About PSL Botanical Gardens
The Port St. Lucie Botanical Gardens opened in 2010 on land that was purchased by the city to protect an ecologically diverse mosaic of native plant communities. The 21-acre site is on the banks of the north fork of the St. Lucie River, with seven acres of preserved mangrove wet-lands as well as ecological areas known as scrub, scrubby flatwoods, baygall, and wet flatwoods. The land had been slated for residential development. Now it is home to 17 themed gardens enhanced with artwork, a two-acre lake with a fountain, one mile of walking paths, a pavilion for special events, a garden center and gift shop, and many programs for the community.
The gardens are beautifully designed and offer a wide range of horticulture and design ideas. The large Butterfly Garden is lush with blooming trees, shrubs, flowers, and vines that offer food for caterpillars and nectar for mature butterflies. Passion flowers, cuphea, Dutchman’s pipe, and star jasmine climb on supports, while salvia, cosmos, pentas, and lion’s ear provide color and scent at ground level. A large mosaic butterfly mural creates a focal point for the garden.
The open-air Orchid Room houses over 100 rare and exotic orchids in pots that are on the ground, hung from trees, or attached to columns. The tree canopy provides a shady “roof” for the gorgeous flowers. In addition to the more common moth orchids, look for the exotic lady of the night, the vanilla orchid that produces vanilla beans, and the fragrant coconut orchid that smells like a pina colada.
Other themed gardens include the Rose Garden, whose four moon gates are smothered with purple passion flower, flame vine, sky vine, and black-eyed Susan vine; the Hibiscus Garden; the Bamboo Garden; a cool and shady Secret Garden with a gazebo; and a Palm Walk Garden. Overlooking the lake, the Bromeliad Garden offers a dazzling display of foliage color. The Native Plant Garden, maintained by a local middle school, illustrates the plants that are critical to healthy ecosystems. The Cactus and Succulent Garden shows off sculptural beauties that thrive in sandy soils without supplemental irrigation. In addition to many varieties of agave, you will find unusual sansevierias, kalanchoes, a Madagascar ocotillo, and an African milk tree. Future gardens include the Serenity Garden for reflection and remembrance, and Ancient Garden which will showcase Florida’s ancient roots.
With a large selection of plants in stock, the Garden Center is a great source for plants propagated from the gardens’ collections as well as decorations for the garden. In addition, the Garden Gate Gift Shop is the perfect place to find those one of a kind and special gifts for all of those special people in your life.
The Gardens is managed and operated by Friends of the Port St. Lucie Botanical Gardens, Inc., a non-profit 501(c)(3) public charity organization, that was founded to help support the daily operations of The Gardens. Friends volunteers provide hands-on daily oversight of the facility, including staffing to handle the many visitors year round. Please consider becoming a member of Friends. Friends’ is a 100% volunteer organization. In all cases, donations are deductible to the extent allowed by law.
The Friends of the Port St. Lucie Botanical Gardens, Inc. receives no funding from any government agency. Your admission donations help us maintain and grow The Gardens. We have a suggested donation of $5.00 per person and appreciate any and all monetary support from our valued guests and visitors.
📸 PSL Botanical Gardens
