The designed greenery at Olivia Garden consists of nearly 4,000 plants, including 118 species and varieties. To make the green space of the pavilion more attractive, it has been divided into three zones: dry, wet and floodplain, characterized by different plant species and the type of specially prepared substrate, matched to the requirements of individual species. The skeleton of the composition is made of tall trees and palm trees. Under their canopy there is a layer of undergrowth represented by smaller specimens of trees and shrubs. They build the spherical space of the pavilion, dividing it into smaller zones. The plants used come from equatorial, tropical and subtropical regions with a humid climate. The natural habitats of the plants used in the project are mainly Central and South America, wet forests of Madagascar, Africa, South Asia, southern Japan and wet regions of Australia. Among the most interesting species in the pavilion are:

Averrhoa Carambola / Common Osmian (carambola)

Tropical evergreen tree with a height of 7-10 m, found naturally in Malaysia and Indonesia on the island of Java. They can also be found in Oceania, South America (Brazil, Guyana) and North America (Florida, Hawaii). The fruit in the form of a yellowish berry with an elongated shape and five oblong ribs. After cutting, the characteristic star shape is visible.

Ficus alli / narrow-leaved ficus

A tree with long, dark green, pointed leaves. This plant is native to the tropical forests of Southeast Asia. Our specimen is unique because it grew in a container at a tree nursery in Florida. The region is known for frequent hurricanes. After passing one of them, there is a distorted trunk of the ficus and the remains of the container in which it initially grew.

Pandanus utilis / pandan persistent

A branchy evergreen tree, native to the wet forests of eastern Madagascar, with numerous stilt adventitious roots. Long, strong and durable fibers are obtained from the leaves, used for braids, hats, bags and baskets. Fibrous roots used in making brushes.

Ravenala madagascariensis / Madagascar pielgrzan

A species of tropical perennial, growing up to 20 m. It comes from Madagascar, but is sometimes planted as an ornamental plant in many countries with tropical climates. The trunk ends with a fan of very large leaves arranged in one plane. The popular name “Traveler Tree” comes from the stories of thirsty travelers who quench their thirst with water accumulated in the leaf sheaths of the plant. Up to 1.5 l of water can be obtained from the leaf sheaths of a single plant. Large, creamy-white flowers are pollinated by bats and lemurs searching for nectar.

Alocasia macrorrhizos / giant alocasia

A species of plant from the picture family – producing an inflorescence in the form of a bulb, surrounded by a leaf. It comes from the areas of tropical Asia (Malaysia) and Australia (north-east coast). A plant with a thickened stem growing up to 5 m in height and 25 cm thick. Characteristic large leaves only grow at the top of the stem. They have a plate up to 60 cm long growing on a petiole up to 100 cm long.

Cananga odorata / jagodlin wonny/ylang-ylang

It occurs naturally in Southeast Asia and Northeast Australia. In Malaysia, the plant is commonly called ylang-ylang and this name is also transferred to the aromatic oil made from flowers of this species, which is an ingredient of, among others, Chanel No. 5. Pendulous flowers, gathered in clusters, develop in the leaf axils. Flowers green in color, later turning yellow.

Plinia cauliflora / jabuticaba edible

A species native to South America, found in the wet forests of the Atlantic coast of the south-eastern Brazil. White and yellow flowers growing directly on the trunk and branches (kaulifloria) in clusters of four. Black fruit, sweet, white, transparent flesh, similar to grapes.

Theobroma cacao / proper cocoa

The plant comes from the humid tropical forests of South and Central America, and is also widely used in cultivation, among others in Africa. An evergreen tree with a compact crown and a height of 10-15 m or a shrub up to 5 m in height. It has a thin, cinnamon-brown bark. Flowers from pink to red, set on short stalks growing in bunches directly from the trunk and branches (kaulifloria). The fruit is large, shaped like a football. The fruit contains 20 to 60 cocoa beans covered with a thick yellow-orange shell.

Dicksonia antarctica / Antarctic Diksonia

One of the few representatives of tree ferns in the world. This species is native to the tropical and subtropical forests of New Zealand and Australia. The characteristic ‘trunk’ is a woody fern rhizome growing vertically, on which small roots are often visible. At the top of the rhizome there is an extensive leaf plume, the diameter of which may be approx. 4 m.

Cycas revoluta / sagowiec bent

A long-lived species naturally occurring in southern Japan, a popular indoor and ornamental plant grown in countries with mild, warm climates. The plant is characterized by very slow growth – 1-2 leaves per year. The specimens present in the pavilion are old specimens over 2.5 m high, but also smaller, forming small groups of varying heights. HeliconiaPerennial related to the banana tree, characterized by the presence of a rhizome. A species with characteristic inflorescences in strong colors of red and orange, often juxtaposed with each other. Various species and varieties have upright or hanging inflorescences, pollinated by hummingbirds and bats.

Mangifera indica / Indian mango

It comes from the areas of India, Malaysia, China and the Philippines. It is cultivated in regions with a climate similar to a tropical climate. Mango trees are long-lived, reaching 300 years or more. Both, the flowers and the inflorescences develop gradually. The flowering period is 20–40 days. Mango flowers are wind-pollinated, but insects play an important role in pollination. Mangoes usually bloom once a year. Aromatic fruit – drupes up to 15 – 20 cm long. 55% of the fruit is flesh, the rest is seed. Mango is India’s most important fruit. It accounts for half of the production.