A hidden GEM in Tampa! I planned on spending an hour there, yet stayed for 5. Absolutely gorgeous and all for $5! I cannot recommend this place enough!

A beautiful garden on the outskirts of USF. It is a wonderful place to visit and stroll. They have many plant sales throughout the week. I come here at least once or twice a week just to walk and take pictures. I suggest that you visit the butterfly garden while you are there. I have been able to snap a few amazing picture of butterflies.

This place is like an oasis. Its surrounded by the hustle and bustle of city life but when inside, you can barely hear anything. Lots of places to sit and take it all in. The grounds are beautifully landscaped with a mix of all types of flowers, trees, shrubs etc. Certainly worth the $5 admission

Nice place to visit! Fairly accessible and open on weekends. Good way to see what the USF students are up to, to learn about horticulture and to contribute back to the university. They allow people to volunteer and help with groundskeeping. Lots of plants to look at and nice shade to take advantage of.

The plant sale is a biannual event not to be missed. If you are looking for a unique or special something? This is the best event. Speak directly with the growers and ask master gardeners questions or for advice. Volunteers will help you to your vehicles when you purchase. Do feel free to bring a cart or wagon with you. Most vendors will take a credit or debit card but be cash is appreciated. You can become a member of the Botanical gardens and enjoy advance entry and discounts but certainly not required. All are welcome.

A cornucopia of mostly tropical plants. Two tall coniferous trees which reminded me of California Sierra Nevada. The lake has crocodiles which for native Floridians might not he unusual. There are tables and chairs presumably for picnicking and a small greenhouse with two local cats, where you may be able to purchase plants.

Its a great place to visit I try to go as much as they have great plant speciums you can buy and take home

It their annual plant festival, beautiful array of plants and flowers, proved very reasonably. Plenty of shaded areas to hide from the noon sun. Unfortunately the event runs only two days for about five hours each day.

The gardens were beautiful. Some areas need some more attention and more identification on plants. But beauty is all around. It would be nice if they would offer some discount to Moffitt patients. Being so near the hospital it would be good to encourage patients and caregivers to come enjoy the outdoors.

Beautiful natural surroundings, butterflies everywhere!! Love the natural flora and fauna!!

A quaint little botanical gardens. The succulent/cacti area is one of my favorites. A cool collection of orchids and begonias as well!

Beautiful, peaceful garden. A lovely place to spend the afternoon.

Recently reopened from being closed due to COVID19. Peaceful place to walk around and take in the flora and fona.

Relaxing walk in a garden is the best way to relieve stress. Lots of plants, trees and flowers to peruse. Not very large but thats perfect for a gentle stroll.

Best natural place in Tampa. The place is filled with exotic plants and herbs.

Beautiful plants. You can tell they take very good care of the different species they house. Its a very relaxing place to take a walk, especially to visit the orchids.

Great place to get out walk around, theyve plants for sale too. We mostly go for plant and orchid shows.

Awesome place! Plenty to see and learn. Was able to buy some cool additions for my garden. Sell local honey.

Very quiet and a good place to unwind amidst the hustle and bustle of the world.

Super wonderful experience ! Kim and Laurie are very professional and friendly . They are the perfect resource for plant answers to difficult questions. The gardens are always peaceful and beautiful. The honey is superlative ! The homegrown nursery plants are a delight !

As a whole I enjoy the USF Botanical Gardens. However, I have enrolled in their beekeeping course, and have been treated very unprofessionally. I understand these are all volunteers running the course, but it costs $180 to enroll, so it should be treated as a real course. When other students brought their children to the class and caused distractions, I asked to be moved to a group that did not have children in it. They responded not only by not accommodating me, but at the next class they asked my group as a whole if anybody wanted to switch out for personal reasons (this made me uncomfortable and I did not respond as to not make a scene in front of my peers). In this class you also get to purchase and raise your own hive! Upon inspecting said hive, I noticed there was no queen present, and requested that one be provided free of charge, as it was to be included in the original purchase. The volunteer responded very unapologetically and even left my message opened with no response at one point. This course lacks the professionalism I expect from any type of course offered on a school campus, and I would recommend caution in signing up.Edit: the situation progressed and it was agreed I would be supplied with a queen, and when meeting up to receive the queen I realized there was a misunderstanding, and that I was to return the bees originally supplied in order to trade for a new hive. Jim reacted very poorly, and had quite a temper with me as well as being exceedingly condescending. I was stung in front of Jim and he had no reaction but to watch. I left in tears and and my partner who accompanied me was livid.I contacted the head of the gardens, Laurie, who was very sympathetic and reassured me she would handle the situation.Over all, I would very much recommend the gardens themselves, but I would not recommend the beekeeping course to anybody.

