A Botanical Journey Through Time

At Powell Gardens, Kansas City’s botanical garden, every exhibit and event is rooted in the wonder of plants—and Jurassic Garden (June 5 – September 28, 2025) is no exception! While towering life-sized dinosaurs grab your attention, it’s the ancient plants that truly transport you through time.  

Nestled in the Visitor Center is the Hall of Prehistoric Plants, where living fossils and ancient greenery take center stage. This immersive exhibit explores the incredible diversity and resilience of plants that once thrived alongside dinosaurs and continue to shape our world today. These prehistoric survivors are more than background scenery—they’re the foundation of life on Earth. Let’s take a closer look at some of the remarkable species featured during Jurassic Garden. 

Prehistoric Plants at Powell Gardens 

Ginkgo (Ginkgo biloba) 

Known as a “living fossil,” the ginkgo is the only surviving member of a plant group that dates back over 200 million years. Its fan-shaped leaves and golden fall color make it a favorite in urban landscaping, but its origins are ancient. Once thought extinct in the wild, it was rediscovered in a Japanese monastery in the 17th century and has since become a symbol of resilience—able to withstand pollution, disease, and even the atomic bomb in Hiroshima.

Powell Gardens and the Harry S. Truman Library and Museum are collaborating on a project to bring ginkgo trees from Hiroshima, Japan, to the Truman Library’s grounds. These ginkgo trees, descendants of survivors of the atomic bombings, have been planted as a symbol of hope and remembrance. Powell Gardens will grow the trees before they are incorporated into the library’s landscaping project. Look for one of these gingko trees in the Conifer Garden.  

Horsetail (Equisetum arvense) 

With a lineage stretching back to the Paleozoic Era, horsetails once grew as giant tree-like plants in prehistoric swamps. Today, they’re a humble groundcover, often found in damp soils and ditches. These plants reproduce by spores—not seeds—and their jointed, hollow stems have long been used by humans for medicinal and cleaning purposes. Their unique appearance and ancient roots make them a staple in our Hall of Prehistoric Plants. 

Norfolk Island Pine (Araucaria heterophylla) 

This elegant tree with soft, symmetrical needles is not actually a pine, but a member of the same plant family that thrived during the Jurassic period. Native to a remote island in the South Pacific, the Norfolk Island Pine was discovered by Captain Cook in 1774. Today, it’s popular as a houseplant or even a living Christmas tree, but its ancestors once stood alongside dinosaurs. 

Staghorn Fern (Platycerium spp.) 

With its dramatic, antler-shaped fronds and tree-dwelling habit, the staghorn fern adds a prehistoric flair to any environment. Native to tropical forests across the globe, this epiphyte grows sideways or even upside-down, anchoring itself to tree trunks with flat basal fronds. It reproduces by spores and has gained popularity in recent years as a living wall feature or mounted botanical artwork. 

Cycads (Zamia florida) 

Among the most iconic of prehistoric plants, cycads resemble palm trees but are more closely related to conifers. With stiff, feather-like leaves and stout trunks, they were once the dominant flora during the time of the dinosaurs. The Zamia florida species, native to the southeastern U.S., is a rare example of a cycad that still thrives in North America today. 

Australian Tree Fern & Kangaroo Paw Fern 

Ferns flourished long before flowering plants appeared, and these two species continue that legacy. The Australian tree fern grows tall with lacy fronds, resembling a palm but with a much older lineage. Meanwhile, the Kangaroo paw fern adds a quirky twist with uniquely textured leaves, thriving in shaded, humid environments much like their ancient ancestors. 

Ceropegia 

Ceropegia is a genus of unusual and fascinating plants. With their tubular, lantern-like flowers and vining stems, they are often pollinated by small flies and exhibit the kind of specialized adaptations that make evolutionary history so compelling. 

Cryptomeria 

Often called “Japanese cedar,” Cryptomeria is a towering conifer with roots in ancient landscapes. This tree has been revered for centuries and cultivated widely in East Asia, but its lineage stretches back to prehistoric times when gymnosperms dominated the Earth. 

Aglomorpha 

This lesser-known fern genus has thick rhizomes and dramatic foliage, often used in tropical horticulture today. Like many ferns, Aglomorpha is a descendant of the ancient plants that blanketed the Earth in the Mesozoic era. 

Bryophytes (Mosses) 

These tiny plants may be overlooked, but bryophytes were among the first to colonize land over 400 million years ago. Without true roots or vascular tissue, they absorb water directly through their leaves and thrive in moist, shaded environments. They remain essential to ecosystems today, helping to retain moisture and stabilize soil.

A Living Time Capsule 

The Hall of Prehistoric Plants is more than a Jurassic Garden display—it’s a celebration of Earth’s green history! From towering trees to humble mosses, these plants tell the story of survival, adaptation, and the critical role flora played in shaping our planet long before humans arrived.

Next time you visit Jurassic Garden, don’t just walk with the dinosaurs—walk among their plants. The world they knew is still alive and quietly growing, one leaf at a time.

About Jurassic Garden (June 5 – September 28, 2025) 

Jurassic Garden invites explorers of all ages to step into a land of dinosaurs and prehistoric plants. At Powell Gardens, encounter life-sized dinosaurs and discover the fascinating flora that once shared their world. Admission to Jurassic Garden includes interactive stations, educational displays, and hands on activities rooted in botanical science and adventure. 

Plan your visit today at www.powellgardens.org/jurassic-garden. Experience a world where ancient plants take center stage.