Heathcote Botanical Gardens — Attraction in Fort Pierce

This botanical garden started as a plant nursery in 1960 when owners Jim and Mollie Crimmins moved their business from Boca Raton to this location surrounding the historic 1922 Heathcote House. The Crimmins lived in the house and operated a nursery. The city designated the house a Historically Significant Site in 2001. When the Crimmins retired they put the property up for sale and a group of community members saw the opportunity to turn the land into a botanical garden. Heathcote Botanical Gardens, Inc., was incorporated in 1985 as a non-profit and the land was purchased in 1986 with grants and donations.

Admission is $8. On the day I visited the garden was having a plant sale. Vendors were selling plants and garden items and the botanical garden itself was selling plants and hot dogs and snacks. The garden is broken up into different sections. There is a Japanese garden that contains the signature elements of stone, wood, and water. Heathcote has the largest public collection of bonsai in the country. The reflection garden has a swirling pool of water and benches. There is also a herb garden, butterfly garden, native plants with a replica of a pioneer house, rainforest, and a palm and cycad walk. All of the gardens are designed to make you feel like you are in a room.

I loved all of the artistic elements in the garden. For example there was a blue chair in the herb garden and statues throughout. I especially loved the tiny fairy gardens and amazing bonsai, some of which had been worked on for years. My favorite plant in the garden is the Blue Tango bromeliad. If you want to relax and just take in the garden there are beautiful mosaic benches scattered throughout the garden. During the holidays the garden is decorated with lights. You can also hold your wedding here. A full schedule of events can be found on the website. On the way out you can browse their shop. Although not as large as the nearby McKee Botanical Garden Heathcote is special in it's own right and worth a visit if you are...

DON'T GO HERE...Unless you are going to go at least an hour! I had to come in from 1,400 miles away for a funeral today and am going to be here just for today. The lady at the desk wasn't closing, she had already closed up shop, closed up the books, and was not any letting anybody in. Totally unprofessional to do, wasn't even really sorry :-(if your employees can't work the hours that you advertise that you're open, maybe you should get a different employee!

This is a response to the owner's response listed below: I arrived at 3:40, The woman there was already all closed up... You advertise that you stay open until 4. The point wasn't the funeral, the point was that 1) I didn't live in the area, so I couldn't just drop by to return there, and 2) with all die respect, you should stay open the hours you're advertised for, unless you advertise that you going to close early(sorry if you did and I missed it!) Also, FYI I always make it a point to visit nonprofits(not sure what THAT has to do with anything🤔)... that's why I went there!! Additionally, if you check my other reviews, they are 99%...

This is a highly recommended hidden gem for, Ft Pierce, FL. I used to live within miles, also commute from Savanah Rd (road Heathcote is on), or N&S US HWY 1...truly finds the Garden hidden, yet NOT HARD TO FIND.

I have Volunteered here before, and I got to experience the gardens on a more intimate level. It is amazing behind the scenes and knowing the staffing, and others whom volunteer, have such wonderful passion and pleasure in the hard work they do.

The gardens themselves are amazingly beautiful and, sorry to say, make my hometowns Port St Lucie Gardens look too "new". That is to say that Heathcote is so established in the way of age. This lends their edge over most botanical gardens near the area. They've got some REALLY aged and simply astonishing trees, plants, etc.

Both exotic and natural, from orchid greenhouse to plenty of different species of plants and trees to keep your eyes open and cameras clicking.

Highly recommended by me, a 40 something native...