Amazing Gardens. Many photo opportunities.

Very relaxing and quiet. Beautiful plants and flowers and friendly staff. Even saw a turtle laying her eggs in the garden which Im told is pretty common.

Quiet and uncrowded. Lots of signs. Beautiful any time of the year.

Great local place to spend hours wandering the beautiful gardens . There are many spots to sit and relax or eat lunch

It is beautiful garden and has a plenty of plants.

Gorgeous blooms and the the people were very friendly and educated about the flowers and plant life

A nice place to take your family to see nature.

Amazing garden for only $5 it is worth every penny, I feel like there should be a donation tray, this place takes a lot of work to maintain.

A small gem tucked in the corner of the USF campus. Ive been coming here when I needed a break for more than 25 years now.

Went to the plant sale. It was great. They are doing good work educating the public regarding the need to plant native species in my yard to keep the habitat that the bugs and birds rely on to survive. I didnt know bugs here cant eat foreign trees and plants. That when we plow the landscape and put a house we need to put back native shrubs and trees so the birds and butterflies dont starve.

One of my most favorite places to stroll.

Such an incredible spot. USF Botanical Garden, youve been growing!!

Summer Plant Sale had lots of variety and decent prices.

My friend and I went for the 2019 Fall Plant Festival today. The weather was beautiful. Her first time here. We had a ball! Met some lovely plant lovers and vendors. We saw many beautiful specimens. Some of which we had never seen before. We both came home with some new goodies to add to our own gardens!

Lovely place at a nice price. Make sure to visit during different seasons for full effect!

A lot of greenery. Amazing variety of flora, which signage to indicate the species. Disappointed that the orchids were not in bloom. However, the gardens are a keeper. We used Google Lens to I. D. some plants.

This is a great place to go for a relaxing walk or a date. There is a sprawling garden with different varieties of plants in different directions. Theres a wonderful shade garden, a lake, a faery garden, and more. Very affordable with student discounts and definitely worth a visit. Kim was working and she was very knowledgeable about Florida plants. They also have a great plant store if you want to purchase locally grown Florida plants.

Even though the reason why I was at the gardens wasn’t to visit them but rather attend a vegan festival, I cannot help but rate the gardens 2 stars due to their deplorable state. The medicinal and culinary herbs section, for example, displayed nothing but an array of dead plants and overgrown weeds, missing signs informing of the type of plant and what not.A bad “no no” if you ask me, considering they are part of the USF premises and you would think students related to the botanical, agricultural or biological sciences would care for them properly with investment and help from authorities.Didn’t care to take any pictures because there really wasn’t much to photograph

Not handicap friendly, too much uneven terrain, dirt roads, not even suitable for wheel chairs

Always heard good things about here when I was a student, but seemed to care more about studying and partying than absorbing myself in nature. When I came back to Tampa to visit, I figured Id spend a bit of time at the places I never made it to and ended up so engulfed in the beauty of this place that it took me all day to see everything! My favorite part is that after exploring the grounds and gawking at the boranical brilliance of this place, I was able to buy my favorites to take home! Now, I have a memento from my university experience that speaks to what Ive become: a nature loving story teller.

Such a beautiful peaceful place.

Ive been here many times over two decades. The plant sale events they run are phenomenal and bring huge crowds along with a variety of plants you normally can only dream about. Those events also bring along local artists, foods, and an amazing group of people. You should come, its a great time.

