GARDEN | SUSTAINING OUR WILDLIFE AND HERITAGE, CAYMAN ISLANDS

Words by Hannah Reid, www.bushgirlmedicine.com

The passionflower vine growing up my garden fence is a source of frustration and pride. Frustration because I have never seen it with more than two or three leaves at any given time. And pride because hungry Gulf Fritillary caterpillars routinely devour those few leaves. As the saying goes, if nothing is eating your garden, it is not part of the ecosystem. Native and endemic plants and trees help attract local wildlife to your garden, add resilience to your landscape and help sustain the natural heritage of our islands.

But before we get our hands dirty, let us explore the difference between the terms ‘native’ and ‘endemic’.

Native species of plants and animals are naturally found in certain areas or habitats, while endemic species are naturally found only in a particular area. For example, mahogany trees are native to the Cayman Islands and other Caribbean islands such as Cuba and Jamaica. Meanwhile, our silver thatch tree is endemic to the Cayman Islands and found nowhere else in the world naturally.

Native and endemic plants help attract local wildlife to your garden because they are natural sources of food, nectar and shelter. Often naturally tolerant to drought, salt, sun and pests, these species are also culturally significant due to their traditional use in construction, shipbuilding, medicine and crafting.

By adding native and endemic trees to your garden, you can help safeguard the cultural biodiversity of the Cayman Islands while enhancing its resilience to the unique growing conditions of our environment. To ensure your garden truly contributes to the ecosystem, it is important to complement your planting efforts with sustainable gardening practices, such as avoiding herbicides and pesticides.

Like my passionflower vine, the following trees are uniquely suited to the growing conditions of the Cayman Islands and well able to withstand the nibbles of a few caterpillars. Ultimately, your garden can be designed to be naturally resilient, with every plant and creature playing a vital role in nature’s interconnected web.

SILVER THATCH

(Coccothrinax proctorii) | Our National Tree, the endemic silver thatch is one of the most culturally and historically significant tree species in the Cayman Islands. It gets its local name from the silvery underside of its leaves, which were used to roof traditional Caymanian cottages. The emerging leaves or ‘tops’ were favoured for plaiting hats and baskets or twisting into sturdy rope. Renowned for its strength and durability, silver thatch was a mainstay of the local economy for many years. Though slow-growing, silver thatch can be propagated from the cleaned seeds.

IRONWOOD

(Chionanthus caymanensis) | Another endemic tree, ironwood is found nowhere else in the world. Because it is resistant to warping, rot and pests, Ironwood was used to construct traditional Caymanian cottages. Another slow growing tree, ironwood can be propagated from cleaned seeds.

MAHOGANY

(Swietenia mahagoni) | If you are looking for something a little faster-growing, mahogany is an excellent native option. Another culturally significant tree, mahogany timber was a vital resource for early settlers who used it to construct everything from schooners and furniture to musical instruments. The global demand for exceptionally durable and beautiful hardwood made it a chief export for the country for many years. Mahogany can be easily propagated from the papery seeds that emerge from its seed pods.

CABBAGE

(Guapira discolor) | Another fast-growing, native tree is cabbage. The thin, flexible branches of the cabbage tree were used to weave the ‘wattle’ in traditional wattle-and-daub Caymanian cottages and to craft ‘calavans’ for trapping ground doves. Cabbage trees have an elegant, weeping growth pattern and bright red berries, a favourite treat for local birds. Cabbage can be easily propagated from both cuttings and the cleaned seeds.

HEADACHE BUSH

(Morisonia cynophallophora) | This native tree gets its local name from its traditional use as a medicine for treating – you guessed it – headaches. It produces beautiful, fragrant flowers that shift in colour from white to deep magenta. Although it can be maintained as a shrub or hedge, headache bush can grow into a lovely tree. Headache bush is also a larval food plant for the Great Southern White butterfly.

For more local outdoor life and gardening tips, visit Bush Girl Medicine www.bushgirlmedicine.com