The Selby Marie Botanical Gardens Inc

What The Selby Marie Botanical Gardens Inc does

Marie Selby Botanical Gardens ("Selby Gardens") is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit founded in 1973 in Sarasota, Florida, operating a 45-acre living-museum footprint across two bayfront campuses: a 15-acre Downtown Sarasota site (1534 Mound Street) and a 30-acre Historic Spanish Point site in Osprey (401 North Tamiami Trail). It maintains what it describes as the world's best scientifically documented living collections of epiphytic orchids, bromeliads, gesneriads, and ferns, supported by a 125,000+ specimen herbarium, a 40,000+ specimen spirit collection (second-largest of its kind globally), a molecular research lab, and a research library dating to the 1700s. Its Downtown Sarasota campus is the world's first net-positive-energy botanical garden complex via an approximately 50,000 sq ft solar array, with hurricane-resilient research facilities completed in Phase One of a three-phase Master Plan in January 2024.

The organization generates revenue through a multi-stream model: paid admissions ($28 adults Downtown / $20 adults Historic Spanish Point), annual memberships (~14,000 households) with reciprocal access to 500+ botanical gardens, venue rentals for weddings and corporate events, educational programs (summer camps, watercolor classes, fragrance masterclasses), ticketed special events (Orchid Ball, Floral Design Evenings, Garden to Plate Wine Dinner), dining at The Green Orchid (the world's first net-positive-energy restaurant) and other cafés operated by food-service partner Michael's on East, retail at the Garden Shop, and "Set Sail" boat tours linking the two campuses. Donations and philanthropy provide 99% of Master Plan capital, which has cumulatively raised $121 million across Phases One and Two; the latter broke ground December 2, 2025 at $56.3 million toward its $60.9 million goal. The institution holds AAM accreditation, Smithsonian Affiliate status, and a 2025 Certified Autism Center designation.

Selby Gardens serves approximately 300,000+ visitors annually across four primary customer segments — individual visitors and families, schools and educational institutions, members and donors (recurring/anchor segment), and corporate and event clients — plus a smaller fifth segment of scientific-research users. Distribution is overwhelmingly direct-to-consumer through its two physical campuses, selby.org, and ticket-app platforms, supplemented by an online Garden Shop via muzemerch.com and reciprocal network access across hundreds of partner gardens.

Name

The Selby Marie Botanical Gardens Inc

Legal name

Marie Selby Botanical Gardens

Website

https://selby.org

Company type

Private

Founded year

1973

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

51–100 employees

Short description

Marie Selby Botanical Gardens is a nonprofit living museum in Sarasota, Florida, operating 45 acres of bayfront botanical campuses that display and study epiphytic orchids, bromeliads, gesneriads, and ferns for visitors, members, students, and scientific researchers.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Botanical Garden and Museum of Botany & Arts

NAICS

Zoos and Botanical Gardens (712130), Nature Parks and Other Similar Institutions (71219), Museums, Historical Sites, and Similar Institutions (712)

SIC

Services-Amusement & Recreation Services (7900), Services-Membership Organizations (8600)

akta.pro primary industry

Parks, Gardens & Botanical Attractions (THAJACAH)

akta.pro secondary industry

Zoos, Aquariums & Botanical Gardens (Educational Collections) (THAJADAL)

Keywords

• Botanical garden exhibits
• Plant research collections
• Museum of botany
• Horticultural education programs
• Sustainable garden design

Headquarters

HQ city

Sarasota

HQ country

United States

HQ region

North America

Offices2 records

Markets served

GTM type

B2C

Offering type

Services

Cost components

Personnel, Operations, Infrastructure, Marketing or Sales, Technology or R&D, Supply Chain

