Situated on the south shore of the Hawaiian island of Kaua`i, McBryde Garden is nestled in the picturesque and historical Lāwa`i Valley. The site of the first garden of the NTBG, the Lāwa`i Valley was chosen for its diversity of climate, soils, and topography. The area affords a kaleidoscope of distinct micro-environments which are cool, hot, wet, dry, lake, cliff or meadow.
McBryde Garden has become a veritable botanical ark of tropical flora. It is home to the largest ex situ collection of native Hawaiian flora in existence, extensive plantings of palms, flowering trees, Rubiaceae, heliconias, orchids, and many other plants that have been wild-collected from the tropical regions of the world. NTBG's Conservation Program is based at this site and the Garden contains a state-of-the-art horticulture and micropropagation facility.
Meandering through the garden is the Lāwa`i Stream, transected by Bamboo Bridge in the lush greenbelt that borders it. The Canoe Garden contains plants of ancient Hawai`i and Maidenhair Falls area features such plants as chocolate, allspice, and ginger.
National headquarters for the NTBG organization, with major research and education facilities, overlook the McBryde Garden.
