More than 45 years ago…

Marie Selby left her property in our care to preserve a bayfront oasis in the midst of downtown Sarasota. Her executors created the world’s only botanical research garden specializing in epiphytes, or air plants such as orchids and bromeliads.

Selby Gardens has become a leading botanical garden in the United States that is internationally recognized. Through research and education, we are committed to plant conservation and ensuring everyone we reach understands that plants are essential to all life on earth.

In 2020, Selby Gardens adopted Historic Spanish Point as a second campus. This cultural landmark less than 10 miles from the Downtown Sarasota campus boasts an archaeological record that encompasses approximately 5,000 years of Florida history. Today, Selby Gardens’ two campuses offer visitors 45 acres of bayfront sanctuaries connecting people with air plants of the world, native nature, and our regional history.

While our work has progressed, our Downtown Sarasota campus found itself still in need of the infrastructure a public botanical garden requires, especially considering future sea level rise to protect our collections. As Selby Gardens moves into the future, we envision an improved master site plan that connects our more than 230,000 visitors each year with the important work conducted by our professional staff. These improvements move our scientific and living collections out of flood zones and into secure structures using the latest green building technology. We are proud that this plan upholds our past and also ensures Selby Gardens’ future, which has significant scientific importance.

This thought-out plan also allows us to expand on Marie’s original gift to the community at the highest level.