The Best Gardens in Miami

Miami is known best for its beaches, lively night life, boating fun, and rich culture. But within the Magic City’s urban fabric, away from the sandy shores, are pockets of lush gardens and green spaces for rest and respite. Here is a look at the best gardens in Miami.

“When the world wearies and society fails to satisfy, there is always the garden.”

Minnie Aumonier

Fairchild Tropical Botanic Garden

A verdurous 83-acre plot of land with a vast collection of tropical and subtropical plants from around the world, Fairchild Tropical Botanic Garden is magnificent. Founded in 1938, the park was named after the respected scientist Dr. David Fairchild, who greatly influenced the collection of plants found in the gardens we see today. Fairchild always has some event, festival, class, camp, or show for its charmed visitors. This botanic haven is a local favorite for more than one reason.

The Kampong

The former estate of Dr. David Fairchild, The Kampong, is located in Coconut Grove on the Biscayne Bay. Learn more with the available self-guided tours of the historic home and gardens. Enjoy the splendor of the green space abundant in exotic tropical fruit and flower plants. Find serenity with a stunning view of the placid bay waters just beyond the property’s edge. The very place for a moment of tranquility.

Vizcaya Museum and Gardens

Vizcaya. This is one of the top best gardens in Miami. It is a prime location for Quinceanera photo shoots, weddings and other fantastical events. The former winter estate of James Deering, the grounds include a 1916 Mediterranean style 9-bedroom house and formal gardens inspired by 18th century Italy. A visit to Vizcaya will transport you to another place and time. Feel free to wander the gardens and admire the architecture; it is spectacular in every sense of the word.

Miami Beach Botanical Garden

The Miami Beach Botanical Garden was formed in the 1960s as a tropical garden oasis in the center of Miami Beach. This 3-acre quiet green patch of land features a Japanese garden and edible garden, calming koi fishponds, a gazebo for reflection, and multiple shady seating areas. Free for the public to enjoy, the garden also offers environmental seminars, yoga classes and art exhibitions.

Ancient Spanish Monastery

Originally built in 1141 A.D., the Ancient Spanish Monastery once housed Spanish monks for almost 700 years. In the 1920s, due to civil unrest, the Cloisters were privately purchased. They were then disassembled and shipped to the United States but were not assembled until the 1950s. The gothic Cloisters and meditative courtyard stand in a greenspace of more than 15 acres of land, complete with a formal garden.

If you are a history enthusiast, you will also enjoy the many historical artifacts all around the site, including an 800-year-old hand painted hymnarium.

Ichimura Miami Japanese Garden

Ichimura Miami Japanese Garden is a small green retreat on Watson Island. Interestingly, it all began with a city visit and a view from a hotel window toward a patch of land. The green plot inspired Mr. Kiyoshi Ichimura to bring the authentic Japanese culture to Miami through trees, lanterns, statues, and a tea house. Unfortunately, hurricanes and other circumstances damaged the original landscape. But luckily passionate locals have helped preserve the gardens. The Japanese Garden is open and free to the public for regular visits. It also hosts annual events such as the Spring Festival and Japanese Festival.

Pinecrest Gardens

Another one of the best gardens in Miami on a small scale. Listed in the National Register of Historic Places from its time as a tropical tourist park in the 1930s, Pinecrest Gardens is a 14-acre refuge with beautiful flora and fauna, peaceful ponds, winding pathways, babbling streams, immense Banyon trees, a water play splash area, a children’s playground and petting zoo (set to open in 2022). Artwork is often on display in the gallery and within the gardens’ lush landscape. The site also hosts special events and festivals throughout the year including a weekly Sunday morning Farmer’s Market with local fresh baked goods, fruits and more.

Fruit and Spice Park

The Fruit and Spice Park is located about 40 miles south of Miami, in the Redland. Open since the 1940s, the park is an expansive 37 acres that boasts “more than 500 varieties of exotic fruits, herbs, spices, and nuts; 180 varieties of mangos; 70 varieties of bamboo” and more!

Visitors may treat themselves to any of the fallen fruit. The park is open daily, offers tours, and hosts multiple festivals all year long. They also offer educational classes to inspire the horticulturist in you.

Cauley Square

A short 15 minutes away from the Fruit and Spice Park is Cauley Square. The historic village with ties to early South Florida built in 1903 is more than 10 acres with numerous cottages that now operate as shops, galleries, restaurants and more. Within its confines are gardens and fountains for visitors to observe and reflect on their musings. As a bonus, the Tea Room within the village is a whimsical restaurant with a great menu to satisfy visitors after a walk in the gardens.

Take in the sunshine, embrace the warm weather and nurture your spirit with the natural beauty of the green spaces and lush gardens in Miami.