PlantsMap

EN PL

5 plants worth knowing

Antigua & Barbuda

Antigua and Barbuda are low, mostly limestone islands with a dry, sunny climate – they get far less rain than their mountainous neighbours. The original forests were cleared in the days of the sugar plantations, so today dry scrub, succulents and secondary woodland dominate; moister forest survives only on the volcanic hills of south-western Antigua, while extensive mangroves fringe the lagoons of Barbuda.

Hover over a plant to see on the map where it grows.

where it grows

  1. Dagger log 1

    succulent · National flower of Antigua and Barbuda

    Dagger log

    Agave karatto

    A succulent with dagger-like leaves that once in its life sends up a flowering stalk several metres tall, covered in yellow blooms – and then dies.
  2. Pineapple 2

    crop · National fruit of Antigua and Barbuda

    Pineapple

    Ananas comosus

    The “Antigua Black” is reputed to be one of the sweetest pineapples in the world – and despite its name, it ripens to a golden yellow.
  3. Antigua whitewood 3

    tree · National tree of Antigua and Barbuda

    Antigua whitewood

    Terminalia buceras

    A hard national tree that shrugs off wind and salt – its timber was used to build houses, wharves and boats.
  4. Red mangrove 4

    tree

    Red mangrove

    Rhizophora mangle

    The mangroves of Codrington Lagoon on Barbuda are home to one of the largest frigatebird colonies in the world.
  5. Manchineel 5

    tree

    Manchineel

    Hippomane mancinella

    The “tree of death” of Antigua’s beaches – trunks are marked with red paint because the sap and fruit are highly poisonous.