If you’re looking for a low-key escape from the hustle and bustle of Miami, Fairchild Tropical Botanical Garden is a must-visit. This garden is home to exotic plants and wildlife that can’t be found anywhere else in the country.
The 83-acre paradise was founded by Robert H. Montgomery in 1936 on valuable real estate along Biscayne Bay. He was an impassioned plant collector who wanted to preserve his collected tropical materials. Read on to find out more.
83 Acres of Exotic Plants
You can spend all day wandering through Fairchild’s garden paths, enjoying floral fragrances and the tranquility of the natural setting. There is so much to see – you will want to visit again and again.
You’ll find exotic palms, cycads, flowering trees, and vines here, as well as rare tropical fruit and ornamental plants like maidenhair ferns, orchids, and bromeliads. The garden is also home to a rainforest with rushing streams, waterfalls, and a misting system that emulates an authentic jungle environment.
One of the top attractions is the Wings of the Tropics Butterfly Conservatory, where you can watch thousands of exotic, technicolor butterflies flutter around. Other popular highlights include a rainforest, the Palmetum, and a collection of tropical flowers.
Wings of the Tropics Butterfly Exhibit
The Wings of the Tropics Butterfly Exhibit is one of the best things to do at Fairchild Tropical Botanic Garden. You can see up to 40 different exotic butterflies fluttering around you in this tropical forest. They are performing amazing acrobatics all over the place.
Fairchild is a beautiful garden, but it’s also a science museum and conservation research center. It’s a standout among gardens in America and the world. It’s also home to a rare plant phenomenon called the amorphophallus titanium, which is a giant flower that produces a strong odor like rotting flesh. This flower attracts insects to pollinate it, and once it’s in bloom, you can only see it at Fairchild.
Visiting Fairchild is a fun way to escape from the Miami heat, but it’s also a great opportunity to learn more about tropical plants and wildlife. You’ll feel as if you’re in a different part of the world. You’ll want to spend at least two or three hours here to take it all in. Discover More about Miami here.
Whitman Tropical Fruit Pavilion
The garden is renowned for its palm and cycad collections, but it’s also one of the best places in the world to see tropical fruit. The Whitman Tropical Fruit Pavilion reflects the commitment of founder David Fairchild and his successor, Bill Whitman, to explore and grow exotic fruit trees.
The Pavilion is home to the world’s largest unbranched inflorescence, a Titan Arum or “corpse flower,” that blooms every five years and emits a foul smell of rotting flesh to attract insects for pollination. This plant can reach eight feet tall and unfurl to four feet wide when it blooms, making it a spectacular sight.
Other highlights of the garden include the Children’s Garden, Gate House Museum, and visually stimulating modern art installations at The NightGarden. Take a stroll through the rainbow-colored pathways at the gardens’ most popular light show and prepare to be amazed by dozens of magical, interactive displays that make your Instagram feed look like an art gallery.
Children’s Garden
The 83-acre garden is more than just beautiful plants, it’s also a museum, learning center, and conservation research institution. Its horticultural collections are enhanced by sculptural art installations like those by Dale Chihuly. Thesis Hotel guests can explore this horticultural oasis by taking one of the many guided tours offered at Fairchild.
Tours are available year-round on the hour (10 a.m. to 3 p.m. on weekdays, 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. on weekends). The best way to see the garden is to hop aboard one of the tram tours that are narrated by staff and run throughout the day.
In addition to the tram tours, there is an array of self-guided and guided walking paths. The Garden is also home to numerous annual special events, so check the website for event dates. During your visit, don’t miss the Wings of the Tropics Butterfly Exhibit and the Whitman Tropical Fruit Pavilion. The Lougheed Spiny Desert Forest of Madagascar is another must-see attraction and the garden’s only rainforest is a tranquil space where visitors can experience balmy jungle climates. Browse the next article.
Driving directions from Online Movers & Storage to Fairchild Tropical Botanic Garden
Driving directions from Fairchild Tropical Botanic Garden to Tropical Park
