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St Lucia / Special Interests / Flowers & Gardens

By James Henderson

St Lucia, a volcanic island, is immensely fertile and there are a number of places where you can see an astonishing array of tropical plants, including several restored plantations with nice gardens. A few examples of tropical flowers that you are likely to see are plumbago, with its delicate pale blue flowers, allamanda and the many heliconias, including the red and orange balisier and the red, saw-toothed ‘lobster claw’. There are also more than 200 varieties of hibiscus, which open during the day and close at night, and orchids including dendrobium, vanda, scorpion and vanilla.

It is always worth taking a botanical tour, not least because Caribbean plants have wonderful local names, surprising stories and some unexpected medicinal uses. For the experienced horticulturalist however, the finest gardens are at Mamiku in the East of the island near Praslin.

Gardens and estates on St Lucia include:

Mamiku Gardens, nr Praslin - A truly magnificent private garden on the Atlantic coast. Twelve acres set on a former eighteenth century plantation estate, centred on a pretty estate house. There are trails through the banana walks revealing many flowers, orchids and medicinal plants, as well as the ‘Mystic Garden’. Still a working plantation producing tropical flowers and fruits including bananas. Mamiku is often visited by foreign horticultural experts.

Fond Doux Estate, nr Soufrière - Abundant gardens with historical ruins and artefacts set in the rampant forests above Soufrière, a part of St Lucia’s Heritage Tourism Programme. You will see cocoa drying trays (boucans), old sugar works and an interesting medicinal herb garden. You can guide yourself on the garden and forest trails (open 9am - 4pm, with a plant identification booklet), or take a guided tour. Tropical Gardens Tour, 10am and 1pm daily, Tropical Gardens and Country Plantation Tour. Full day tour with picnic lunch, starts at 10am.

Diamond Botanical Gardens, Waterfall and Mineral Baths, Soufriere Estate - Set inland behind the town of Soufrière, the Diamond Botanical Gardens are a very pretty profusion of tropical greenery, among which you will see with examples of many typical Caribbean plants, for instance several varieties of heliconia including bird of paradise and lobster claw, but also some less known ones,including the breadnut, a relative of the better known breadfruit. Also in the gardens are the old Mineral Baths, which were created by a King of France in the 1700s for the treatment of his troops, because of their very high mineral content (so high that the water discolours the riverbed and the baths themselves). Open Monday to Saturday 10am – 5pm and Sunday 10am – 3pm. General admission US$5, children under 12 US$2.50. Mineral Baths admission US$6 for a private bath or US$4 for an outdoor one. All inclusive guided tour including lunch US$30.

Recommended accommodation view more

  • St Remy Villas & Villa Living

    Escapists can retreat to the hills to stay in the colonial surroundings of this pretty staffed plantation house and its lush tropical grounds. Sleeps 4-6. Read more

  • La Dauphine Estate Villas & Villa Living

    A graceful Caribbean retreat brimming with traditional St Lucian style amid the fertile surroundings of an old estate where bananas and cocoa grow. Sleeps 12. Read more

Upcoming events

  • 12 Jun

    Carnivals & Festivals | Barbados

    Enjoy a guided walk through the enchanting 50-acre Flower Forest with owner David Spieler. Bagpipes and Celtic dancing at a favourite beauty spot with views to the East Coast and Scotland District. Starts at 11am. Cost US$10/Bds$20.

Browse Flowers & Gardens on other islands

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Or read our other island guides

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When to go and weather

Looking for inspiration?

  1. Visit the world's only drive through volcano
  2. Play a round of golf at the Cap Estate
  3. Try dramatic wall diving off the base of the Petit Piton
  4. Eat local food and dance all night at Fish Friday, Anse La Raye
  5. Get married at a choice of romantic spots from private beaches and gardens to cliff tops and brigs

St Lucia Events

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