Revenue model

1. Admission Fees: Visitors pay admission to access the Downtown Sarasota campus ($28 adults, $12 ages 5-17) and Historic Spanish Point campus ($20 adults, $12 ages 5-17). Children 4 and under enter free.
2. Membership Program: Annual memberships provide free admission to both campuses, reciprocal benefits at hundreds of botanical gardens, discounts on programs and dining, and members-only previews. The membership has grown to nearly 14,000 member households.
3. Donations and Philanthropy: Selby Gardens is a nonprofit sustained by donations, corporate and foundation support, year-end giving campaigns, legacy giving, memorials, and gifts-in-kind. 99% of funds come from private philanthropy. Phase Two has raised over $121 million cumulatively.
4. Venue Rental and Special Events: The gardens offer venue rental for weddings, private events, and functions. Special events include the Orchid Ball (individual tickets $750), Floral Design Evenings ($140-$150), Exhibition Evenings, and the Garden to Plate Wine Dinner.
5. Dining Services: The Green Orchid by Michael's On East is the world's first net positive energy restaurant, offering garden-to-plate dining. The Selby House Café provides coffee, tea, sandwiches, and desserts. Revenue flows from food and beverage sales.
6. Retail / Garden Shop: The Garden Shop sells gifts, souvenirs, and merchandise, available both on-site and through an online partner store (muzemerch.com). Members receive discounts on purchases.
7. Educational Programs: Fees charged for classes (watercolor, painting, yoga), lecture series, summer camps, and specialty programs like the Fragrance Masterclass ($145-$165).
8. Boat Tours (Set Sail with Selby Gardens): Roundtrip boat transportation between campuses along the Intracoastal Waterway, priced at $150/person ($135 for members), including admission to both campuses and a box lunch.

Pricing tiers

Go-to-market motion1 record

Distribution channels8 records

Marketing channels11 records

Core offering

Marie Selby Botanical Gardens operates two bayfront campuses (Downtown Sarasota and Historic Spanish Point) providing public access to scientifically documented living plant collections focused on epiphytic orchids, bromeliads, gesneriads, and ferns, alongside rotating fine art exhibitions. The organization sells daily admissions, annual memberships to nearly 14,000 households, special-event tickets, venue rentals for weddings and corporate events, educational programs for schools and adults, dining at The Green Orchid restaurant, Garden Shop merchandise, and reciprocal access through affiliated botanical gardens worldwide.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Brands

• The Green Orchid: The world's first net positive energy restaurant, operated by Michael's on East, offering garden-to-plate dining with globally-inspired menu featuring produce from the rooftop edible garden.
• Selby House Café
• Bayside Cottage Café
• Museum of Botany & the Arts
• The Living Museum

Products and services

• Annual Membership Program Annual subscription providing free year-round admission to both the Downtown Sarasota and Historic Spanish Point campuses, reciprocal free admission at hundreds of affiliated botanical gardens across North America, discounts on campus shops, eateries, and programs, members-only exhibition previews, free admission to Music Series events, and a subscription to The Sanctuary newsletter. Nearly 14,000 member households enrolled.
• Downtown Sarasota Campus Admission Daily paid admission to the 15-acre Downtown Sarasota bayfront campus, home to the world's only botanical garden dedicated to the display and study of epiphytic orchids, bromeliads, gesneriads, and ferns; includes access to the Museum of Botany & the Arts and rotating exhibitions. Pricing: $28 adult, $12 ages 5-17, free ages 4 and under; members free; member guests $12.
• Historic Spanish Point Campus Admission Daily paid admission to the 30-acre Historic Spanish Point waterfront preserve at Little Sarasota Bay, showcasing native Florida plants, archaeological sites, pioneer history, the Palmer Legacy, Butterfly House, Mary's Chapel, and the Citrus Packing House. Pricing: $20 adult, $12 ages 5-17, free ages 4 and under; members free.
• The Green Orchid Restaurant by Michael's On East Garden-to-plate full-service restaurant at the Downtown Sarasota campus, operated by Michael's On East and recognized as the world's first net-positive energy restaurant, featuring a globally-inspired menu with produce from the rooftop edible garden. Open to the public without separate admission.
• Online and On-site Garden Shop Retail store selling gifts, souvenirs, and Selby-branded merchandise on-site at the Downtown Sarasota campus and through the muzemerch.com online partner storefront. Members receive discounts on purchases.
• Set Sail with Selby Gardens Boat Tours Roundtrip boat transportation along the Intracoastal Waterway between the Downtown Sarasota and Historic Spanish Point campuses on Saturdays, November through April. Priced at $150 per person ($135 for members) and includes admission to both campuses plus a box lunch by Michael's on East.
• Venue Rental for Weddings and Corporate Events Private event venue rental at both campuses coordinated through the internal sales team, including waterfront gardens, the Welcome Center, and historic buildings for weddings, corporate functions, and special events.
• Orchid Ball Gala Signature annual fundraising gala with individual tickets priced at $750 and sponsorship tiers ranging from $2,500 (Sponsor) to $50,000 (Presenting Season Sponsor), supporting the gardens' programming and Master Plan.
• Floral Design Evenings Hands-on floral design workshops led by floral instructors, including flowers, wine, and cheese. Pricing: $140 members / $150 non-members.
• Fragrance Masterclass Interactive fragrance masterclass series taught by industry guests such as Anastasia Sokolow (Sulékó), covering fragrance creation with materials included. Pricing: $145 members / $165 non-members.
• Guided Garden Tours Daily guided tours of the Downtown Sarasota campus led by garden docents, priced at $12 per person added to daily admission, with a $25 per person group admission rate available for groups.
• School, Teacher, and Youth Programs Hands-on environmental and botanical education programs serving K-12 schools, homeschool families, and college students, including field trips, teacher resources, the Little Sprouts Club, summer camps, the Sarasota-Manatee EcoFlora Project on iNaturalist, and the Virginia B. Toulmin Leadership Scholarship ($15,000 award).
• Adult Education Programs and Lecture Series Fee-based adult classes, workshops, and a Historical Briefings lecture series at both campuses, covering topics such as watercolor, painting, yoga, gardening, and Florida ecology.
• Rotating Fine Art Exhibitions (Jean & Alfred Goldstein Exhibition Series) Rotating ticketed fine art exhibitions at the Downtown Sarasota campus, including Alexander Calder: The Nature of Movement, Shared Light: Lynn Goldsmith, Robert Louis Stevenson: A Child's Garden of Verses, George Harrison: A Gardener's Life, and the Patti Smith Artist-in-Residence programming.
• Seeing the Invisible AR Exhibition Augmented-reality contemporary art exhibition launched in collaboration with Jerusalem Botanical Gardens and Outset Contemporary Art Fund, deployed globally across 12 botanical gardens and supported by a mobile app on iOS and Android (muzemerch.com partner and direct app stores).

