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Gardens at Cleveland Metroparks Zoo

The Zoo is a botanical garden demonstrating the relationship between plants and man. Our grounds are covered with an array of beautiful foliage year-round, from our specialty gardens in summer to our greenhouses and RainForest exhibits in winter. Many of the trees and landscape designs make for an interesting and informative visit no matter what time of year.

Public greenhouse brochure (600 KB PDF)

July 2007 blooming of titan arum
May 2010 blooming of titan arum

The following is a list of the Zoo's specialty gardens:

HUMMINGBIRD/BUTTERFLY GARDEN
(near the Zoo's Welcome Plaza)

Western Columbine Aquilegia formosa
Swamp Milkweed Asclepias incarnata
Butterfly Weed Asclepias tuberosa
New England Aster Aster novae-angliae 'Purple Dome'
Tickseed Coreopsis verticillata 'Moonbeam'
Garden Pink Dianthus plumarius 'Desmond'
Coral Bells Heuchera X brizoides 'Plui de Feu'
English Lavender Lavandula angustifolia 'Hidcote'
Blazing Star Liatris spicata 'Kobold'
Cardinal Flower Lobelia cardinalis
Great Lobelia Lobelia siphilitica
Maltese Cross Lychnis chalcedonica
Rose Campion Lychnis coronaria
Bee Balm Monarda didyma 'Gardenview Scarlet'
Beard-Tongue Penstemon barbatus 'Prairie Fire'
Meadow Phlox Phlox maculata 'Rosalinde'
Meadow Sage Salvia X superba 'May Night'
Pincushion Flower Scabiosa columbaria 'Butterfly Blue'
Shasta Daisy Leucanthemum X superbum 'Polaris'
Bleeding Heart Dicentra spectabilis
Butterfly Bush Buddleia davidii 'African Queen'
Hybrid Trumpet Creeper Campsis X tagliabuana 'Mme. Galen'
Hybrid Bluebeard Caryopteris X clandonensis 'Dark Knight'
Summersweet Clethra alnifolia
Weigela Weigela florida 'Pink Princess'
Ageratum Ageratum houstonianum
Flowering Tobacco Nicotiana alata

ALPINE ROCK GARDEN
(In Northern Trek)

Dwarf Balsam Fir Abies balsamea 'Nana'
Greek Yarrow Achillea ageratifolia
Windflower Anemone coronaria
White Pasque-Flower Anemone pulsatilla 'Alba'
Hybrid Windflower Anemone X hybrida 'Honorine Jobert'
Hybrid Aster Aster 'Alice Haslam'
Hybrid Aster Aster 'Niobe'
Aster Aster novi-belgii
Hybrid Rock Cress Aubrieta 'Purple Gem'
Dwarf Basket-of-Gold Aurinia saxatilis 'Compacta'
Tussock Bellflower Campanula carpatica 'Blue Clips'
White Tussock Bellflower Campanula carpatica 'White Clips'
Hybrid Bellflower Campanula X tymonsii
White-tipped False Cypress Chamaecyparis 'Snow'
Dwarf Sawara-Cypress Chamaecyparis pisifera 'Filifera Aurea Nana'
Alpine Clematis Clematis alpina
Hybrid Heath Erica X darleyensis
Blue Boneset Eupatorium coelestinum
Mountain Cranesbill Geranium cinereum var. subcaulescens
Globularia Globularia meridionalis
Candytuft Iberis sayana
Edging Candytuft Iberis sempervirens 'Snowflake'
Variegated Chinese Juniper Juniperus chinensis 'Gold Coast'
Variegated Chinese Juniper Juniperus chinensis 'Saybrook Gold'
Hybrid Creeping Juniper Juniperus horizontalis 'Prince of Wales'
Savin Juniper Juniperus sabina 'Blue Forest'
Flaky Juniper Juniperus squamata 'Blue Star'
Edelweiss Leontopodium alpinum
Lobelia Lobelia anatina
German Catchfly Lychnis viscaria 'Alpina'
Hybrid Campion Lychnis X arkwrightii 'Vesuvius'
Dwarf Marjoram Origanum vulgare 'Compacta Nana'

ANIMAL PLANT GARDEN
(near Wade Hall)

