Tropical Gardens of Maui

I believe this place is CLOSED. We were on our way up to the trailhead anyways but bummed that we didn’t get to see this place again.

If there had been a fee to enter this garden it would have been a disappointment, but for free it wasn’t bad. The «staff», aka the guy sitting in the gift shop who didn’t acknowledge us until we asked about a restroom (which they do not have… «no water» was his reply. At a botanical garden??) was less than welcoming. Most of the plants did not have signage and it seemed as though a major part of the garden was closed off. It only took us about 15 – 20 minutes to walk the small loop and that was with many stops to take pictures. The plants are quite lovely and interesting and free is a great price, especially on Maui. Bring bug spray and use the bathroom before you go.

Looked great from the road, should have known by the zero cars in the lot that it wasn’t worth the stop. Also stopped after leaving I’ao Valley State Park. We are garden geeks and were intrigued. Indeed the orchids in the nursery area were amazing and unique, but the demeanor and attitude of the «staff» left much to be desired. Barely acknowledged us as we entered. Acted slightly put out when I asked the name of a palm out front, acting frustrated when I repeated it and did not get it correct.
And biggest point… the dog mentioned in previous posts… DO NOT TRY TO TOUCH IT! No one warned us not to pet the dog roaming loose, seemingly friendly, but when my 3 year old (who is a dog lover) went to pet it he was bit! And the lady just say «oh don’t pet the dog» after it happened. Needless to say, we didn’t bother with the $ 5 entrance fee and left. Didn’t even ask if he was ok as he cried and shook with fear. Attitude needs to be adjusted if they expect to make it a real garden experience!

Definitely worth the $ 5 entrance fee.
My mom and I stopped by after visiting the Iao Valley State Park. The garden was gorgeous, really like walking into a tropical forest. The garden was well maintained and there were signs for many different species of plants. Wish there had been more explanation and description but I thought it was adequate.
Lots of plants were already in bloom. Make sure to look up, you might miss some things if you just keep looking down or straight. My mom loved taking pics of everything. Colors are gorgeous.
Note: make sure to bring insect repellent, I was eaten alive by mosquitoes and those bites lasted more than a week and were so painfully itchy.

Tropical Gardens of Maui is a nursery and botanic garden. Grounds are well kept and lush, and staff are very welcoming. $ 5.00 to get into the garden. Well worth it.

This botanical garden is everything you imagine in a lush tropical garden. We stopped here on our way back from the Iao Valley because I was eager to visit a botanical garden while on Maui. As it worked out, it was almost lunch and I didn’t think my kids would have the patience to truly appreciate the experience, so I never actually paid to walk through. However, admission is TOTALLY REASONABLE (only $ 5) and from what I could tell, it would have been MORE than worth the money. I took a picture of the entry to the garden from the door of the gift shop and it was so beautiful that the picture is now the background image on my desktop.
The proprietor (I didn’t catch her name) was a warm and friendly woman who was so patient with my kids’ non-​stop yammering and incessant questions about totally random things. Her dog «Hoku» who enjoys chasing shadows and butterflies has a similar disposition. My 4 year old who is deathly afraid of dogs, managed to pet and get next to her. That is saying a LOT!
In general, this place has a laid-​back, easy-​going vibe. If I ever needed a nursery, was planning a wedding, or for whatever reason had cause to do business here again, I absolutely would without a doubt.
Also, one last thing, the proprietor recommended some native eats in town (Kahului) and she steered us right… it was the best Hawaiian meal we had there! (See my review of Da Kitchen)

This little gem is directly on the way to Iao Valley. It is both a nursery and botanic garden. We went one day to visit the nursery and then returned a few days later for the gardens. The lovely gardens cover 6 acres with well marked paths and plant labels. There are all kinds of beautiful plants especially different varieties of palms. a little bridge takes you across the stream to even more plants and many orchids in there natural environment. The time we were there there were only two other people. Its very enjoyable and worth the $ 5 entrance fee.

Of the three botanical gardens on Maui, this one is the gem. Grounds are well kept and lush, and staff are very welcoming. The displays of orchids here in the «wild» are stunning. They are literally everywhere, and many of the cattelayas were in bloom for my visit. Best of all, export-​cleared specimens are available for purchase.
It’s $ 5 to take the self guided tour, the first half of which is chaperoned by the owner’s super-​cute dog.

This plant nursery is located on the road to the Iao Valley. They specialize in growing orchids for export. They have a large variety of healthy plants, and inexpensive prices. Shipping to the mainland is hassle-​free and efficient.
My wife pursued a hobby of growing orchids for awhile, until she realized that it is a losing proposition unless you live in a tropical climate, or own a sophisticated greenhouse. Regardless, this is the place to buy them if you want to send some orchid plants to yourself or to a friend back home.
Warning! Don’t even think of going here in person without covering yourself first from head to toe with mosquito repellent. You have been warned…