Quantifiable outcome

• Attracts over 300,000 visitors annually
• +5 more outcomes

Named customers6 records

Segments5 records

Ideal customer profiles5 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Integration1 record

Feature5 records

Partnerships

16 partnerships are on record, tiered core and minor.

• OLINcoreImplementation/ SI/ Consulting Partner · 2 December 2025International landscape architecture studio guiding the Phase Two Master Plan project team.
• Sweet Sparkman Architecture & InteriorscoreImplementation/ SI/ Consulting Partner · 2 December 2025Architecture firm for Phase Two of the Master Plan. Led design of the new Conservatory Complex and Learning Pavilion.
• Willis Smith ConstructioncoreImplementation/ SI/ Consulting Partner · 2 December 2025Construction manager for Phase Two of the Master Plan.
• Kimley-Horn and AssociatescoreImplementation/ SI/ Consulting Partner · 2 December 2025Civil engineer for Phase Two of the Master Plan.
• Engineering MatrixminorImplementation/ SI/ Consulting Partner · 2 December 2025MEP (Mechanical, Electrical, Plumbing) engineering for Phase Two of the Master Plan.
• TY Lin SilmanminorImplementation/ SI/ Consulting Partner · 2 December 2025Structural engineering for Phase Two of the Master Plan.
• Observer Media GroupcoreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 28 August 2025Partner for the 45th Annual Juried Photographic Exhibition. Also sponsors Exhibition Evenings alongside Visit Sarasota. Ongoing media partnership for event coverage and content.
• Foundation for the Exhibition of PhotographycoreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 19 July 2025Organized The High Life: Contemporary Photography and the Birds exhibition (second collaboration after Flora Imaginata in 2022). Based in Minneapolis, the foundation has produced shows in 30+ countries.
• International Board of Credentialing and Continuing Education Standards (IBCCES)coreTechnology or Integration · 27 January 2025Awarded Certified Autism Center (CAC) designation to Selby Gardens after staff completed autism-specific training. IBCCES also manages AutismTravel.com listing certified destinations.
• Patti SmithcoreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 28 April 2022Selby Gardens' inaugural Artist in Residence. Legendary poet, musician, and visual artist who has performed at both campuses, narrated visitor videos, and exhibited photography. Residency announced April 28, 2022.
• Jerusalem Botanical Gardens and Outset Contemporary Art FundcoreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 25 September 2021Initiated Seeing the Invisible AR exhibition in collaboration with botanical gardens globally, co-curated by Hadas Maor and Tal Michael Haring with support of the Jerusalem Foundation.
• Michael's On EastcoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerFood service partner operating The Green Orchid (world's first net positive energy restaurant), Selby House Café, and providing catering for events including Set Sail boat tours and the Orchid Ball.
• The Westin SarasotaminorGTM or Marketing PartnerPreferred hotel partner located just a short walk along Sarasota Bay from Selby Gardens.
• Community Foundation of Sarasota CountycoreGTM or Marketing PartnerPartner bringing underserved families together for Lights in Bloom holiday event, providing complimentary access to over 1,500 local children, families, teachers, and school staff.
• UnidosNowminorGTM or Marketing PartnerCommunity partnership to help families connect with nature and invite underserved communities to Selby Gardens.
• CARD (Center for Autism and Related Disabilities)minorGTM or Marketing PartnerAffiliation with CARD-USF providing resources and support for visitors with autism and related disabilities.

