The Atlantic Forest in my Garden
Discover the unexpected Atlantic Forest species that flourish in Brazilian gardens and yards.
Ripe jerivá fruits (Syagrus romanzoffiana) visited by fauna (2024-08-27) by João Marcos Rosa / NITROInhotim
Tasty treats every season hanging from the fruit trees, fragrant flowers in many colors bringing in the birds and bees. If that sounds like home to you, there may be a piece of the Atlantic Forest right in your yard. Gardens and yards are increasingly scarce intimate spaces.
Coincidentally, these little green enclaves often hide species from a bigger green enclave, a rich and threatened biome that is also disappearing amid the cities. In this exhibition, Inhotim helps everyone identify native species of the Atlantic Forest that are closer than we realize, and bear a history of memories, care, and affection.
White aloe (Cordia superba) in bloom in the Inhotim gardens (2020-11-30) by João Marcos Rosa / NITROInhotim
Every yard holds life stories. It's a place shaped by time and built by many hands. Its flower beds grow in layers that span generations: the tree planted by an ancestor, the flowers that were lovingly watered and trimmed, the fruit we learned to enjoy as kids.
Let's take a walk through Atlantic Forest species that grow with us, sharing our home and daily lives.
Grumixama fruit (Eugenia brasiliensis) in the Inhotim Shade and Sombra e Água Fresca Garden (2021-10-28) by João Marcos Rosa / NITROInhotim
Sweet, sour, slightly acidic. In Brazilian yards, the fruit trees of the Atlantic Forest offer more than just food. Pitangas, jabuticabas and grumichamas are beloved treats in many gardens, harvested by hand straight from the tree. They feed body and soul with the taste of childhood memories, family gatherings and moments of affection.
Ripe pitanga fruit (Eugenia uniflora) in the Inhotim Sombra e Água Fresca Garden (2021-02-19) by João Marcos Rosa / NITROInhotim
In the Tupi-Guarani language, its name is yba-pitanga: red fruit. The pitanga tree (Eugenia uniflora) colors the yards and draws in kids, birds and critters alike. A favorite in Brazilian households, its fruit is rich in vitamin C. Eaten straight from the tree or squeezed into juice, it's nutritious, and tastes like childhood memories.
Flowering trunk of the jabuticaba tree (Plinia cauliflora) (2021-08-30) by João Marcos Rosa / NITROInhotim
With striking white flowers that sprout directly from its trunk, the jabuticaba tree is also an Atlantic Forest native. It grows slowly, which takes some patience, but the rewards are abundant and pretty. Planted by one generation and enjoyed by another, it often accompanies whole families for life.
Fauna feeding on jabuticaba fruit (Plinia cauliflora) (2020-11-30) by João Marcos Rosa / NITROInhotim
Children love the jabuticaba tree, both for the sweet taste of its fruit and for its low branches, which make the treats easy to reach.
And this kid-friendly plant is a hit for all audiences: birds, bees, and even bats are drawn to the scent of flowers and the sweetness of the fruit. With its broad popularity and yummy snacks, the jabuticaba tree makes every day feel like a house party.
Group of juçara (Euterpe edulis) trees near the untitled work by Amilcar de Castro (2024-08-27) by João Marcos Rosa / NITROInhotim
Besides the fruit trees, palm trees also grace Brazilian yards, giving them an extra tropical touch. Out of the palm trees native to the Atlantic Forest, the jerivá and the juçara palm are garden highlights.
Ripe jerivá fruits (Syagrus romanzoffiana) at Inhotim (2024-08-27) by João Marcos Rosa / NITROInhotim
From the wilderness to the yard, the jerivá connects urban life to the biodiversity of the Atlantic Forest. With its sweet, oily orange-hued fruits scattered across lawns and sidewalks, the jerivá is part of many people's childhoods.
Masked Water-Tyrant (Fluvicola nengeta) attracted to the fruits of the jerivá (Syagrus romanzoffiana) (2024-08-27) by João Marcos Rosa / NITROInhotim
With Atlantic Forest fruit trees, yards are full of life. Their flowers attract a host of pollinators, and the ripe fruits bring in the birds, with their songs and colors in the air.
Bougainvilleas (Bougainvillea spectabilis) blooming in the Inhotim gardens (2022-09-22) by João Marcos Rosa / NITROInhotim
Besides scents and flavors, the Atlantic Forest species also bring color to Brazilian gardens. That is the case of the beloved bougainvillea, a biome native. It can be found in shades of pink, white, deep red, and orange.
Small white flowers protected by the pink bracts of the bougainvillea (Bougainvillea spectabilis) (2022-09-22) by João Marcos Rosa / NITROInhotim
One of its Brazilian names, três-marias (the three Marys), highlights an interesting detail that often goes unnoticed. Its colors do not come from the flowers, but rather from the modified leaves that surround and protect them, called bracts.
In this plant, three bracts hold three small flowers, with a subtle beauty that charms those who see it.
Quaresmeira (Pleroma granulosum) in the Inhotim gardens (2021-08-30) by João Marcos Rosa / NITROInhotim
Like the bougainvillea, the quaresmeira is also a common sight in yards and sidewalks. It reaches almost 20 feet high, and its blooming season delicately paints forests and neighborhoods purple.
Tamboril (Enterolobium contortisiliquum) in the Inhotim garden (2020-11-30) by João Marcos Rosa / NITROInhotim
In addition to their beauty, tree species bring shade and fresh air to house yards, creating a refuge for rest, reflections, and encounters. Time slows down under their canopies, soothing the mind and inspiring lively conversation.
Adult guapuruvu trees (Schizolobium parahyba) (2020-11-30) by João Marcos Rosa / NITROInhotim
Common in larger yards, the Brazilian fern tree is a fast-growing species that can reach almost 100 feet high. Its wide canopy offers cool, welcoming shade for a moment of rest. When it blooms, its yellow clusters color the sky and the landscape.
Guapuruvu (Schizolobium parahyba) fruits with seeds (2020-11-30) by João Marcos Rosa / NITROInhotim
After flowering, the Brazilian fern tree covers the ground in its rigid and lightweight winged seeds. In the imagination of many children who grew up around one, its seeds were treasure coins for pretend play.
Wild cherry blossom (Eugenia involucrata) (2022-09-18) by João Marcos Rosa / NITROInhotim
What are the plants in your yard? What does your dream yard look like? What piece of the Atlantic Forest lives in your memory, in your history? The Atlantic Forest endures where there is care, remembrance, and affection. May this exhibition inspire you to recognize, cultivate, and preserve the forest that lives within.
Credits:
Research: Environmental Analyst Laís Diniz Silva
Copywriting: Environmental Analyst Laís Diniz Silva
Revision: Nature Manager Sabrina Carmo
Photos: João Marcos Rosa
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