Heathcote Botanical Gardens

Fort Pierce, Florida, United States

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Heathcote Botanical Gardens is a five‑acre subtropical garden in Fort Pierce, Florida, operating as a nonprofit “Green Heart of the Treasure Coast” that showcases both native Florida and exotic plants in a compact, walkable layout.

Located at 210 Savannah Road, it began in 1960 as the Crimmins family nursery and was later preserved as a public botanical garden, opening officially in 1986 with support from local citizens and grants.

The site includes themed areas such as a Japanese‑style reflection garden, herb garden, rainforest display, native‑plants garden, palm and cycad walk, and a children’s garden, all centered around a small reflection pond and shady pathways.

Heathcote is also home to the James J. Smith Bonsai Gallery, which holds the largest public display of tropical bonsai in the United States, and offers seasonal events like the popular “Garden of Lights” holiday illumination, educational classes, and tours, while remaining accessible to visitors for a modest admission fee and welcoming pets for a small extra charge.