Butterfly Japanese Maple Acer palmatum 'Butterfly'
Cock's Comb Celosia cristata 'Treasure Chest'
Cranesbill Geranium X himalayense 'Johnson's Blue'
Donkeytail Spurge Euphorbia myrsinites
Eye-of-the-Dragon Pine Pinus thunbergiana 'Oculus Draconis'
Elephant's Ear Colocasia esculenta
Foxglove Digitalis purpurea 'Foxy'
Red Fox Speedwell Veronica spicata 'Red Fox'
Gooseneck Loosestrife Lysimachia clethroides
Hen & Chickens Sempervivum tectorum
Lamb's Ears Stachys byzantina
Ostrich Plume Perennial-Spirea Astilbe thunbergii 'Straussenfeder'
Ostrich Fern Matteuccia pensylvanica
Grey Owl Eastern Red Cedar Juniperus virginiana 'Grey Owl'
Porcupine Grass Miscanthus sinensis 'Strictus'
Spider Plant Chlorophytum comosum 'Vittatum'
Bengal Tiger Garden Canna Canna X generalis 'Bengal Tiger'
Tiger Eyes Marigold Tagetes patula 'Tiger Eyes'
Zebra Grass Miscanthus sinensis 'Zebrinus'

DWARF CONIFER GARDEN
(in the Welcome Plaza)

Weeping Alaska-Cedar Chamaecyparis nootkatensis 'Pendula'
Hinoki False-Cypress Chamaecyparis obtusa
Cripps False-Cypress Chamaecyparis obtusa 'Crippsii'
Yellow Threadleaf Sawara-Cypress Chamaecyparis pisifera 'Filifera Aurea'
Gold Coast Chinese Juniper Juniperus chinensis 'Gold Coast'
Yellow Chinese Juniper Juniperus chinensis 'Pfitzeriana Aurea'
Sea Green Chinese Juniper Juniperus chinensis 'Sea Green'
Prince of Wales Creeping Juniper Juniperus horizontalis 'Prince of Wales'
Turquoise Spreader Creeping Juniper Juniperus horizontalis 'Turquoise Spreader'
Blue Rug Juniper Juniperus horizontalis 'Wiltoni'
Blue Forest Savin Juniper Juniperus sabina 'Blue Forest'
Grey Gleam Rocky Mountain Juniper Juniperus scopulorum 'Grey Gleam'
Blue Star Flaky Juniper Juniperus squamata 'Blue Star'
Japanese Red Pine Pinus densiflora
Mugo Pine Pinus mugo var. mugo
Dwarf Scot's Pine Pinus sylvestris 'Nana'
Golden-Larch Pseudolarix amabilis
Dwarf American Arborvitae Thuja occidentalis 'Hetz Midget'

ENDANGERED PLANTS OF THE MIDWEST
(in the African Savanna)

Center for Plant Conservation Listed Species:

Forking Aster Aster furcatus
Kankakee Mallow Iliamna remota
Royal Catchfly Silene regia

Companion Species, Grasses:

Big Bluestem Andropogon gerardii
Switch Grass Panicum virgatum
Little Bluestem Schizachryium scoparium
Indian Grass Sorghastrum nutans
Prairie Dropseed Sporobolus heterolepsis

Companion Species, Flowering:

Nodding Wild Onion Allium cernuum
Sullivant's Milkweed Asclepias sullivantii
Tall Tickseed Coreopsis tripteris
Wild Larkspur Delphinium exaltatum
Purple Coneflower Echinacea purpurea
Rattlesnake Master Eryngium yuccifolium
Queen-of-the-Prairie Filipendula rubra
Wild Bergamont or Bee Balm Monarda fistulosa
White Beard-Tongue Penstemon digitalis
Yellow Coneflower Ratibida pinnata
Black-Eyed Susan Rudbeckia hirta
Compass Plant Silphium laciniatum
Rosinweed Silphium trifoliatum
Prairie Dock Silphium terebinthinaceum
Ohio Goldenrod Solidago ohioensis
Riddell's Goldenrod Solidago riddellii
Stiff Goldenrod Solidago rigida

This display is maintained in conjunction with the Center for Plant Conservation and the Holden Arboretum.

