Foster Botanical Garden
Honolulu’s oldest public botanical garden, home to rare tropical plants and historic trees
Foster Botanical Garden is a 13.5-acre public garden in central Honolulu, Hawaii. Established in the mid-1800s, it features historic trees, a renowned orchid collection, and themed sections such as the Economic Garden and Prehistoric Glen. Visitors can explore rare tropical plants, sculptures, and memorials throughout the grounds.
- Oldest botanical garden in Hawaii, founded in 1853
- Home to a Sacred Fig descended from the Bodhi tree
- Features a renowned orchid collection
- Includes memorials and sculptures throughout the grounds
- Designated on the National Register of Historic Places
What is Foster Botanical Garden?
Foster Botanical Garden covers 13.5 acres in downtown Honolulu. The grounds include several themed areas: the Upper Terrace with some of the oldest plantings, Middle Terraces filled with palms and tropical flowers, the Economic Garden with useful plants, and the Prehistoric Glen featuring ancient plant species. The garden is also known for its extensive orchid displays and a number of large, rare trees. Visitors will find sculptures and memorials throughout the site, making it both a botanical and cultural destination.
The history of Foster Botanical Garden
The garden began in 1853 when Queen Kalama leased land to German botanist William Hillebrand, who planted many trees still present today. After Hillebrand returned to Germany, the property was sold to Thomas and Mary Foster, who continued to develop the gardens. Mary Foster left the land to the city in 1930, requesting it be kept as a public park. Over time, directors like Harold Lyon and Paul Weissich expanded the collection and helped establish the broader Honolulu Botanical Gardens system.
What there is to see
The garden is divided into sections, each with a different focus. The Upper Terrace holds the oldest trees, while the Middle Terraces feature palms, aroids, and flowering plants like heliconias and gingers. The Economic Garden displays plants used for food, spices, dyes, and medicines. The Prehistoric Glen showcases ancient plant species. There are also dedicated areas for orchids, including both species and hybrids, and a number of sculptures and memorials.
When to go
Foster Botanical Garden is open year-round for visitors to explore its plant collections and historical features. People come to see rare tropical species, walk among exceptional trees, and learn about the garden’s history. The site also serves as a place for reflection, with memorials and sculptures commemorating local events and cultural ties, such as Japanese immigration and the first Japanese language school on Oahu.
Parts and collections
Within the garden, visitors can see a wide range of plant types, from ancient cycads in the Prehistoric Glen to many species of orchids in the Lyon Orchid Garden and Hybrid Orchid Display. The Economic Garden highlights plants with practical uses, while the Upper Terrace preserves some of the oldest and rarest trees on Oahu, including a Sacred Fig descended from the Bodhi tree.
Why Foster Botanical Garden matters
Foster Botanical Garden is recognized as Hawaii’s oldest botanical garden and is listed on the National Register of Historic Places. It holds cultural significance through its memorials, such as a replica of the Daibutsu of Kamakura marking Japanese immigration and a stone commemorating the first Japanese language school. The garden’s Sacred Fig connects it to Buddhist tradition, and its plant collections reflect Hawaii’s diverse botanical heritage.
Questions people ask about Foster Botanical Garden
Where is Foster Botanical Garden located?
Foster Botanical Garden is in central Honolulu, Hawaii, at 50 North Vineyard Boulevard. It is one of five public botanical gardens on the island of Oahu.
What can visitors see at the garden?
Visitors can explore themed sections with rare tropical plants, historic trees, extensive orchid displays, and several sculptures and memorials. The garden is open all year.
How did the garden begin?
The garden started in 1853 when Queen Kalama leased land to botanist William Hillebrand. Later, Thomas and Mary Foster developed it further, and Mary Foster donated it to the city in 1930.
Are there any notable trees or plants?
Yes, the garden has many rare and historic trees, including a Sacred Fig that is a descendant of the Bodhi tree, and a large collection of orchids.
Is Foster Botanical Garden historically significant?
Yes, it is the oldest botanical garden in Hawaii and is listed on the National Register of Historic Places. It also features memorials related to local history and culture.
Good reading and sources
- Foster Botanical Garden on WikipediaEncyclopedia
- More photos on Wikimedia CommonsPhotos
- Wikidata recordOpen data
The facts on this page come from the Wikipedia article "Foster Botanical 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.
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