Natural
Living in harmony.
Sustainable Landscaping
Landscaping using native plants for sustainability and to match the natural island aesthetic is a work in progress.
Native plants evolved within the local food web and have intricate relationships with animals and other plants in our region.
Our local insects have not had time to evolve ways to overcome the chemical defenses of non-native, or invasive plants. Non-native plants outcompete native plants for resources without contributing back to the ecosystem as native plants naturally would, damaging our ecosystem’s ability to sustain itself.
Obtaining native plants local to the region is actually quite hard to do these days. Big box stores like Home Depot only import and sell non-native plants. ABC plant nursery sells some “natives” that are produced in Florida. Sourcing native plants produced in Puerto Rico or our local area is a goal.
Native Plants
White Fangipani
(Plumeria alba)- One of the most familiar native trees of the Virgin Islands. It is a host plant for the colorful Pseudosphinx moth caterpillar. Trees are often defoliated and will recover.
Monarch Amazonvine
(Stigmaphyllon emarginatum) – Native to Puerto Rico and the Virgin islands and found in dry forests near shorelines. Found along the road side in front of Buildings facing Bolongo Bay.
Wild Grape
(Coccoloba uvifera)- A prominent familiar native tree of the Caribbean. Seen around multiple areas of RPV. Provides habitat for wildlife and is a soil stabilizer. Fruits of seagrape may be eaten raw and used to make jellies, james or wine. Bees love their flowers in February-March.
Trailing Daisy
(Sphagneticola trilobata) – Native to the Caribbean, Central America and Mexico. A prolific ornamental ground cover. Found between buildings 6 and 8 and in several shady areas around the pool by Building 6.
Non-Native Plants
Though we have many beautiful native plants on our property, some are introduced from other locations. We are identifying the plants on property to educate the community.
White Leadtree
(Leucaena leucocephala)- Though this tree has beautiful flowers that honeybees love, it is considered an invasive tree that outcompetes native plants in our region.
Flamboyant Tree
(Delonix Regia) – Introduced from Madagascar in the 1800s. The island is awash in color from non-native Flamboyant Trees. Read this article published in 2020.