GORILLA BROWSE GARDEN
(near Primate Cat & Aquatics Building)

Bush beans Phaseolus vulgaris
Bamboo Phyllostachys decora
Celery Apium graveolens dulce
Green Bell Pepper Capsicum annuum variety
Kohlrabi Brassica oleracea gongyoides
Radish Raphanus sativus
Garden Strawberry Fragaria X ananassa
Tomato Lycopersicon lycopersicum
Fantail Willow Salix sachalinensis 'Sekka'
Zucchini Squash Cucurbita pepo 'Zucchini'
Watermelon Citrullus lanatus
Broccoli Brassica oleracea italica
Red Onion Allium cepa
Beet Beta vulgaris 'Detroit Dark Red'
Sunflower Helianthus annuus
Cucumber Cucumis sativus
Hungarian Wax Pepper Capsicum annuum variety
Eggplant Solanum melongena

NATIVE PLANT GARDEN

ORNAMENTAL GRASS GARDEN
(in the African Savanna)

Grasses:

Yellow Foxtail Grass Alopecurus pratensis 'Aureovariegata'
Quaking Grass Briza media
Overdam Reed Grass Calamagrostis arundinaceae 'Overdam'
Scotland Tufted Hair Grass Deschampsia caespitosa 'Schottland'
Northern Pampus Grass Erianthus ravennae
Blue Fox Fescue Festuca cinerea 'Blue Fox'
Japanese Blood Grass Imperata cylindra 'Red Barron'
Koleria cristata
Snowy Woodrush Luzula nivea
Adagio Maiden Grass Miscanthus sinensis 'Adagio'
Bluttenwonder Japanese Silver Grass Miscanthus s. 'Bluttenwonder'
Cosmopolitan Variegated Maiden Grass Miscanthus s. 'Cosmopolitan'
Morning Light Maiden Grass Miscanthus s. 'Morning Light'
Little Dot Silver Grass Miscanthus s. 'Puenktchen'
Red-Silver Japanese Silver Grass Miscanthus s. 'Rotsilber'
Porcupine Grass Miscanthus s. 'Strictus'
Heavy Metal Switch Grass Panicum virgatum 'Heavy Metal'
Red Rays Switch Grass Pancium v. 'Rotstrahlbusch'
Cassian Dwarf Fountain Grass Pennisetum alopecuroides 'Cassian'
Little Bunny Fountain Grass Pennisetum a. 'Little Bunny'
Moudry Black Fountain Grass Pennisetum a. 'Moudry'
Blaze Little Blue Stem Schizachyrium x 'Blaze'

Companion Plants:

New England Aster Aster novae-angliae
Moonbeam Coreopsis Coreopsis verticillata 'Moonbeam'
Magnus Purple Cone Flower Echinacea purpurea 'Magnus'
Prairie Duster Geum triflorum
Stella d'Oro Daylily Hemerocallis x 'Stella d'Oro'
Black Mondo Grass Ophiopogon planiscapus 'Nigrescens'
Russian Sage Perovskia atriplicifolia
Rosa omiensis pteracantha
Black-eyed Susan Rudbeckia speciosa 'Goldsturm'
Cloth of Gold Goldenrod Solidigo x 'Cloth of Gold'

SENSORY GARDEN

Fragrant Plants:

Anise Hyssop Agastache foeniculum 'Fragrant Delight'
Lily-of-the-Valley Convallaria majalis
Pink Dianthus X allwoodii 'Alpine Mix'
Sweet Woodruff Galium odoratum
Daylily Hemerocallis 'Raspberry Pixie'
Daylily Hemerocallis X 'Hyperion'
Hybrid Plantain Lily Hosta X 'Royal Standard'
Lavender Lavandula angustifolia 'Hidcote'
Hybrid Asiatic Lily Lilium 'La Reve'
Royal Lily Lilium regale
Catmint Nepeta mussinii 'Dropmore Hybrid'
Marjoram Origanum laevigatum 'Herrenhausen'
Peony Paeonia 'Mme. de Vernville'
Peony Paeonia 'Nippon Beauty'
Peony Paeonia 'President Roosevelt'
Thick-leaf Phlox Phlox carolina 'Magnificance'
Thick-leaf Phlox Phlox carolina 'Miss Lingard'
Cowslip Primula veris
Lemon Thyme Thymus X citriodorus
Summer-sweet Clethra alnifolia
Carolina Allspice Calycanthus floridus
Witch Alder Fothergilla gardenii
Hybrid Rose Rosa 'Heritage'
Hybrid Rose Rosa 'Othello'
Hybrid Lilac Syringa meyeri 'Palibin'
Hybrid Lilac Syringa patula 'Miss Kim'

Plants Unique to the Touch:

