Marie Selby Botanical Gardens

Marie Selby Botanical Gardens is a botanical garden located along the coast of Sarasota featuring large collections of tropical plants, orchids, and related species. The grounds span multiple thematic areas including a tropical conservatory and a museum dedicated to botany.

The gardens originated in the 1970s when Marie Selby left her private estate to the public. This founding transformed a personal residence into a center for botanical research and education.

The gardens display plant collections in settings that invite visitors to explore and understand tropical ecosystems. The layout encourages people to wander through different garden areas and develop a connection with the botanical world.

The grounds are walkable and offer various paths through the garden areas. It helps to wear comfortable shoes and allow time to explore all the collections at a relaxed pace.

The grounds specialize in plants that grow on other plants, particularly orchids with no roots in soil. This specialization makes it a rare place in the world for the study of this particular plant type.

Location: Florida

Founders: Marie Selby

Architectural style: Colonial Revival architecture

Website: https://selby.org

GPS coordinates: 27.32778,-82.54028

Latest update: December 8, 2025 13:43