Flora & Fauna

Tropical flowers and plants abound and include hibiscus, bougainvillea, pink and white oleander, frangipani, flamboyant in summer, poinsettia at Christmastime, jasmine, orchids (both wild and cultivated), the Ginger Thomas (the national flower), lush tropical foliage, arid island cactus and acacia scrub, periwinkles, bird of paradise, ixora, plumbago, cup of gold, many other flowering plants and bushes, sea grapes, palms and mangrove trees. Some plants and bushes are known by interesting local names such as Catch-and-keep, monkey-don't-climb, jump-up-and-kiss-me, nothing-nut, pink-shower, crown-of-thorns, jumbi cutlass, clashie melashie, eye-bright and cock-a-locka. Fruits grow everywhere and include summer mango, pineapple, banana, genip, soursop, mammee apple, plantain, guava, and passion fruit.

Many species of birds make their home here including frigate birds, pelicans, the brown booby, parakeets, mockingbirds, ground doves, the mangrove cuckoo, the sparrow hawk, and the banana quit (yellow bird or sugar bird), which is the national bird. There are also blue-winged teal ducks during the winter, as well as ospreys, the kingfisher, the spotted sandpiper and warblers. During spring and summer, St. Croix is visited by laughing gulls, plovers, terns and barn swallows.

Under water, the reefs are alive with brain corals, sea fans, five-pointed sea stars, sea urchins, and antler coral. Parrot fish, sergeant majors, jewel fish and angelfish are commonly seen by snorkelers.