St. George Village Botanical Garden’s New Accreditation

Every time I walk through the gates of the St. George Village Botanical Garden, I’m struck by how magical it feels. The blend of lush greenery, tropical blossoms, and centuries-old ruins creates a space unlike any other. It’s a place where history and nature meet, where culture is preserved alongside conservation, and where every path feels like it has a story to tell.

This year, the Garden reached an exciting milestone. It has been upgraded to a Level 2 Accreditation by the ArbNet Arboretum Accreditation Program and The Morton Arboretum. That may sound technical at first, but what it really means is recognition on a global scale for the Garden’s dedication to conservation, education, and professional standards.

The ArbNet Arboretum Accreditation Program is the only global initiative that officially recognizes arboreta at various levels of development and professionalism. Moving from Level 1 to Level 2 means the St. George Village Botanical Garden has achieved higher standards in areas such as plant collection, conservation, record keeping, and education.

It’s also now listed in the Morton Register of Arboreta, a worldwide database of arboreta and botanical gardens dedicated to woody plants. Even more special, St. George Village Botanical Garden is the only registered arboretum in the Greater and Lesser Antilles.

For me, this accreditation confirms what I already feel every time I visit: this is not just a garden, it’s a living legacy and a treasure for the Virgin Islands.

Walking through, you’re surrounded by stone walls and remnants of another time, layered with vibrant tropical life.

Over the decades, St. George Village Botanical Garden has grown into an extraordinary collection of more than 1,000 Caribbean and pan-tropical plants and trees. It’s a place that honors the past while nurturing the future.

St. George Village Botanical Garden's collections are diverse, not only in plant families but also in cultural and ecological significance. What I love is how intentional the curation feels, it’s not just about displaying plants, but about telling the story of the Caribbean through its trees and shrubs.

There are four key sections in St. George Village Botanical Garden:

1. Conservation Garden

Here you’ll find significantly threatened species like Erythrina eggersii, Solanum conocarpum, and Zanthoxylum flavum. The latter is particularly special, only two known specimens remain on the island, and one of them is here.

2. Native Arboretum

This section highlights larger specimens of native Caribbean trees such as Canella winterana, Andira inermis, Bucida buceras, and Sideroxylon foetidissimum. These trees are more than plants, they’re part of the cultural and ecological fabric of the Virgin Islands.

3. Palm Arboretum

With over 25 species of palms, this section showcases the diversity of palms across the Caribbean, Central, and South America. Walking through feels like traveling across regions without ever leaving the island.

4. Exotic Tree Display

This section is where imaginations run wild. From the Cannonball Tree (Couroupita guianensis) to the Sausage Tree (Kigelia pinnata) and the dramatic Banyan Tree (Ficus benghalensis), the exotic display surprises at every turn. At its center is the Garden’s signature tree, the towering Kapok (Ceiba pentandra), standing like a guardian of the grounds.

Why This Matters for Conservation

Beyond beauty, the Garden plays a critical role in conservation. Documenting, labeling, and mapping over 100 woody tree and shrub species is no small task, it’s an effort to ensure that knowledge and biodiversity aren’t lost.

The focus on species that are threatened or culturally significant underscores the Garden’s commitment to protecting the natural heritage of the Virgin Islands. In a time when ecosystems are under pressure, spaces like this are not just gardens, they’re sanctuaries of knowledge, preservation, and hope.

Accreditation is about professional standards, but for me, the heart of St. George Village Botanical Garden lies in how it connects with people. It’s a place where families come to learn, where students discover science in real life, and where visitors, no matter how often they’ve been, find something new with every walk.

The combination of conservation, culture, and community makes the Garden more than just a collection of plants. It’s a living classroom, a cultural landmark, and a sanctuary of peace and inspiration.

Sarah Brady, the Executive Director of St. George Village Botanical Garden, described it perfectly:

“The St. George Village Botanical Garden is an extraordinary place, built around the ruins of a former 18th- and 19th-century sugar cane plantation. Upgrading from a Level I to Level II ArbNet accreditation strengthens our standing in the global arboretum community, increases our visibility throughout the region, and opens the door to deeper collaboration with a broader range of experts. This recognition helps us continue to fulfill our mission of education, conservation, and community engagement.”

These words remind me that while the Garden is a place of quiet reflection, it’s also a place of active stewardship.

With this new accreditation, the future feels even brighter for the St. George Village Botanical Garden. It opens the door to collaborations, research, and projects that will benefit not only the Garden itself but also the broader community and environment.

It also reaffirms the Garden’s mission: to conserve, educate, and engage. That mission is something every visitor becomes a part of simply by walking through the gates.

Every time I leave St. George Village Botanical Garden, I feel grateful that such a place exists right here. It’s a reminder of how nature, culture, and history can come together in ways that nourish the spirit.

What’s your favorite memory or discovery from the St. George Village Botanical Garden? Or if you haven’t been yet, what are you most curious to see?

Let’s celebrate this recognition together by sharing what the St. George Village Botanical Garden means to each of us.

After all, places like this thrive not just because of the plants they protect, but because of the people who care about them.

If you’d like to share your thoughts or simply continue the conversation, you can reach me here.

Sources:

https://stcroixsource.com/2025/08/09/st-george-village-botanical-garden-receives-advanced-accreditation-from-global-programs/