Strawberry Hill Gardens

The Great Lawn

Nearly an acre in size, the Great lawn provides the focal point for all visitors. From here one has a 360 degree view of the mountains 2000' above you and Kingston 3000' below you. This expanse was the front entrance to the original 1780 Great House from the Old Driveway by horse and carriage. Therefore when the current bar was built, the entrance was faced in the original direction, away from Kingston, as the landscape dictated.

Seasonal Rarity

Teconanthe spp??

At this time of year, early March, this extraordinary creeper flowers profusely for about 3 weeks. The massive umbels are borne on old wood with each flower up to four inches in length. A rarity worthy of note.

Holmskodia sanguinea

A very common, showy shrub that flowers year round. In addition the dried flowers are use in flower arranging, and the plant itself attracts every species of hummingbird including the tiny "Bee Humming Bird".

Hemerocallis & Agapanthus

Free flowering perennials with a concentration of blooms during April and May. These particular hybrids date back to 1930 and during the replanting 1994 hybrids were introduced to show the improvement in the strain.

Aplinia speciosa (Cockleshell Ginger)

The well known Cockleshell ginger, a hardy free-flowering species grouped with other "ginger" families such as Costus, Heliconia, Curcuma and Hedychium. At Strawberry Hill we have both the variegated and golden forms.

Allamanda grandiflora (Allamanda)

A rapacious climber used for walls, trellaces, trees and free-standing. Flowering year round with 3" blooms this species is often confused with A.neriifolia a smaller flowered shrub species.

Clerodendron angolensis

A genus usually associated with red, purple or white blooms, this species is often overlooked. The deep azure blue flowers are produced year round on shrubs that need to be pruned often to shape and control them. Excellent for accent at the back of large borders.

Strongolobium macrobotrys (Jade vine)

The king of the Legumes, the Jade Vine can only be described as incredible. The aquamarine racemes are up to 4' in length and are produced in large numbers. The trellis at Strawberry Hill is 14' high by 60' long and produces in excess of 200 racemes at any one time. Guests admire and often get married under it!

Thunbergia mysorensis (Ladies Slipper)

An member of the Thunbergia family that has the unusual habit of producing racemes that get longer and longer with flowers. As with the Jade Vine this plant is a favourite food source for the humming birds

Beaumontia grandiflora

A rampant evergreen climber suitable only for the stongest of trellises or up trees and walls. 5" blooms in terminal trusses are produced prolifically from January to May.

Kigelia africana (African Sausage tree)

The only recorded plant to have killed man!!! Long racemes of 4" flowers are produced during leaf fall in January to March. By December massive 8-10lb sausage-like seed pods are ready to fall and claim another victim.!!

Petrea volubis

A delicate but free flowering creeper that bears deep blue/mauve flowers form March to June. It is a vigorous climber and grows well with other plants such as bourganvillea.

Strophanphus gracilis

A larger relative of the famous "Jasmine plant" grown for their heavy scent. S. gracilis has far larger blooms with a purple trim and can only be grown outdoors. Flowering freely from march to july, the 4" trusses are only lightly scented.

Brunfelsia magnoliflora

An unusual tree for those enthusiasts of the Brunfelsia family. Bright yellow flowers and seed pods emerge in July bearing an astonishing similarity to Magnolias.

Mussaeandra x hybrid

An unusual shrub growing 5-8ft tall producing showy pink bracts surrounding small yellow flowers. At high altitudes, the plant needs to be pruned and fertilized regularly unlike on the "plains" where this can grow into a small tree.

Alpinia x "Imperialis"

A very large ginger producing terminal flowers surrounded by bracts up to 10" high. A relatively new hybrid from Hawaii, this robust plant is ideal for background borders and hedging.

Strelitzia regina

The famous "Bird of Paradise" used throughout the world for flower arranging. At Strawberry, we grow it in mass borders and as an edging plant as the blue-grey foliage is attractive all year round.

Tibouchina semidecandra

A small, umbrella-shaped tree that flowers during the late summer months July-September. This plant is always noticed due to it's dense trusses emerging in a non-traditional season .

Megakspasma spp

A robust shrub that requires annual pruning. It can grow to 12' high with the racemes reaching 12" - 16" in length. A useful screen or back border plant.

Tillandsia spp, normally known for their epiphytic habits and small flowers, break the rules with this species. Huge 1 ft pendulus racemes are produced from a thick bromeliad type foliage every June. A great accent or pot plant

An endemic orchid collected in St Anne with Oncidium like flowers 2" across held in an open terminal bunch. Probably the largest flowering orchid of Jamaica, it only flowers once per year for 4 days.