Morningside Park Palmetum

Photo above a tour given by Elvis Cruz (pictured far left) and scouts on April 13, 2025 (Palm Sunday).

Creating awareness of palms in public spaces

Longtime SFPS & IPS member Elvis Cruz has led the effort to restore the palmetum at Morningside Park in Miami, Florida. In recent years, the garden is enjoyed by the entire community. Elvis regularly conducts tours for school children and local horticulturalists.

In 2021, The International Palm Society named Elvis Cruz as the “Palm Hero” of the year. A “Palm Hero” is named each year at the Board of Directors meeting. This award acknowledges exceptional individuals who have made noteworthy contributions to the International Palm Society’s mission of research, education and conservation.

The garden is located at 750 NE 55th Terrace, Miami, FL 33137, just east of Biscayne Boulevard. It is a public park and there is no charge for parking.

This 3-acre garden was the defining element of the park’s original design in 1953. However the palm garden was neglected over time. Under the leadership of Elvis Cruz, SFPS helped in the restoration of the garden. Now, there are now nearly 200 palms representing over 125 species.

Morningside Park Palmetum Restoration

Morningside Park has featured this Palmetum since the park opened in 1953. While a dozen or so of the original 1953 plantings remain, many palms were lost to attrition over time. Volunteers from the South Florida Palm Society (SFPS) under the leadership of Elvis Cruz, engaged in planting, irrigating, fertilizing, weeding, mulching and general maintenance of the palmetum, at no cost to the City.

Rare palms have been donated by Fairchild Tropical Botanical Garden, Montgomery Botanical Center, various commercial nurseries operated by SFPS members, and individual donations. The SFPS donated the identification signs for each palm.

Currently displaying over 170 individual palms representing approximately 150 different species, with new plantings an ongoing endeavor, the Palmetum will become increasingly more beautiful over time.

Images below show Elvis Cruz with volunteers from SFPS helping to restore the Palmetum.

The Palmetum becomes a Classroom- Popular Place to Enjoy and Learn

Students with Elvis Cruz enjoying a tour of the Palmetum

Elvis and biology students with garden club members of the Morningside k-8 Academy enjoy a tour of the Morningside Park Palmetum.

Biology students and garden club members of Morningside K-8 Academy, the local public school. The students and faculty enjoyed the tour and learned much about palms. SFPS member Elvis Cruz has conducted numerous tours of the Morningside Park Palmetum.

Shown below is Elvis with a group of Boy Scouts, after he led them on a tour of the Pametum.

A group of Boy Scouts and Cub Scouts participated in the Baynanza shoreline clean-up in Morningside Park, then enjoyed a BBQ picnic and a tour of the palmetum.

Not only are these tours an educational benefit for the public, they also help preserve and protect the Palmetum by giving it a social and educational value. Tours are given free of charge to the public.

Palm Sunday Tour of the Morningside Park Palmetum

Photo above a tour given by Elvis Cruz (pictured far left) and scouts on April 13, 2025 (Palm Sunday).

Feb 28, 2025, Morningside Historical and Architectural Walking Tour led by Elvis Cruz

Morningside is Miami’s first historical district. Elvis is a Morningsider since 1977, and has thoroughly researched its history and architecture. Elvis found connections of Morningside historical district to President John F. Kennedy, Robert Duval, Pope John Paul II, Gloria Estefan and others!

Danger from Development still present

A re-development plan was proposed in 2021, which ultimately could devastating to the Palmetum. It was never funded. Elvis has worked tirelessly to convince District Commissioners and others, that the Palmetum should remain. Others from the SFPS spoke at a public meeting in support of preserving the Palmetum.