Japanese Anemone Anemone X 'September Charm'
Astilbe Astilbe chinensis 'Veronica Klose'
Spurge Euphorbia myrsinites
Spurge Euphorbia polychroma
Oriental Poppy Papaver orientale 'Brilliant'
Pasque Flower Pulsatilla vulgaris
Silver Sage Salvia argentea
Showy Stonecrop Sedum spectabile 'Autumn Joy'
Sedum Sedum spurium 'Dragon's Blood'
Hybrid Holly Ilex X meserveae 'Blue Girl'
Hybrid Juniper Juniperus chinensis 'Saybrook Gold'
Hybrid Juniper Juniperus chinensis 'Sea Green'
Weeping Pussy Willow Salix caprea 'Pendula'

Plants You Can "Hear":

Quaking Grass Briza media
Blue Oat Grass Helictrotrichon sempervirons
Switch Grass Panicum virgatum 'Heavy Metal'

ORIENTAL PLANT GARDEN

Chinese Chestnut Castanea mollisima
Saybrook Gold Juniper Juniperus chinensis "Saybrook Gold"
Amur Choke Cherry Prunus maackii
Sprite Deodar Cedar Cedrus deodara "Sprite"
Weeping Japanese Katsura Tree Cercidiphyllum magnificum 'Pendulum'
Japanese Larch Larix kaempferi
Weeping willow-leaf Pear Pyrus salicifolia 'Pendula'
Korean Stewartia Stewartia koreana 'Ballet'
Ligularia Ligularia veitchiana 'The Rocket'
Chinese Forget-Me-Not Cynoglossum amabile
Ivy-leaf Maple Acer cissifolium
Blue Mist Blue Spiraea Caryopteris X clandonensis 'Blue Mist'
Paperbark Maple Acer Griseum
Chinese Striped-barked Maple Acer tegmentosum 'White Tigress'
Trumpet Creeper Campsis X tagliabuana 'Mme Galen'
Dawn Redwood Metasequoia glyptostroboides
Pink Powderpuff Tree Albizia julibrissin
Fargesia Bamboo Fargeisa murillae
Chinese Dogwood Cornus kousa chinensis
Sasa Bamboo
Plume Poppy Macleaya cordata
Leatherleaf Viburnum Viburnum rhytidophyllum
Chinese Sumac Rhus chinensis 'September Beauty'
Dwarf Arrow Bamboo Pseudosasa pygmea
Oriental Oak Quercus variabilis

BIRD-FRIENDLY BACKYARDS NATIVE PLANT LIST

Devil's Walkingstick Aralia spinosa
Crabapples Malus sp.
Eastern Flowering Dogwood Cornus florida
Tulip Tree Liriodendron tulipifera
American Holly Ilex opaca
Eastern White Pine Pinus strobus
Mountain Ash Sorbus sp.
Elderberry Sambucus canadensis
Virginia Creeper Parthenocissus quinquefolia
Purple Coneflower Echinacea purpurea
Coneflower Rudbeckia laciniata
Tickseed Coreopsis grandiflora
American Cranberry-bush Viburnum trilobum
Black Gum Nyssa sylvatica
Black Chokeberry Aronia melanocarpa
Fringetree Chionanthus virginicus
Mulberry Morus rubra
Serviceberry Amelanchier X grandiflora
Arrow Wood Viburnum dentatum
Buffalo Berry Shepherdia canadensis
Fragrant Sumac Rhus aromatica
Washington Hawthorn Crataegus phaenopyrum

BUTTERFLY NECTAR PLANTS: BUTTERFLY MAGIC

Floss Flower, Ageratum Ageratum houstorianum
Bloodflower Asclepias curassavica
Bougainvillea Bougainvillea spectabilis
Summer-Lilac, Butterfly Bush Buddleia davidii
s 'Longwood Blue' Hybrid Bluebeard Caryopteris x clandonensi
False Heather Cuphea hyssopifolia
Golden-Dewdrop Duranta repens
Scarlet Bush Hamelia patens
Hibiscus Hibiscus rosa-sinensis
Jungle Flame Ixora coccinea
Ixora Ixora javanica
Peragrina Jatropha integerima
Lantana Lantana camara
Trailing Lantana Lantana montevidensis
Star Cluster Pentas lanceolata
Mexican Flame Vine Senecio confusus
Porterweed, Snakeweed Stachytarpheta jamaicensis

The Medicine Trail in The RainForest - plants and their uses

About 25% of our medicines contain active ingredients derived from rain forest plants, including medicines that treat cancer, heart disease and high blood pressure. For example, rosy periwinkle produces a sbustance used to combat childhood leukemia.

