National Tropical Botanical Garden "McBryde Garden"

The National Tropical Botanical Garden is dedicated to preserving tropical plant diversity and stemming this tide of extinction - through plant exploration, propagation, habitat restoration, scientific research, and education. NTBG's gardens and preserves are safe havens for at-risk species that otherwise might disappear forever.

Situated on the south shore of the Hawaiian island of Kaua`i, McBryde Garden is nestled in the picturesque and historical Lāwa`i Valley. The site of the first garden of the NTBG, the Lāwa`i Valley was 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. The Garden contains a state-of-the-art horticulture facility.

Meandering through the garden is the Lāwa`i Stream bordered by a lush greenbelt. Thematic plantings focus on Hawai'i native and Polynesian-introduced plants, plants of economic and food value, and the evolving biodiversity of plants.

National headquarters for the NTBG organization, with major research and education facilities, overlook the McBryde Garden.