Fairchild Tropical Botanic Garden
An 83-acre garden in Coral Gables with rare tropical plants and butterfly house
Fairchild Tropical Botanic Garden is a large botanic garden in Coral Gables, Florida, known for its collections of rare palms, cycads, flowering trees, and bamboos. Visitors can explore themed gardens, a rainforest, a butterfly conservatory, and take part in seasonal festivals and educational programs.
- Home to the world's largest collection of tropical bamboo
- Hosts the American Orchid Society and a major orchid collection
- Wings of the Tropics butterfly house features exotic butterflies
- Site of the Million Orchid Project for native orchid restoration
- Founded by plant explorer David Fairchild and Robert H. Montgomery
What is Fairchild Tropical Botanic Garden?
Fairchild Tropical Botanic Garden covers 83 acres and features a wide range of tropical plants from around the world. The grounds include themed areas such as the Montgomery Palmetum, Bailey Palm Glade, a two-acre rainforest with waterfalls, and the Clinton Family Conservatory housing the Wings of the Tropics butterfly exhibit. Visitors can walk shaded paths, see rare palms, cycads, orchids, and bamboos, and enjoy lakes, stone terraces, and outdoor art installations.
The history of Fairchild Tropical Botanic Garden
The garden was founded in 1936 by Robert H. Montgomery, who named it after his friend, plant explorer David Fairchild. Montgomery purchased the land and later deeded much of it to Miami-Dade County. The landscape was designed by William Lyman Phillips, who emphasized variety and openness in the layout. Many of the original plants, including a giant baobab tree, were collected by David Fairchild himself. The garden opened to the public in 1938 and has expanded its facilities and collections over the decades.
What there is to see
Fairchild is organized into distinct collections and themed gardens. The Montgomery Palmetum displays palms from around the world, while the bamboo collection is one of the largest globally. The Wings of the Tropics butterfly house is housed in the Clinton Family Conservatory and features exotic butterflies from Central and South America and Southeast Asia. The garden also includes a rainforest area with a misting system, lakes, and shaded walkways designed for comfort in the Florida sun.
When to go
Open all year, Fairchild hosts a variety of public festivals such as the International Mango Festival, Orchid Festival, and Butterfly Festival. It also offers concerts, art exhibits, and educational programs for all ages. The garden is a site for research and conservation, working to protect tropical plants and restore native orchids. Private events like weddings and parties can be held on the grounds.
Parts and collections
Fairchild’s collections include over 740 species of tropical flowering trees, 125 species of bamboo, and a large variety of palms and cycads. The Michaux Bahamas Collection focuses on plants from the Bahamian islands. The garden’s orchid collection expanded in 2012 when it became home to the American Orchid Society. The butterfly house features different species throughout the year.
Why Fairchild Tropical Botanic Garden matters
Fairchild is a center for plant conservation and education, partnering with local universities and running programs like the Million Orchid Project to restore native orchids. Art installations and seasonal festivals attract visitors from the region. The garden is named for David Fairchild, whose work brought many important plants to the United States. Its design and mission reflect a commitment to biodiversity and public engagement.
The flowers of Fairchild Tropical Botanic Garden
Questions people ask about Fairchild Tropical Botanic Garden
Where is Fairchild Tropical Botanic Garden located?
Fairchild Tropical Botanic Garden is in Coral Gables, Miami-Dade County, Florida, just south of Miami, United States.
What kinds of plants can I see at Fairchild?
Visitors can see rare palms, cycads, orchids, bamboos, flowering trees, and tropical fruit plants, as well as themed gardens and a rainforest area.
What special features does the garden have?
The garden includes the Wings of the Tropics butterfly house, a large bamboo collection, a rainforest with waterfalls, and seasonal art exhibits and festivals.
Is Fairchild involved in plant conservation?
Yes, Fairchild is active in conserving tropical plants, restoring native orchids, and supporting research and education in plant science.
When is the best time to visit Fairchild?
The garden is open year round, with different plants in bloom and various festivals and events held throughout the year.
Good reading and sources
- Official websiteOfficial site
- William Lyman Phillips (U.S. National Park Service)US National Park Service, Article
- Fairchild Tropical Botanic Garden on WikipediaEncyclopedia
- More photos on Wikimedia CommonsPhotos
- Wikidata recordOpen data
The facts on this page come from the Wikipedia article "Fairchild Tropical Botanic Garden", written by its contributors and used under the CC BY-SA 4.0 licence, and from its Wikidata record (CC0). Phool rewrote the text in its own words, with AI assistance, and compares every page with the article to make sure no passage is copied. It may be reused under the same CC BY-SA 4.0 licence with a link back.
It may contain mistakes. Opening times, prices and bloom dates change: check with the place before you travel. If something is wrong, tell us. Last refreshed 2026-10-03.
More of the same kind
Place
Tropical Botanical Garden and Research Institute
A major botanical garden and research centre in Thiruvananthapuram, Kerala
Thiruvananthapuram, 🇮🇳 India · Botanical garden
Place
Baldha Gardenবলধা গার্ডেন
A historic botanical garden in Old Dhaka with hundreds of plant species
Dhaka, 🇧🇩 Bangladesh · Botanical garden
Place
Hakone Botanical Garden of Wetlands箱根湿生花園
A garden of wetland and alpine plants in Hakone, Japan
Hakone, 🇯🇵 Japan · Botanical garden
Place
Sim's Park, Coonoor
A century-old botanical garden in the Nilgiri hills of Tamil Nadu
Coonoor, 🇮🇳 India · Botanical garden, May
More from the United States
All the flowers of the United States
Place
Hillwood Estate, Museum & Gardens
A museum and garden estate in Washington, D.C. with historic interiors and formal gardens
Washington, D.C., 🇺🇸 United States · Flower garden
Place
Callaway Gardens
A 2,500-acre garden and resort in Pine Mountain, Georgia, known for its azaleas
Pine Mountain, 🇺🇸 United States · Botanical garden
Place
Dumbarton Oaks
A historic estate, garden, museum, and research center in Washington, D.C.
Washington, D.C., 🇺🇸 United States · Flower garden
Place
San Antonio Botanical Garden
A 41-acre botanical garden on one of San Antonio’s highest points
San Antonio, 🇺🇸 United States · Botanical garden