Heathcote Botanical Gardens: A Treasure Coast Oasis

Heathcote Botanical Gardens, known as the "Green Heart of the Treasure Coast," offers a tranquil escape into a world of botanical diversity. This five-acre garden in Fort Pierce began as a commercial nursery in the 1930s and was transformed into a public garden in 1986. The gardens feature a variety of themed areas, each with its unique charm. Explore the serene Japanese Garden, the vibrant Butterfly Garden, and the fragrant Herb Garden. Don't miss the Rainforest Display, the Native Plants Garden, and the Palm & Cycad Walk. Heathcote is particularly renowned for its James J. Smith Bonsai Collection, the largest public display of tropical bonsai in the United States. The collection features over 100 specimens, including a 200-year-old buttonwood and a Jaboticaba styled by John Naka.Heathcote House, a Frame Vernacular style home built in 1922, serves as the gardens' administrative center. The house was moved to the property in 1967 by Mollie and Jim Crimmins, who previously owned the nursery. The house was designated a Historically Significant Site in 2001.Throughout the year, Heathcote hosts events and educational programs. The annual Garden of Lights, a holiday display with thousands of lights, draws over 10,000 visitors each December.Currently (July 2025), visitors can explore "Held in Balance", an exhibit of gravity-defying stone sculptures by ZOTO (Adam Conard).