The Missouri Botanical Garden — known to locals simply as Shaw's Garden — sits south of the city centre in the historic Shaw neighbourhood, on the original estate of its founder. Across 79 acres it holds one of the world's largest Japanese gardens, a famous English-style walled garden, a Chinese garden, and the iconic Climatron geodesic-dome rainforest.
The Climatron, with its tropical plants, waterfalls, and free-flying butterflies, is the obvious highlight but the rose garden, the formal Japanese strolling garden, and the global plant research conducted at the Garden's herbarium are equally substantial. Allow at least half a day. There is an entrance fee for non-residents.