22 Botanical Gardens to Explore in Florida

The Audubon House & Tropical Gardens is an exciting attraction that visitors to the area won't want to miss. Situated near the heart of Old Town Key West, this historical landmark offers tours throughout it's extensive grounds. Built by Waldo Sexton in the 1920s and now a popular vacation destination, this unique property boasts gardens from around the globe, captivating 19th century buildings, and myriad native species of birds that thrive in the area.

The Bok Tower Garden is a beautiful botanical garden filled with colorful blossoms and winding pathways. It was built by Edward W. Bok, as a tribute to the beauty of nature and birds. Visitors can explore peaceful walking trails and gardens, to experience the tranquility of nature up close. There's also a 203 foot tall Singing Tower featuring dazzling carillon bells which chime every 30 minutes allowing people to bask in their soothing tones from almost anywhere on site.

Opened in 1988, it is the largest butterfly park in the world, and the first park of its kind in the Western Hemisphere. The facility houses around 20,000 live butterflies. In addition to the birds and butterfly exhibits, visitors can view the laboratory where the butterflies are raised and can see the different stages including eggs, caterpillars, and pupae.

Camp Milton Historic Preserve is a beautiful 36-acre nature park that contains the last surviving earthen works from the Civil War, making it an important historic site. Inside of the preserve visitors can observe historical monuments such as cannons and earthen walls, constructed to protect Jacksonville during the American Civil War. In addition to its fascinating history, Camp Milton is home to unique wildlife and many outdoor activities like hiking and horseback riding.

Fairchild Tropical Botanic Garden is an 83-acre botanic garden, with extensive collections of rare tropical plants including palms, cycads, flowering trees, and vines. It is located in the city of Coral Gables, Miami-Dade County, It is also a museum, a laboratory, a learning center, and a conservation research facility; its main role is preserving biodiversity.

60-acre (24 ha) wildlife sanctuary, aviary, zoo, and botanical garden. The grounds contain more than 3,000 species of tropical and subtropical plants including 200-year-old oaks, and 300 plus species of palms. The 25,000 square feet (2,300 m2) Everglades aviary houses one of the largest collection of wading birds in the United States.

Spanning over 175 acres, the Florida Botanical Gardens is one of the area’s greatest treasures. Here visitors can explore natural wildlife, a world-class collection of palms, and breathtaking butterfly gardens. A variety of workshops and classes, such as botanical illustration, are offered for those looking to learn more about plants and ecology. Additionally, there are 11 distinct displays including a bromeliad garden and showcase herb garden highlighting aromatic greenery.

The Fruit and Spice Park is a 37-acre park located in the heart of Redland, Florida and is the only botanical garden of its kind in the United States. The garden features more than 500 different types of international exotic fruits, vegetables, herbs, and spices. Visitors are allowed to sample fallen fruits and can enjoy this place very much.

The Gizella Kopsick Palm Arboretum featuring more than 2000 different kinds of palm trees, this 5.5 acre outdoor garden is home to the largest collection of palms in the United States. visitors can explore North American and exotic varieties that honor Cuban, South-American and tropical influences -- like Coccothrinax argentea, Microcoelium costatum and Pritchardia thurstonii. A 1/3-mile nature trail meanders through the trails, offering a closer look into the diverse grouping of plants.

Nearly 50 acres (200,000 m2) of landscaped grounds and lakes, with meandering trails shaded by 200-year-old oaks and forests of camellias. A 15-acre (61,000 m2) section of the park is a U.S. historic district.

Heathcote Botanical Gardens is a five-acre subtropical botanical garden located at 210 Savannah Road, Fort Pierce. It currently includes a Japanese garden with teahouse, Reflection Garden, Herb Garden, Rainforest Display, Native Plants Garden, Children's Garden, and a Palm and Cycad Walk.

The Jacksonville Arboretum & Gardens is a stunning 125-acre preserve bursting with Florida’s native flora and fauna. The arboretum offers visitors five trails which weave throughout seven distinct landscapes. From mossy forests to picturesque ponds, each trail showcases the essence of Northern Florida’s unique ecology. The preserve also includes a Native Plant Demonstration Garden, an 80-foot observation tower, butterfly garden, educational kiosks and programs, as well as public events

Kanapaha Botanical Gardens are Florida's largest public bamboo gardens and the Southeast's largest herb garden as of 2005.

Spanning a lush 11 acres, the garden includes trails lined with exotic flowers, trees of all shapes and sizes, and structures that host events such as weddings and art shows. The property also contains a butterfly sanctuary where visitors can observe native species fluttering about amongst tropical plants. Additionally, birding classes and docent-led hikes take place throughout the year, offering tourists a chance to learn more about the environment while immersed in it.

Lignumvitae Key Botanical State Park, is a stunning slice of paradise straight out of the tropics. Not only does the park provide visitors with beach access, fresh salt water fishing and unique coral formations, but also botanical attractions such as three species of native palms, Strangler Fig and Wild Olive Trees. One of the most breathtaking aspects of this tropical retreat are its lush mangrove swamps, full of wildlife both large and small.

Located in Naples, Florida, Naples Botanical Garden covers 170 acres (69 ha).

This beautiful garden spans over 24 acres and houses a remarkable variety of plants, flowers and trees in its natural habitats. With walking paths winding through a tropical hammock, wetlands boardwalks, butterfly gardens and many other attractions, visitors can observe the plentiful wildlife that abounds in this area or take part in one of the gardening programs available to learn more about the native plant species found here.

This spectacular 4-acre strolling garden features a whimsical collection of exotic plants, flowers, trees and shrubs, as well as charming statues and waterfalls that make it an idyllic place for visitors to explore. Established in 1903, it was once part of the estate of George Turner's aviary. With its tropically themed design, it offers a year-round refuge from the hustle and bustle of everyday life where visitors can relax and simply enjoy soaking up nature's beauty.

The University of South Florida Botanical Gardens features a vast array of natural beauty. Located in Hillsborough County, Florida, visitors come to explore the many lush displays found within the gardens. With approximately 10 distinct collections, each showcase offers its own unique look at exotic plants like those found only in tropical rainforests. In addition to the plant life on display, birds, butterflies and other wildlife can be seen fluttering throughout the grounds.

Venetian Gardens is a park located in Lake County, Florida. Positioned on the shore of Little Lake Harris, it features a beachfront boardwalk that loops around the water’s edge. It is also home to a marina, fishing pier, playgrounds, picnic areas, and several walking trails. On top of that, visitors can rent electric boats or paddle boats to explore Little Lake Harris. Also available are fishing charters and pontoon boat rentals for those wanting to explore farther out onto the lake.