Tropical Spice Garden
The Unique Tropical Spice Garden Story
Tropical Spice Garden is situated in what was once an abandoned, rubber plantation along Penang's north-western shores. It took the vision and determination of David and Rebecca Wilkinson funded by Bertam Consolidated Rubber Co. Ltd. who with a talented team that have included Lim In Chong, Frederick Walker, and still include Katharine Chua and husband Kenneth Khoo, have transformed an overgrown plot into this garden of unique design and soul into a remarkable eco-tourism venture.
Inspiration for the Tropical Spice Garden
Actual work on-site took 1 ½ years to complete, and involved the major challenge of harmonising over 500 species of tropical flora with the natural valley fronting the Straits of Malacca. It was crucial to preserve as much of the original indigenous flora and fauna while maintaining the original topography of the site to give the Garden a timeless, natural feel. Many of the existing rubber trees were left undisturbed, to give shade and shelter to visitors (and also to the Garden's smaller inhabitants).
Water plays a prominent role in the Garden, and the design team was able to skillfully re-route the water from a small nearby waterfall through a series of man-made canals into a pond by the visitors' entrance. From many parts of the Garden, visitors can hear the gentle, relaxing gurgle of water meandering through the grounds.
Tropical Spice Garden is Eco-Friendly!
Experience an enchanted paradise and SE Asia’s ONLY award-winning spice garden!
Roam the Gardens set out over 8 acres of secondary jungle, and get up close and personal with over 500 species of tropical flora and fauna.
Relax at our breezy, spacious café overlooking the Straits of Malacca and the beautiful shoreline of Teluk Bahang.
Recharge with our premium range of Spice Therapy spa products and unique local gifts.
TOUR THE GARDEN!
To get the most out of your visit, do take a look at our various Garden Trails and Garden Rooms. Although the Garden is very shady, do remember that it can get rather hot and humid in the afternoons, so do plan accordingly if you are sensitive to the heat.
Don't forget to drop in the Spice Museum and Shop, or chill out on our Café's wide, wooden decking and take in the stunning view of the sea.
GARDEN TRAILS
Explore over 500 varieties of tropical flora specially selected from all over the world. Divided into 3 designated trails, Jungle Trail, Ornamental Trail and Spice Trail landscaped on natural jungle terrain, each trail offers sufficient interest for a 20-45 minute walk.
There are 3 trails that begin from the Front Office.
Each takes approximately 20-45 minutes to complete.
Spice Trail
View over 100 varieties of tropical spices and herbs used as flavourings, medicines, dyes and perfumes. Get hands-on experience of grinding spices, and retrace the historical spice trade routes on the "Spices of the World" globe installation painted by local artist, Rebecca Duckett.
Ornament Trail
In the heart of the valley is a collection of exotic flora chosen for their structural forms (palms), ornamental foliages (ferns, crotons) or stunning flowers (gingers). Mature and endemic palms are planted to provide a frame for the trail. Look out for the giant swing and waterfalls!
Jungle Trail
This is a shady elevated pathway that meanders through the jungle and overlooks the stream, showcasing ferns, wild orchids, understorey palms and other significant jungle flora, some of which are major commercial crops (palm oil, rubber) or are used by the Orang Asli (indigenous Malaysian)
GARDEN ROOMS
Throughout the Garden are different themed Garden Rooms featuring special plant collections such as spices and herbs, aquatic plants, bamboos, crotons, cycads, ferns, gingers, heliconias, jungle plants, orchids and rare palms, with educational signage displaying the names and uses for each plant.
Water Garden - marginal and aquatic plants
Cycad Room - palm-like plants up to 280 million years old
Banana/Heliconia Bank - plants with large leaves and colourful flower bracts
Spice Terraces - plants valued for medicinal and culinary uses
Bamboo Garden - clump-forming plants
Ginger Walk - plants with stunningly beautiful flowers
Sugar Terrace - sugar-producing palm trees
Ornamental Valley - flowering plants, trees, shrubs and herbs
Croton Wall - plants with attractive foliage and inconspicuous flowers
Fern Walk - non-flowering plants with spores up to 400 million years old
Jungle Trail - tropical rainforest plants
GARDEN FEATURES
Transition points in between the Garden Rooms are created in the form of numerous child-friendly Garden Features such as stream crossings, doorways, hammocks, gazebos and pergolas.
Water Features
The Garden was designed in such a way that one should be able to hear the relaxing sounds of running water at almost any vista. The stream that runs through the core of the gardens is based on perfect feng shui principles - the water flows from top to bottom to the sea and the mountain is at the back . Sensitive visitors have commented on the calming/ peacful and happy energy that is present in the Gardens.
Water features provide the relaxing sound of running water at waterfalls, ponds and streams, providing a cooling and soothing sensation. The use of waterways provides an alternative habitat for a more diversified ecosystem and also serves as an irrigation network.
