Fairchild Tropical Garden

World-renowned palm and cycad collections include a broad representation of the world's species; with more than 800 species and more endangered palm species than all other botanical gardens combined, according to the World Conservation Monitoring Center. The cycad collection includes representations of all the world's 200+ species and is one of the world's largest and most diverse collections, with more than 3,700 accessioned plants. All cycads are considered to be threatened with extinction. Rare and endangered species collections include about 4,000 plants of about 100 endangered, threatened or rare species from south Florida and the Puerto Rican archipelago. The collection serves as an important safeguard against extinction and a resource for research, education and natural areas management. In addition to conserving ex situ collections of endangered plants, the Garden is active in propagating those plants, reintroducing seedlings into the wild and monitoring their long-term success.

Fairchild tropical fruit trees include an internationally significant collection with more than 450 cultivars of superior tropical fruits such as canistel, jackfruit, mango, mamey sapote and lychee. Other special plant collections include a wide diversity of plants from tropical and subtropical climates, including tropical flowering trees, bamboos, tropical vines, arid plants, hibiscus, Bahamian plants and mangroves.

Botanical science programs at Fairchild Tropical Garden emphasize research and conservation projects aimed at understanding and preserving tropical plant biodiversity. Four primary areas of research include South Florida plants and environments, Caribbean biodiversity, palm biology and tropical fruit crops.

The Garden's 83 acres offer the visitor a variety of landscape and horticultural experiences. The Bailey Palm Glade features a display of unusual palms and provides a long, narrow view across the Garden's landscape, eastward toward mangrove preserves and Biscayne Bay. The Overlook, an octagonal landscape "room", offers a wide, panoramic view of the Garden's lowland areas and lakes, providing a striking architectural counterpart to the narrow view of the Bailey Palm Glade. The Rainforest blends native Florida species with true rainforest species collected by Fairchild plant scientists from tropical forests in Latin America and other locations. People of the Rain Forest is an ethnobotanical exhibit which features the culture and plant knowledge of the Chachi people, an indigenous tribe of northern Ecuador.

The McLamore Arboretum is a ten-acre display of some 740 species of tropical flowering trees, collected from all tropical regions of the world. Arranged by plant family, these collections show a magnificent diversity of form, structure, texture, color and fragrance. Adjacent to the Arboretum is the 560 foot long Vine Pergola, an historic stone and wood structure supporting a dazzling array of tropical flowering vines of every imaginable shape and color. The Lynn Fort Lummus Endangered Plant Garden, adjacent to the Gate House Museum of Plant Exploration, displays a selection of endangered species of Florida and Puerto Rico.

Windows to the Tropics is a 16,428 square foot conservatory with extensive displays of some 1,730 species of plants from the humid tropics. In its two levels of beautiful indoor gardens are rare palms and cycads, ferns, orchids, aroids, bromeliads, fruit trees and unusual vines. Exhibits are based on themes such as plant coloration, plant-animal interactions, plant reproduction and diversity of form and function.

An educational component is at the heart of virtually every program and service of Fairchild Tropical Garden. The Garden offers a broad scope of educational programming for all ages, including general and specialized audiences, locally and around the world. Children and teachers are served through guided tours, training programs, a teacher newsletter and hands-on gardening activities. The popular LEAF ("Let's Explore at Fairchild") program is a weekly series of Saturday nature adventures in the Garden for 8- to 12-year-old children. Activities include planting seeds and cuttings, creating nature crafts, and examinations of the inter-relationships of plants, animals, people and the environment.

Continuing education programs (more than 150 classes annually) highlight the South Florida environment, horticulture and conservation, as well as art, cuisine and natural history, plus tours to the Everglades, Florida Keys and other environmentally significant sites. Courses are offered in English and Spanish. Professional education in botanical science and conservation is provided through lectures and workshops by Fairchild scientists and leading regional and international scientists and environmentalists. Community outreach programs bring educational offerings to neighborhoods around South Florida. Fairchild horticultural therapy classes are provided for seniors and people with disabilities at public adult centers throughout the region. Fairchild classes in horticulture are offered at satellite locations, and Garden staff members present lectures and display materials to civic organizations and at community events throughout the year.

Fairchild Tropical Garden is a private non-profit organization supported by more than 11,000 members from around the world. The Garden is open every day of the year except December 25.

For further information, see our web site at: http://www.ftg.org

Fairchild Tropical Garden 10901 Old Cutler Road
Miami, Florida USA

Phone 305/667-1651
Fax 305/661-8953

This is one of the many gardens featured in The Edens of Florida, the first comprehensive guide to Florida's gardens, preserves, and nature centers.

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