Botanical Gardens

Visit the Gardens

open garden gate with "Open" sign leading to path

Garden Hours

Tuesday - Sunday 9am - 4pm 
*CLOSED TO THE PUBLIC ON MONDAYS*

The Gardens are closed Friday, April 12th for Plant Festival Set-up

Admission

  • General: $5; children 12 and under free.
  • Free with valid USF ID or Gardens Membership. The USF Botanical Gardens is part of the American Horticultural Society's Reciprocal Membership Program and honors free admission to those who hold a valid membership from participating institutions.

The USF Botanical Gardens is a self-supported facility. All proceeds from admissions, plant shop sales, workshops and special events go towards maintaining the Gardens. Please consider annual support by becoming part of our Friends of the Gardens.

GUIDED TOURS

Guided tours are available for groups for an additional fee of $50, but must be scheduled ahead of time and are additional to our regular entrance or field trip fee. Guided tours are for a minimum of 10 individuals. Please contact our staff at the gardens to arrange a tour.

FIELD TRIPS

Field trips are permitted and require a reservation. One chaperone must be available for every 10 children. Children are $5 each and chaperones are free.  Please contact our staff at the gardens to book your trip.

PLAN YOUR VISIT

The USF Botanical Gardens is a varied collection of mini-gardens within our purposely planted 7 acres and another 6-7 acres of native woodland accessible by our nature trail.  Although our focus in on showcasing the rich diversity of plants native to Florida, we also have extensive collections of fruit and exotic flowering trees from around the world, orchids, palms, cycads, cacti and succulents, ferns, aroids and hoyas. Our themed gardens also include medicinal plants from around the world, herbs and vegetables, and our popular "pot lady garden".  You never know how she'll be dressed as she sits on her bench and oversees the activity around her. If you wish, take a peek at what our students are growing in our newly expanded learning garden.

We encourage you to stroll the Gardens' natural areas on our 1-mile woodland trail, take a break at one of our benches and picnic tables, explore our collections and displays, and participate in our programs and special events.  The Gardens have something for every nature lover and our visitors will find a great diversity of birds, butterflies, and other wildlife species that will add to your experience.

Don't forget to check the weather for the day!

pathway to the Gardens

For Your Safety and Pleasure

  • Allow at least an hour to enjoy the Gardens.
  • You are welcome to walk on the grass, but please do not climb garden structures or trees.
  • You are welcome to bring in food to picnic.
  • Ponds are for reflection only.
  • We are a smoke-free Garden.
  • Jogging, skating, and bicyling are not permitted.
  • Our flowers and plants are happy here.  Please do not take them home unless you purchased them from our Plant Shop.
  • Photography is permitted.  Be respectful of people and plants.
  • Pets are welcome - if on leash and if you pick up after!

*The USF Botanical Gardens are committed to ensuring all guests are reasonably accomodated to experience the grounds. Please notify staff at least 48 hours in advance for reasonable accomodations around accessibility.*

Confetti and Balloon Policy

At the USF Botanical Gardens, we are committed to maintaining a serene and environmentally-friendly atmosphere that allows visitors to connect with nature in its purest form. In order to uphold this commitment and preserve the delicate balance of our botanical environment, we have implemented a strict No Confetti or Balloon Policy. We kindly request all visitors to adhere to the following guidelines:

  • No confetti allowed.
  • No balloons allowed.
  • No gorillas allowed. 

We appreciate your understanding and cooperation in helping us maintain the beauty and ecological integrity of the Gardens. By respecting this policy, you contribute to the well-being of our natural surroundings and enhance the experience for all visitors. Thank you for being a responsible steward of nature.

Explore Further

American Horticultural Society Reciprocal Garden Network logo

Receive free admission and/or discounts to over 300 botanical gardens, arboreta and conservatories throughout North America with our membership in the American Horticultural Society Reciprocal Admission Program.