Key West Tropical Forest & Botanical Garden

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United States of America - Florida - Key West

Institution Code: KWBGS

BGCI Member: Yes

About the Key West Tropical Forest & Botanical Garden

The Key West Tropical Forest & Botanical Garden is the only "frost-free" botanical garden in the continental United States. A tropical environment with ample rain allows most trees to retain their leaves in the dry season (December through late May). It is home to many endangered and threatened flora and fauna. Tropical forests of the world hold at least half of all the variety of life on Earth. Moreover, the species found with the Caribbean are among the richest in plant and animal life on the planet.

The Key West Forest & Garden is a special place where you can appreciate biodiversity and learn more about its importance. For instance, the forest has two of the last remaining fresh water ponds in the Keys and is a major migratory stopping point for neo-tropical birds from places as far as South America, as well as being home to many rare birds in the Florida Keys.

There is a lot to explore, and this website is to help you keep up-to-date with our mission: to discover, preserve and expand the unique treasures of this region that this one of a kind, tropical forest and garden has to offer.

Main Address:
Key West Tropical Forest & Botanical Garden
5210 College Road
Key West
Florida 33040 United States of America

Telephone: (305) 296-1504
Fax: (305) 296-2242
URL: https://www.keywest.garden/
Primary Email:

Staff Details

  • Director's Name: Misha D. McRae, Executive Director
    Curator's Name: Karen Frank-Noll, General Manager
    Plant Records Officer's Name:
  • Total Staff:
    Horticultural Staff Number: 1
    Educational Staff Number: 2
    Research Staff Number:
    Administration Staff Number: 2

About the Garden

  • Institution Type: Botanic Garden
  • Status
  • Status: Private: Yes
    Status: Educational: Yes
  • Date founded: 1937
  • Physical Data
  • Natural Vegetation Area: Yes
  • Latitude: 24.5724650
    Longitude: -81.7491120
    Altitude: 0.00 Metres

Features and Facilities

  • Herbarium: No
    Arboretum: Yes
  • Micropropagation/ Tissue Culture Facilities: No
    Seed Bank: Yes
    Published Plant Catalogue: Yes
    Computer Plant Record System: Yes
  • Open to public: Yes
    Friends society: Yes
    Retail Outlet: Shop: Yes
    Retail Outlet: Plant Sales: Yes
    Disabled access: Yes
  • Number of Visitors: 30000
    Number of Volunteers: 75

Plant Collections

  • Accession Number: 1984
    Cultivation Taxa Num: 527
  • Invasive Species Monitoring: Yes
    Invasive Species Policy: Yes
    Plant Collection Policy: Yes

Conservation Programmes

  • Conservation Programme: Yes
    Reintroduction Programme: Yes

Research Programmes

  • Ecosystem Conservation: Yes
    Education: Yes
    Floristics: Yes
    Horticulture: Yes
    Restoration Ecology: Yes
    Sustainability: Yes
    Land Restoration: Yes

Education Programmes

  • Visitor/Education Centre: Yes
    Education Signs in Garden: Yes
    Public Lectures/Talks: Yes
    Education Booklets/Leaflets: Yes
    Guided Tours: Yes
    Permanent Public Displays: Yes
    Special Exhibitions: Yes
    Courses for School Children: Yes
    Courses for University/College Students: No
    Courses for General Public: Yes
    Education Programme: Yes