So beautiful here. The campus is so peaceful and pretty

Such a beautiful relaxing space. LOVED the meditation garden!

The gardens are so beautiful and peaceful! I love each time I go there.

Nice setting lots of helpful people

Secretly tucked away at USF. Peaceful place to enjoy nature.

Beautiful place as always, always a nice stop on a beautiful day. They redid their garden shop, it looks a lot neater npe but unfortunately has a lot less plants. Regardless, I enjoyed my short time there

This was a great daytime date! The grounds are much bigger than we were expecting and we walked all over the grounds. It was so peaceful, and its free! will definitely go again to see what plants bloom in another season

Nice and nice walk around. Confusing driving in or walking around

It was hot the day we went, but, I must say, this place is so beautiful and for the price of Admission, I cannot wait to go again. It is much larger than I expected. But, a beautiful layout, plenty of shade and a perfect place to spend the day. Thank you so much for a fun and great adventure. ILL BE BACK.!!!!!

Place to chill and walk in between drs. Visits At Moffit

Beautiful place! I went here with a friend for her birthday and it was so pretty; Definitely a place for relaxation ☆ Some parts of the garden did look a little in need of care and other parts looked too barren, but the main areas were a sight to see.

I attend the multiple events held at the gardens throughout the year and am always pleased with their gardens and the events. I recommend to anyone who loves nature and gardens

A very peaceful place.

Had a wonderful walk around this park while waiting for a nearby store to open. The worker was knowledgeable and the space was well taken care of.

What a beautiful diamond in the rough, whod ever known such beautiful scenery. Very attractive nature path. Alot of educational perks about plants and green life. This place is big enough for a nice romantic date or a trip for the kids. Very diverse environment, that is quite enjoyable. I definitely recommend stopping by and very affordable for the family.

Great selection of local plants at affordable prices. Love that they also sell local honey and have a course of beekeeping as well. I use to take long walks on the Bonsai Garden but its empty now... Overall 5 out of 5 stars

Good place to spend some hours around nature.

This is a nice place to wander through, especially if you want something to do while a friend or loved one is have a medical test or short procedure at the nearby hospital.

Amazing collection of plants. Fun cats hanging around as well as lizards

Gardens were okay. Kinda of a naturalized look. Some species of plants were missing identification signs. Good prices on limited supply plants. Local honey available for sell.Where else can you see a HUGE cow statue?

Great place to see many tropical plants from all over the world

Plant sale, beautiful day

We had just a couple hours. Another review said it could be viewed in an hour. With my family, that meant at least two hours. Perfect. Staff is cheerful and helpful. Prices are excellent. Had a great time, even in the rain.

Would not recommened in the winter. Not much going on and poorly cared for. Could be cool in the summertime.

Gorgeous quiet location. Affordable and great for photography.

I go to the plant sale events that USF Botanical Gardens hosts a few times a year and theyre great. Not only can you find some plants the stores dont have, but you can also meet people who grow them to get better info. We just have to be courteous of the fact that they dont have a big staff like a store and must spend their time with the people who are buying something. There are sellers who specialize in specific plant groups like succulents, Orchids, Plumeria, Bromeliads, Desert Rose, etc. Theres even a guy with nice houseplants, and a few people who sell things like soil amendments and other supplies. These seasonal events are a great way to support the local botanical gardens.

Beautiful and serene. Wonderful for all ages. My 1 year old enjoyed exploring all the different areas of the garden.

Small, but they fit a lot in. Very nice. Loved the orchids.

Very pleasant botanical gardens with a variety of plants from around the world. Garden is about 3 acres and can be viewed in about an hour. Handicap accessible. Also a variety of plants for sale. Staff person friendly and helpful. On the UCF campus but not a part of it. Enjoyed our time there.

Decided to take a walk there between classes. Great biodiversity of plants, insects, and small critters. Nice and accommodating staff.

Summer plant sale and I got some great plants for a low price. The gardens are beautiful and inspiring. Very nice and helpful volunteers too.

