Latin America plants on AUB Campus
The historical ties between Latin America and Lebanon, and subsequently with AUB, have left a lasting mark on both Lebanon’s culinary heritage and its landscape. During the 18th and 19th centuries, many plants—including tomatoes, potatoes, and maize—were introduced to Lebanon through these exchanges, enabling Ottoman-era peasants to transform their food practices. Beyond their culinary impact, Latin American plants also became an integral part of Lebanon’s natural scenery, including the AUB campus, with species such as Jacaranda, Bougainvillea, and the Barbary fig.
Today, the AUB campus stands as a green oasis in the heart of Beirut, highlighting a remarkable variety of trees and plants from around the world. Its beauty is enhanced by flowering species that bloom across the seasons, offering color, fragrance, and visual delight. Particularly notable are those originating from Latin America: the vivid blue blossoms of Brazil’s Jacaranda, the bright yellow flowers of Bolivia’s Tipuana, the large golden blooms of the Argentine cat’s claw, the festive poinsettia that adorns the campus at Christmas, and the striking Brazilian Bougainvillea climbing walls and fences in shades of crimson and pink. Together with species from Africa, Asia, and beyond, these plants transform the campus into a living botanical collection, reflecting both Lebanon’s natural diversity and AUB’s distinctive role as a cultural and educational sanctuary.