Immerse yourself in the beauty of the Cascade Garden, a richly textured mosaic of lush, equatorial plants and soaring splendor, designed by renowned 20th-century landscape architect, artist, activist, and botanist Roberto Burle Marx (1909–94). Created especially for Longwood, it is the only remaining garden of Burle Marx’s design in North America. Sheets of water spill down precipitous rock channels and splash into crystalline pools, amidst verdant, bold foliage that emerges from the mist. Swirling vines ascend the columns and walls, as though reaching for the sky, drawing your gaze ever upward.
About This Garden
Named for its 16 waterfalls, the Cascade Garden enchants guests with its flowing plantings and abundance, from denizens of leafy tropical plants to flumes that empty into clear, dark pools. Inspired by South America’s rainforests, the garden is kept at a constant humidity level of 80 percent. Burle Marx’s focus on vertical design is captured beautifully, from the plants that creep up the columns to the freestanding sculptural features interspersed within the greenery. Rock clusters emerge from the beds, echoing the terrain where so many of the featured plants thrive. In addition to earth-stars (Cryptanthus), giant alcantarea (Alcantarea imperialis), and philodendrons including Philodendron pinnatifidum, you’ll find an arresting collection of bromeliads, one of Brazil’s most beloved native species.