Scale indicators12 records

Recent moves8 records

Expansion highlights6 records

Direct peers

• New York Botanical Garden: The largest botanical garden in the United States, operating 250 acres in the Bronx with major herbarium collections, research programs, and education offerings. Directly comparable to Selby as a research-driven botanical garden combining horticultural display, scientific collections, education, and visitor experiences at scale.
• Longwood Gardens: A premier public garden in Kennett Square, Pennsylvania with 1,100+ acres, renowned horticulture, conservatories, and a major capital expansion. Closely comparable as a destination botanical garden with conserved plant collections, premium ticketing, dining, and large-scale special events.
• Missouri Botanical Garden: St. Louis-based botanical garden founded in 1859, a global center for plant research and conservation with a major herbarium. Highly comparable to Selby's research-intensive model, scientific publishing, and living collections focus, though with a colder-climate specialty.
• Fairchild Tropical Botanic Garden: A leading tropical botanic garden in Coral Gables, Florida, with strong conservation, research, and education programs. The most direct Florida-based peer to Selby, sharing climate, plant palette, and tourism dynamics, though focused on tropical rather than epiphytic specialty collections.
• Chicago Botanic Garden: A 385-acre public garden with 27 display gardens, a major plant research program, and one of the largest membership bases in the US. Comparable to Selby in combining horticultural display, scientific research, education, and a large membership-driven visitor model.
• United States Botanic Garden: The oldest continuously operating public garden in the US, located in Washington, DC, operating as a federal institution. Comparable as a national-scale botanical garden with curated collections, conservation programs, and educational mission, though publicly funded rather than donor-funded.
• Huntington Library, Art Museum, and Botanical Gardens: A 130-acre cultural and botanical destination in San Marino, California, combining library and art collections with 16 themed gardens. Closely comparable to Selby's interdisciplinary Living Museum model that fuses horticulture with fine art exhibitions.
• Denver Botanic Gardens: A 100-acre urban botanic garden combining curated plant collections, conservation research, art exhibitions, and education. Comparable to Selby in combining horticulture with art programming and in operating a multi-site visitor model across climate zones.

Broad incumbents

• Royal Botanic Gardens, Kew: The global benchmark for botanical gardens, operating 300+ acres with the world's largest plant and fungal collection and a major research institution. Comparable in scientific authority and conservation mission; substantially larger scale and broader geographic reach than Selby.
• Smithsonian Institution: Selby is a Smithsonian Affiliate, and the Smithsonian's broader portfolio of museums and gardens represents an umbrella institutional peer. Comparable as a federally affiliated cultural authority with cross-institutional reach, though vastly larger in scale and scope.

Market position

Strengths5 records

Weaknesses5 records

Competitive moat7 records

Key risks5 records

Key highlights7 records

Customer concentration

• Xx.com/SelbyGardens
• Facebookfacebook.com/selbygardens
• Instagraminstagram.com/selbygardens

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles4 records

Funding overview

Funding rounds

Investors

Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

M&A

Investments

M&A and investment is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

Frequently asked questions about The Selby Marie Botanical Gardens Inc