Great place to visit with the kids or grand-kids. Always good advice and help. Their special events are well worth going to.

Nice staff, 1$ for students. Not a ton to look at but still nice. Lots of missing tags

This is a beautiful garden located on the University of South Florida campus. It is hard to believe we are so close to busy roads when there. Parking is easy even if you arent a USF student and it is easily accessible from Bruce B Downs (30th Street). Events are held there regularly including plant sales, Orchid sales, Bromeliad sales and African Violet sales. My favorite event is A Taste of Honey where you can sample honey from every state as well as from many countries. USF has an active bee program where they teach people how to keep bees

Peaceful

Beautiful. A perfect place to let by 1yo run free...look out for thorns but otherwise its wonderful. A new beautiful sight around every corner. Low traffic and peaceful... i may just get a membership ($15 annually) and start a play group here. Parking onsite, I can take my stroller all over. Plenty of places to stop and rest (benches, picnic tables, open fields to lay in with blankets...

Nice for ceremonies, you have to plan ahead of time as they dont set up for you.

I give it 3 out of mercy. I thought it would be lush with green grass and flowers and butterflies. It is run down but pay the 5 dollars to keep it open. We have all wasted 5 bucks on far far worse.Something to do that is different.

A lovely way to spend a few hours in complete serenity. I can’t wait to go back during growing season however I intend to visit quite often. A real hidden gem!

Didn’t expect much but was surprisingly pleased. Beautiful, smaller gardens on the USF campus, seemed to be maintained and operated by students who were helpful, friendly and working in their career interests. Lots of individual gardens like the Salsa garden and the orchid garden, places to relax, picnic even, enjoy nature. We loved it ! The kids enjoyed the waterpark, we enjoyed the gardens, close to our hotel and about an hour or so walk thru, longer if you wanted. Little gift shop and plant store, green house. We would go back. It isn’t huge or crowded, just natural and peaceful.

Wonderful place. So inspiring. Quiet and contemplative.

Really pretty mini park at USF Main Campus. Worth the trip. Be careful not to get locked inside at closing, though. Has a Pokemon Go EX Gym and 2 pokestops.

Nice place

Ran out of time!!! I had a great time. But there were so many plants to smell, touch, and just adore!!! Of course some followed me home!! I recommend bringing a cart because there are so many plants to choose from. Minimual fee to get in!! I know i will be back next year for sure!!!

Fantastic adventure! Exciting educational, entertaining.

Its a very quaint spot besides the noises of the road. Its cheap, the people are friendly, and theres lots of places to sit down with a book or laptop and study.

Beautiful, walkable gardens with a variety of plant life and great volunteers. Local honey, skin care, and plants for sale. A little too hot in the summer to walk outside without much cover for long, so dress appropriately. Cool, shaded sitting area in the poetry garden. Student discount available. Limited parking on site, but a huge lot across the street during festivals.

Like it, especially during the plant festivals. But when there are no events going on there isn’t much to see.

Managed by one lady and her team! Very sweet person

Nice outing

The best!

A beautifully green, peaceful place to walk in the midst of the busy university. Take a break and enjoy nature for just a little while!

First time here. We came for a plant show and garden sale. My wife said the prices were great. If you come to buy plants, remember to bring a wagon to carry them back to your cat!

Great place, people, plants, trees, flowers and much more. Loved it.

We went here during plant festival. It was our first time. We saw an abundance of different plant sellers and bought 2 tropical plants. The cost of the plants are a little expensive but the sellers usually works a deal with you.

One of USFs hidden gems. I waited way to long before I finally dropped in to visit this place. Its $1 entrence fee for students and $5 for everyone else. Its an outdoor garden full of flower plants, medicinal plants, cool looking trees, bamboo, cacti, and much more. They sell their own honey, and a collection of potted plants. Occasionally they host events such as honey or plant sales. In summary, its a great place to visit if youre looking for somewhere to relax, or if you have friends in town. I highly recommend visiting if you havent had a chance to yet.

Semiannual plant sale. A wide variety of plants for sale.