The center post has a scarce hanging Cercestis mirabilis, the African Embossed Plant, along with numerous Anthurium species, rare ferns, Philodendron species and other exotic species on all four sides.  A large leaf Philodendron (Philodendron sagittifolium) with 76cm (28 inch) leaves is growing up the entire post and is now beginning to surround the post and has almost reached the ceiling.  On the side facing the front (but barely in the upper right hand corner of the photo) is an enormous Epipremnum aureum (golden pothos) with leaves up to 40cm (16 inches) attempting to reach the ceiling.  Rare plants, close to 300 species, can be found throughout the building.  Although often difficult to locate, among their leaves you'll find 3 species of tropical tree frogs as well as small green lizards known as anoles.  A beautiful Blue and Gold Macaw named Wizard also resides in the atrium.  The large pond with moderately large fish is immediately to the right of the walk.  All this is in the backyard of colonial home built in 1890 in a small Arkansas town!

The Exotic Rainforest website was created to describe the plants in this collection.  The Exotic Rainforest is not a business, it is a private botanical garden.  A plant collection.  Every attempt is made to make sure our plant descriptions are scientifically accurate, however, I am not a botanist, I am a retired commercial photographer who takes pleasure in showing each plant as best possible in the photographs on this site.  I have developed a network of contacts who are well known botanists and seek their advice or consult scientific journals on all plant subjects.  You will find many quotes from recognized authorities on the pages of this site.  Very little information on this site is collected from the internet since much of that is not verified.  If you find what you believe is an error please make it known.  We will however verify the accuracy before posting corrections.  Our goal is to be accurate but do it in a manner anyone can understand.  We gladly attempt to offer our experience in growing most tropical plants.  If you are a return visitor you will notice this site is updated almost daily.  Many species in the collection have yet to be described and photographed.

One website visitor from London recently said in an email, "if you sense somebody sat on that seat in the atrium it's probably me"./ So if I can tell the bench seat is warm the next time I sit there I'll know someone, perhaps you, is visiting via the internet!  You are welcome to share our park bench anytime.

The garden is open to the public free of charge.  You can find a map on the homepage of this website, just please call first.  Schools are welcome to use the garden as a rain forest teaching tool.   If you would like to continue the tour  now just follow the links at the bottom of each page by clicking on the smaller photo.  Or, if you are seeking a particular plant species click on the link below to be taken to the list of species currently described.  Please visit!