Visit the only tropical botanical garden in the U.S. to have been chartered by Congress. With its multitude of plants, flowers, ancient Hawaiian stone walls, and taro terraces, National Tropical Botanical Garden in Kauai is a magnificent oasis of tropical beauty. The Garden consists of Lawa'i and Alberton Gardens. Lawa'i is a 186-acre preserve which claims the world's largest collection of rare and endangered plants. It has an Herbarium containing 26,000 specimens of tropical flora. Alberton Gardens boasts a 100-acre oceanfront garden, originally planted in the 1870's by Queen Emma, and features beautiful sculptures, pools, fountains, and flowers, set among pathways that follow the stream and ocean. Living collections here include native Hawaiian plant species, many of which are threatened, endangered, or have already disappeared from their native habitats. The Gardens are a useful base for teaching about Kauai's history, culture, tropical foliage, and preservation efforts for restoring Hawaiian native species.
To get here, take Highway 50 from Hanapepe towards Lawa'i. Just past Mile Marker #11, turn right on Koloa Road (Highway 530). Continue to Po'ipu Road and turn right again. When the road forks, near the ocean, take a right onto Lawa'i Road. Entrance to the Garden is located right across the street from Spouting Horn Park, about one mile down Lawa'i Road on the right.
Secluded between rugged cliffs dropping down to a verdant valley floor, McBryde Garden is a treasure house of tropical flora. Explore the unique biodiversity of native and exotic plants, recognized for their value and their beauty. See rare and endangered Hawaiian species and learn about the efforts to save them. Visit the living laboratory where scientists are still discovering the secrets of these plants. Take a trip back to ancient Hawai'i in the Canoe Garden. Follow an ever-changing stream as it meanders toward the sea. Share in the richness that is the McBryde Garden.
Situated on the south shore of the Hawaiian island of Kaua`i, McBryde Garden is nestled in the picturesque and historical Lawa`i Valley, chosen for its diversity of climate, soils, and topography. The area affords a kaleidoscope of distinct micro-environments which are cool, hot, wet, dry, lake, cliff or meadow.
McBryde Garden has become a veritable botanical ark of tropical flora. It is home to the largest ex situ collection of native Hawaiian flora in existence, extensive plantings of palms, flowering trees, Rubiaceae, heliconias, orchids, and many other plants that have been wild-collected from the tropical regions of the world.
Meandering through the garden is the Lawa`i Stream, transected by Bamboo Bridge in the lush greenbelt that borders it. The Canoe Garden contains plants of ancient Hawai`i and Maidenhair Falls area features such plants as chocolate, allspice, and ginger.