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House 3- The Rainforest

The Rainforest House 3

Our other newest exhibit space features a redesigned waterfall surrounded by a collection of bamboo and other horticultural treasures found in southeast Asia. This exhibit also features a decorative tea house, a moon gate, a collection of orchids, bonsai and more. 

A redesigned waterfall is surrounded by a collection of bamboo and other horticulture treasures found in southeast Asia. This exhibit also features a decorative tea house, a moon gate, a collection of orchids, bonsai and more.

What can you find in this greenhouse?

Moon Gate

Buddha Statue

Bananas, Musaceae 
While they may look like trees, bananas are actually just large herbaceous plants!  These large plants can grow to be 30 feet tall. It takes around 10-15 months for a banana plant to produce an inflorescence, or flower stalk. Bananas mature and ripen 60-90 days after the inflorescence appears. We have many different types of bananas in our grove. Though many of them are edible, they won't taste like the bananas we're used to eating. The bananas that are sold in grocery stores are Cavendish bananas. Cavendish bananas are sweeter than other types of bananas. 

Bamboo, Bambusoideae 
Bamboo is a tall and fast-growing grass. Species range in height from one foot to 100 feet tall. It also grows and spreads quickly, able to reach its full height in an average of five years. This exhibit features many different species of bamboo, including a Sunburst Bamboo and a Blue Bamboo.  

Tea, Camillia sinensis - Tea is one of the most widely consumed beverages in the world. Its origin can be traced back to Ancient China where it was used for medicinal purposes. All types of true tea come from Camillia sinsensis.Sometimes teas are made from a number of other plants, such as peppermint or chamomile. These teas are referred to as herbal teas. Different varieties of true tea are created through the way the Camillia sinensis is harvested and processed.

Water Lilies, Nymphaeacae- There are roughly 70 species water lilies found in temperate and tropical climates throughout the world. The rhizome, a type of stem, is buried in the mud or in pots, allowing the leaves and flowers to reach up and float. Water lilies are spread by seed and rhizome. Due to this, waterlilies grow and spread at an incredibly fast rate.

Bonsai Collection - See more Bonsai in House 5!

The term bonsai (bone-sigh) does not actually refer to a specific type of tree or plant. Bonsai is an art form, originally from Japan and China, that involves growing trees in pots or trays. To make a bonsai, a young tree is carefully planted in a shallow pot. The shallow pots keep the roots of the tree short, stunting its growth. In order to keep the branches small and control its shape, bonsai trees are regularly trimmed. There are many different styles and shapes of bonsai. People often use wire to shape the trunk and branches of the tree to create different styles.  

Moss is frequently used as a groundcover for bonsai since it retains water and holds the soil in the container. Being a tiny plant, moss maintains the miniature image of bonsai. Many bonsai are also paired with an accent plant. Little hostas and some varieties of cacti or succulents are commonly used as accents in their own tiny tray!
The collection is cared for by the Bonsai Study Group and the Buffalo Bonsai Society.