By Steven Scarpa
Plants comprise an important aspect of Taíno culture, offering physical, spiritual, and aesthetic sustenance. A partnership between the Yale Peabody Museum and the Marsh Botanical Garden brings that to life.
A new exhibition inspired by the Peabody’s temporary gallery Caribbean Indigenous Resistance ¡Taíno Vive! is currently on display in the garden. Plants important to Taíno life and culture, including guava, papaya, cassava, cohoba, and achiote, are flourishing in the greenhouse. Specific information on each plant species on display can be found here.
“This partnership is a great example of how the museum, and the gardens can work together to tell stories in new and interesting ways,” said Erika Edwards, director of the Marsh Botanical Gardens and interim director of the Yale Peabody Museum.
Edwards’ connection to the gardens and the museum isn’t the only reason for the partnership, which is a long time coming. The gardens and the Peabody share a common founder – the noted paleontologist O.C. Marsh. Marsh, known for finding and naming of iconic dinosaurs like Tyrannosaurus Rex, Brontosaurus, and Triceratops, stipulated in his will that the grounds of his estate should be used as a teaching and research garden upon his death.
The Peabody’s temporary exhibition, presented in conjunction with the Smithsonian Institute and on display through June 21, shows objects that tell the story of Taíno spiritual and cultural life. Plants, also represented in the gallery, were the foundation of daily life, culture, and survival.
The Taíno people’s agricultural knowledge sustained entire communities, with crops such as cassava and maize forming the basis of their diet. Medicinal plants supported healing traditions, while fibers, woods, and gourds were crafted into tools, housing materials, baskets, and ceremonial objects.
“Through this deep understanding of their environment, the Taíno developed resilient systems that enabled them to thrive despite the challenges of island life,” said Kunso Kim, associate director of the botanical gardens.
These species are native to tropical regions and warmer climates, so cultivating them in Connecticut requires carefully controlled environmental conditions. Kim said the plants are maintained in heated greenhouses with temperatures between 65 to 75 degrees Fahrenheit and relative humidity of approximately 70 percent, representing a subtropical climate.
“Under these conditions, the plants grow successfully and remain healthy,” Kim said.
However, one limitation is that many of these species do not produce fruit in the colder climate. In their native habitats, they rely on specific pollinators and ecological interactions that are not present in Marsh’s greenhouse environment.
“While the plants themselves do not change in a fundamental biological way, the absence of their natural pollination partners can affect their reproductive cycles,” Kim said.
However, in all other ways, the plants are thriving in the heated greenhouse and will become a permanent part of the Garden’s tropical collections.
A stroll through the Marsh greenhouse will offer a glimpse into the beauty and warmth of the Caribbean islands. Flor de Maga, found in Puerto Rico, represents fertility, renewal, and the creative energy of the island’s spirits. The protected cactus species Bayahibe Rose is the national flower of the Dominican Republic and reinforces the connection between the modern republic and its indigenous identity. The yellow hibiscus is a beloved symbol in Haiti of beauty, culture, and national pride.
“We hope that visitors to the Marsh Botanical Garden gain a deeper appreciation for the vital role plants played in shaping Taíno society and sustaining its enduring legacy,” Edwards said.
The gardens are located at 265 Mansfield Street in New Haven and are open to the public 9 am to 4 pm Monday through Friday. Admission is free.