Fruit and Spice Park: A Guide From Juniper Cove

"Fruit and Spice Park is a Miami-Dade County park in the Redland, the farm area around Homestead. It grows more than 500 kinds of fruits, herbs, spices and nuts from around the world on 37 acres. You can walk the groves, take a guided tasting tour, and try fruit that has fallen from the trees. The park is at 24801 SW 187th Avenue, and it is an easy weekend trip from Juniper Cove.

Fruit trees along a walking path at Fruit and Spice Park in the Redland.png

What Is Fruit and Spice Park?

Fruit and Spice Park is a botanical garden. That is a park where plants are grown so people can see them, learn about them and study them. Most of the plants here are tropical, which means they grow best in warm places with no hard frost.

Miami-Dade County's official park page calls it ""the only tropical botanical garden of its kind in the United States."" The county says it holds more than 500 kinds of fruits, vegetables, spices, herbs and nuts from around the world.

The collections are big. The county's history page lists:

180 kinds of mangos
70 kinds of bamboo
40 kinds of bananas

Many of these you will never see in a grocery store. That is the fun of it. You get to see what a fruit looks like on the tree, not just on a shelf.

The History of Fruit and Spice Park

The park started with one woman's idea. The county's park history page says Mary Calkins Heinlein wanted a place to show off the farm history of the area known as Redland.

Here is how it grew, in plain steps:

1935: At Heinlein's urging, the county began buying an 18-acre piece of land.
1943: The county finished buying the 18 acres.
1944: Landscape architect William Lyman Phillips finished the plans, and building began. The county notes he also designed Fairchild Tropical Botanic Garden.
1980: The county gave the park its official name, the Preston B. Bird and Mary Heinlein Fruit and Spice Park.

Preston B. Bird was a county commissioner who backed the idea. Heinlein became the park's first superintendent, which means the person in charge of running it. Today the park covers 37 acres.

The park keeps three historic buildings. The county says Hurricane Andrew destroyed two of them in 1992, including the Redland Schoolhouse, first built in 1906. Both were rebuilt as copies by 2002.

Can You Eat the Fruit at Fruit and Spice Park?

Yes, but there are rules. The short answer: do not pick from the trees. You may try fruit that has already fallen, and only if you know what it is.

The county's plan your visit page spells it out. It asks you not to pick from the trees and to only try what has fallen. It also says fruit may not be taken out of the park. So eat it there, or leave it.

If you are not sure what is safe to eat, take a tasting tour. The county's park page says guides help you find ""what is ripe, edible and delicious to eat."" The county asks you to sign up for a tasting tour ahead of time. Tour times and prices can change, so check the official page first.

The park also runs a garden tram tour. That is a good choice if you want to see more of the grounds without walking the whole way.

Ripe mangos hanging from a leafy tree branch.png

Rules to Know Before You Go

A few rules catch first-time visitors. The county's visit page lists these:

No pets, except service animals
Wear a shirt and shoes the whole time
No roller blades, skates or skateboards
Do not carve the trees, because it harms them
Snapshots are fine, but professional photo sessions must be booked ahead

It also lists some helpful extras. There are picnic tables, and restrooms near the main entrance. Wheelchairs are free on a first-come basis. The park may also close during lightning storms.

Hours and admission can change. We do not list them here. Check the county's visit page before you go.

Getting to Fruit and Spice Park From Juniper Cove

The park sits at the southwest corner of SW 248th Street and SW 187th Avenue. The county's directions page says SW 248th Street is also called Coconut Palm Drive, and SW 187th Avenue is also called Redland Road.

From Juniper Cove, the simple route uses roads you will learn fast:

Take Palm Drive (SW 344th Street), the road just north of Juniper Cove, east to Krome Avenue.
Go north on Krome Avenue (State Road 997) through the Redland.
Turn onto SW 248th Street (Coconut Palm Drive) and head west to SW 187th Avenue (Redland Road).

Use a map app for the turn-by-turn route. We never promise drive times, since traffic and the time of day change them.

Tips for Your Visit

Go in the morning. The park is outdoors, and the afternoon sun is strong.
Bring water, a hat and sunscreen. You will be outside most of the time.
Wear shoes you can walk in. Shoes are required, and you will walk on grass and paths.
Bring a bag for trash, not fruit. Fruit stays in the park.
Watch the sky. The park may close during lightning.
Check the official page for hours, fees and tour times before you leave home.

Make a Day of It in the Redland

Fruit and Spice Park pairs well with other stops nearby. Our guide to things to do in Homestead FL lists the top picks, from the national parks to historic Krome Avenue.

If you still have energy after the groves, the Everglades Alligator Farm is on SW 192nd Avenue, the road along Juniper Cove's west edge. And if you are new to the area, read our Homestead Air Reserve Base guide. It explains the other big neighbor on the east side of town.

About Juniper Cove

Juniper Cove is a D.R. Horton Express Series community on the west side of Homestead, on SW 192nd Avenue south of Palm Drive. It has eight floor plans: three two-story townhomes and five single-family homes. The builder's site plan shows a park in the middle of the community and a preservation area in the southwest corner.

Want a spare room for a home office or hobbies? The Freeport and Merritt are single-story homes with a flex room, an extra room you can use as an office or hobby space. Single-story homes have recently started in the high $520,000s. Call 561-704-0091 for today's numbers.

Coming home with muddy shoes? The features sheet lists Mohawk RevWood laminate flooring in the main living areas, with carpet in the bedrooms. Learn how it holds up in laminate vs vinyl flooring, and compare every plan in Juniper Cove floor plans compared.

Visit the Homes, Then the Groves

Tour Juniper Cove in the morning, then spend the afternoon at the park. Ask what incentives are available today, since they change.

Call 561-704-0091, or click Visit Juniper Cove near the Redland — Schedule a Visit.

The rebuilt Redland Schoolhouse at Fruit and Spice Park in Homestead.png

Common Questions

What is Fruit and Spice Park?

It is a Miami-Dade County park in the Redland area of Homestead. The county calls it the only tropical botanical garden of its kind in the United States. It grows more than 500 kinds of fruits, herbs, spices and nuts on 37 acres.

Can you eat the fruit at Fruit and Spice Park?

Yes, with rules. Do not pick from the trees. You may try fruit that has fallen, if you know what it is. Fruit may not be taken out of the park. A guided tasting tour is the easiest way to try it safely.

Where is Fruit and Spice Park?

It is at 24801 SW 187th Avenue, Homestead, FL 33031. That is the southwest corner of SW 248th Street, also called Coconut Palm Drive, and SW 187th Avenue, also called Redland Road. See the county directions page.

What is the park's full official name?

The Preston B. Bird and Mary Heinlein Fruit and Spice Park. The county gave it that name in 1980 to honor Mary Heinlein, who dreamed up the park, and Preston B. Bird, the county commissioner who backed it.

Can I bring my dog to Fruit and Spice Park?

No. The county says pets are not allowed, except service animals. Plan to leave your dog at home for this trip.

How much does Fruit and Spice Park cost, and when is it open?

Admission, tour prices and hours can change, so we do not list them. Check the county's plan your visit page before you go.

Want to see the homes and the groves in one trip? Call 561-704-0091 or book a Juniper Cove tour this weekend.