This small island ecoregion is split between two countries in the western Caribbean: the Miskito Cays and Corn Islands off the coast of Nicaragua, and the Colombian islands of San Andrés and Providencia farther east. Classified within the tropical and subtropical moist broadleaf forest biome, its lowland forests once held mahogany, cedar, and other large hardwoods, but clearing for agriculture and cattle has reduced much of the cover to low, dense thickets where genera such as Lantana, Croton, Randia, and Xylosma now dominate, with mangroves prevalent around the Miskito Cays. The climate is humid and tropical, with temperatures averaging about 27 degrees Celsius year-round and rainfall on the order of 2,000 mm annually, divided into wet and dry seasons. The ecoregion is the entire range of the endemic San Andrés vireo, and its surrounding waters fall within the Seaflower Biosphere Reserve, which protects one of the longest barrier reef systems on Earth. For gardeners in warm, frost-free climates, the hardy, sun-loving Lantana and the colorful-foliaged Croton native here are both familiar ornamentals.

At a glance

About the tropical & subtropical moist broadleaf forests biome

Warm, wet, highly productive forests — including tropical rainforests — with closed canopies, near year-round growing seasons, and the richest terrestrial biodiversity on Earth. Low seasonality and high rainfall sustain dense, layered vegetation from canopy to forest floor.

Catalog plants suited to this ecoregion

No catalog plants intersect this ecoregion's zone range. As the catalog grows to cover this region's climate band, suggestions will surface here.

Collections for this ecoregion

No curated collection's plants all fit this ecoregion's zone range. We surface a collection only when every member would grow here — partial fits get filtered out rather than mislead. As the catalog and the curated set both grow, this section will fill in.

Related ecoregions