The Hanging Gardens preserve some simple stone terracing from H.J. Lutcher Stark's original garden. This terraced area was replanted in honor of Stark, who likely created this garden in his original Shangri La to indulge his interest in exotic tropical plants. The new version in today’s Shangri La includes even more varieties of plants, such as agapanthus (Lily of the Nile), taro, ginger, and bananas.
The garden also includes Stark’s collection of antique sugar kettles, originally used on plantations to boil cane juice, as pots. Additionally, this garden area contains cycads, palms, nandinas, abelia, and an array of seasonals and subtropicals on the terracing.