Orlando has stunning botanical gardens that offer a peaceful escape into nature and a vibrant entertainment scene. If you are a nature lover or have a passion for gardening, here is our list of the best botanical gardens in Orlando, each one offers unique features and experiences.
Best Botanical Gardens in Orlando
Harry P. Leu Gardens, Orlando
One of the best botanical gardens in Orlando is the Harry P. Leu Gardens. Situated directly on the shores of Lake Rowena, this 50-acre oasis is just a short drive from downtown Orlando.
The gardens cover tropical and temperate flora, including palms, cycads, and oak trees, as well as camellias, azaleas, bromeliads, and philodendrons.
There are also entertaining special activities for people of all ages in the Harry P. Leu Gardens. Adults can enjoy movie nights or jazz concerts, while children can look for dinosaurs concealed among the trees.
Kraft Azalea Park
Kraft Azalea Park is a botanical public garden located on the shores of Lake Maitland’s edge. It’s a great place to have a family picnic or take a walk around the garden’s trails. Kraft Azalea Park offers many park benches and wheelchairs for the elderly.
This 5-acre garden with large Cypress trees makes it one of the best botanical gardens in Orlando for memorable events like weddings.
Sarasota Garden Club
The Sarasota Garden Club is a free botanical garden, situated directly on Sarasota Bay. This club offers a delightful retreat from the bustle of the city with its 9 individual gardens, such as a falling water garden, the Butterfly Garden, and a quiet garden.
If you have a passion for gardening, the Sarasota Garden Club invites people with and without membership to work and assist in garden maintenance every Friday morning.
Central Park Rose Garden
The Central Park Rose Garden in Syracuse is a must-see for an unforgettable experience. The garden offers a range of family-friendly events and festivals to welcome visitors all over the year. One thing to keep in mind is that this park does not allow pets.
This well-maintained park features a large rose garden with over 4,000 rose bushes, a gorgeous oak tree canopy, and lovely walkways and fountains. If you are a nature lover or just want to relax, the Central Park Rose Garden is a great option for you!
Marie Selby Botanical Gardens
The Marie Selby Botanical Gardens is one of the best botanical gardens in Orlando, providing 48 acres for exploration and relaxation. They are comprised of two of Florida’s most beautiful botanical gardens: the Downtown Sarasota Campus and the Historic Spanish Point Campus.
The Tropical Conservatory on the Downtown Sarasota Campus will give you the feeling that you have just entered a rainforest. Children can also enjoy the Children’s Rainforest Garden, which features rope swings and bridges.
Specialists will be there to help guests with a variety of activities, such as workshops on gardening, horticulture, and herb walks. Every Saturday and Wednesday, athletes congregate on the lovely landscape for “Yoga in the Garden.”
Naples Botanical Garden
One of the few tropical gardens in the US is the Naples Botanical Garden, featuring waterlily-filled pools, rainforests, succulent displays, and colorful flowering trees.
This 170-acre paradise has many food options, such as a burger shop and the Fogg Cafe, so you could easily spend an entire day there without worrying about dining. You can also enjoy a round of bocce ball or unwind in a hammock on the grass.
Miami Beach Botanical Garden
The Miami Beach Botanical Garden is surrounded by more than 100 palm species, orchids, philodendrons, and flowering trees. This 3-acre park features unique attractions, including the Collins Canal Promenade, the Japanese Garden, the Native Garden, the Edible Garden, the fountains, and the Koi Pond.
You can enjoy a wide variety of activities, such as attending workshops at the Garden Center, buying cuttings and propagations from the diverse range of plants in the garden, or getting a bag of garden compost soil to feed plants. Additionally, The Great Lawn in the center offers lots of open space for playing and unwinding.
Mead Botanical Garden
The Meadow Botanical Garden is one of the best botanical gardens in Orlando for outdoor activities, including a variety of picnic pavilions, wildlife, and floral gardens.
This 47-acre haven allows visitors to experience the best that nature has to offer, such as butterflies, a boardwalk, hiking trails, a creek, a pond with turtles, a variety of fish, and wading birds.
Additionally, there are yoga and birding classes, as well as annual events like the Florida Symphony Youth Orchestra and the Great Duck Derby.
Fairchild Tropical Botanic Garden
One of the greatest tropical botanic gardens in the world is Fairchild Tropical Botanic Garden. It features an amazing collection of cycads, blooming trees, tropical fruits, vines, aroids, and endangered species that are useful for botanists’ scientific studies.
Fairchild Tropical Botanic Garden offers each visitor an amazing experience with its lovely walkways, palm tree glades, breathtaking views, butterfly gardens, and exceptional horticultural shows.
You can enjoy many fun events, including pet-friendly live music evenings, ice cream-making classes, and watercolor and oil painting lessons.
Places to Visit in Orlando for Free
Summary
These gardens recommended in our list of the best botanical gardens in Orlando are a great option to relax and enjoy some nature away from the hustle and bustle of life. Enjoy the tranquil murmur of a fountain, stroll along acres of trails or well-kept lawns, or relax in the shade of a lovely pavilion.