RainForests of the World

Rain forests are major sources for rubber, resins, waxes, essential oils, gums, latex, steroids, bamboo, pesticides, lubricants, nuts and fruits. Spices such as cinnamon, cloves, peppercorns, nutmeg, allspice and vanilla are also derived from rain forest plants.

As you walk the Medicine Trail, look for these plants (numbered and labelled):

1. Guava Psidium guajava - This edible fruit contains 2-5 times the Vitamin C of an orange. The bark and leaves are used to make a medicinal tea. The tea treats vomiting, sore throats and cleans wounds.
2. Amazon Lily Eucharis amazonica - Found in Peru, this plant induces vomiting. Native people believe that using it to empty the stomach promotes accuracy with the blowgun when hunting monkeys.
3. Nerve Plant Fittonia verschaffeltii - Found in Peru, native people make a cold tea mouth rinse from this plant to relieve toothache.
4. Avocado Pear Persea americana - Originally from Central America, native people drink a tea from the leaves to clear the liver. The fruit is edible and high in vitamins and protein. Its juice is said to be an aphrodesiac.
5. Scarlet Sprial Flag Costus spralis - Used to stop bleeding. It is also used to relieve coughs, treat eye irritation, stop nose bleeds and relieve stomach aches.
6. Lipstick Tree Bixa orellana - Used as a dye for coloring fabrics. The red-orange dye is also used as a body paint, and as an ointment to treat skin and eye problems.
7. Arrowhead Vine Syngonium podophyllum - Used by native people to relieve ant stings. Treats sores, dry skin, fungus, itching, bruises and rashes. This plant is ofund from Mexico to Bolivia.
8. Swiss Cheese Plant Monstera deliciosa - The fruit of this plant is edible. It tastes like banana and pineapple combined. Thought to have certain medicinal proberties by native people. Found in Central America.
9. Firebush Hamelia patens - A tea made from the leaves kills parasites. It has an edible fruit and its leaves are used to relieve disentery, rheumatism and scurvy.
10. Butterfly Lily Hedychium coronarium - Native to tropical Asia, this plant is used by native people to relieve chest and arm pains. The leaves are used in a tea that relieves belly pains.
11. Dumbcane Dieffenbachia seguine - Native to tropical America, it's poisonous leaves are used to stun or kill fishes. Juice from the crushed leaves is used to remove parasites.
12. Vanilla Vanilla planifolia - This plant is grown in some regions for its pelasant odor. Used mainlyin the making of perfumes and spices and is a key ingredient in Coca Cola.
13. Pineapple Ananas comosus - Known to native people as "chi-na." Used by natives to induce abortion in early pregnancy. It is believed to combat intestinal gas.
14. Custard Apple Annona cherimolia - It is a native plant of the northern Andes. Used for headaches, stomach ailments and parasite removal. The fruit is edible.
15. Bird's Nest/Anthurium Anthurium crassinervium - Found from Mexico to Venezuela, used as an ear wash for fungal infections. The powdered root is used for insect bites and sores.
16. Papaya Carica papaya - Found in tropical Americas, used as an edible fruit and to make juices. The leaves and green fruit are used to tenderize meat. Also used by native people to treat worms.
17. Cinnamon Cinnamomum zeylanicum - Native to India and Sri Lanak, it is used for indigestion, sluggishness and diarrhea. Breathing its fumes relieves coughs.
18. Tropical Almond Terminalia catappa - The kernel of this plant's fruit is edible. The bark is used to treat fevers and stomach ailments. A tea made from the leaves is used to treat liver problems.
19. African Oil Palm Elaeis guineensis - Native to Africa, this plant is a source of oil for cooking and other products such as soap. It is a source of Vitamin A and E.
20. Lancepod Lanchocarpus violaceus - This plant has many medicinal uses to native people. It is a primary source of poison in insecticides. It is a native plant of the West Indies and tropical Americas.
21. Pimento Pimenta dioica - Also known as "allspice" it is the only major spice grown totally in the western hemisphere. As a drug, it is used to treat fungus infections. This plant is native to Central America.
22. Mango Mangifera indica - A tea from the leaves is used by native people for birth control. The fruit is edible. Parts of the plant are used for treating wounds. Originally a native of Burma, it is now widely distributed.

Warning! Do Not attempt to make your own products from the plants described here. These plants can be DANGEROUS! The native people of the rain forests have developed special skills to prepare and use these plants.