Near entrance gate	Showy clusters of blue flowers	Tropical world

Ford Home

	COMMON NAME	BOTANICAL NAME	LOCATION	DESCRIPTION	COUNTRY OF ORIGIN
134	Yellow Allamanda	Allamanda cathartica	On trellis at north end of Ford House	Tubular yellow flowers	Brazil
135	Foxtail Palm	Wodyeti bifurcate	At west entrance to Ford Home	Large red seeds; fronds resemble foxes’ tails	Northern Australia
136	Coconut Palm	Cocos nucifera	Near river	Edible fruit	Pacific Islands
137	Walking Iris	Trimela martinicensis	Near river	Yellow flowers, plant multiplies by runners	Caribbean
138	Night Blooming Cereus	Hylocereus undatus	Climbing on palm tree near river	Large yellow fragrant flowers open at night	Brazil
139	Hoya Vine, Wax Plant	Hoya carnosa	Climbing on palm tree near river	Rosettes of pink and white flowers	Australia, Asia
140	Fringed Hibiscus	Hibiscus schizopetalus	Near river	Hanging red flowers with re-curved petals	Tropical Africa
141	Hibiscus	Hibiscus rosa-sinensis	Near river	Large red flowers with dark center (cultivar)	China
142	Wedelia	Wedelia trilobata	Ground cover at river	Yellow flowers	West Indies
143	Firebush	Hamelia patens	Near river	Red flowers; naturalized in Florida	Caribbean
144	Hibiscus	Hibiscus rosa-sinensis	Near river	Orange flowers with pink center (cultivar)	China
145	Avocado Tree	Persea americana (three varieties)	River side of house, center area	Small tree; small greenish flowers; edible fruit	West Indies, Mexico
146	Peregrina, Spicy Jatropha Tree	Jatropha integerrima	One on either side of the driveway gate	Attractive clusters of small red flowers	Cuba
147	Royal Poinciana Tree	Delonix regia	Southeast corner, near boulevard & near river	A few remaining red orange flowers	Madagascar
148	Red Powderpuff Tree	Calliandra haematocephala	At Ford driveway gate	Round balls of red stamens	Tropical America

Note: Orchids and Bromeliads are in bloom in various locations throughout the Estates Gardens.
Citrus and other fruit trees are being restored to the Estates Gardens.
Flower lovers will notice many wild flowers in ground cover in all sizes and colors from yellow to white to red to blue.

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