Wooden Structures
Pavilions, gazebos, gateways, bridges, benches, steps, sign posts and decking have been constructed out of a variety of Malaysian seasoned and mature hardwoods including chengal batu, meranti and teak, salvaged and recycled for use from demolished warehouses and pre-war houses in Penang.
Viewing Stations
Benches built with more than generous proportions and deep seating are strategically positioned throughout the Garden for visitors to relax and fully take in the sights and sounds. If you're lucky you might have a chance to sit back on our specially imported Mayan hammocks.
VISITOR CENTRE
Our Visitor Centre is located in a picturesque Straits Colonial holiday bungalow - Lone Crag Villa - overlooking the sea, with a built-up area of about 5,500 square feet.
Spice Museum
Our galleries host collections on the origins of the spice trade, historical spice routes and how spices are produced or processed.
Spice Café
Our hilltop café is the ideal setting for a relaxing cup of spiced tea or coffee with superb bay views. The menu features tasty Asian-Café styled snacks and delicious teas made from fresh local herbs and spices. Catered services for special occasions are available.
Gift Shop
We have a fantastic selection of gift and souvenir items including spices, a spice spa range, toiletries, T-shirts and stationery exclusively designed for the Garden and a selected horticultural literature for both beginners and specialists.
Garden Shop
Many plants you see in the Garden are propagated for sale, as are (gardening accessories and organic fertilizers.) Pick up a helpful gardening tip or two from our friendly experts!
Address:
Lone Crag Villa, Lot 595 Mukim 2, Jalan Teluk Bahang, 11100 Penang, Malaysia.
Contact Details:
Telephone: 604 - 881 1797
Facsimile: 604 - 881 3794
Email : info@tropicalspicegarden.com
Content and Photographs courtesy of Tropical Spice Garden in Penang.
Tropical Spice Garden is situated in what was once an abandoned, rubber plantation along Penang's north-western shores. It took the vision and determination of David and Rebecca Wilkinson funded by Bertam Consolidated Rubber Co. Ltd. who with a talented team that have included Lim In Chong, Frederick Walker, and still include Katharine Chua and husband Kenneth Khoo, have transformed an overgrown plot into this garden of unique design and soul into a remarkable eco-tourism venture.
Inspiration for the Tropical Spice Garden
Actual work on-site took 1 ½ years to complete, and involved the major challenge of harmonising over 500 species of tropical flora with the natural valley fronting the Straits of Malacca. It was crucial to preserve as much of the original indigenous flora and fauna while maintaining the original topography of the site to give the Garden a timeless, natural feel. Many of the existing rubber trees were left undisturbed, to give shade and shelter to visitors (and also to the Garden's smaller inhabitants).
Water plays a prominent role in the Garden, and the design team was able to skillfully re-route the water from a small nearby waterfall through a series of man-made canals into a pond by the visitors' entrance. From many parts of the Garden, visitors can hear the gentle, relaxing gurgle of water meandering through the grounds.
Tropical Spice Garden is Eco-Friendly!
- Tropical Spice Garden is more than just a garden, we're a small group of environmentally and socially-aware individuals trying to make a difference.
- Most of our team members come from the local community and live within Tropical Spice Garden's neighbourhood. It's great being able to rely on a tightly-knit, bunch of friendly neighbours!
- During the development of the Garden, we utilized mainly natural and recycled building materials salvaged from pre-war shop houses or sourced from local antique stores. After all, old is gold!
- Our Garden only uses organic fertilizer and integrated pest control methods to limit the negative impact we have on the cycle of life.
- We love to recycle! So please help us out by depositing your rubbish in the appropriately marked dustbins.
- We make it a point to deal with smaller local vendors and traders to support their businesses and share the success. After all what comes around, goes around and we want to play our role as a responsible and caring organization.
Experience an enchanted paradise and SE Asia’s ONLY award-winning spice garden!
Roam the Gardens set out over 8 acres of secondary jungle, and get up close and personal with over 500 species of tropical flora and fauna.
Relax at our breezy, spacious café overlooking the Straits of Malacca and the beautiful shoreline of Teluk Bahang.
Recharge with our premium range of Spice Therapy spa products and unique local gifts.
TOUR THE GARDEN!
To get the most out of your visit, do take a look at our various Garden Trails and Garden Rooms. Although the Garden is very shady, do remember that it can get rather hot and humid in the afternoons, so do plan accordingly if you are sensitive to the heat.
Don't forget to drop in the Spice Museum and Shop, or chill out on our Café's wide, wooden decking and take in the stunning view of the sea.
GARDEN TRAILS
Explore over 500 varieties of tropical flora specially selected from all over the world. Divided into 3 designated trails, Jungle Trail, Ornamental Trail and Spice Trail landscaped on natural jungle terrain, each trail offers sufficient interest for a 20-45 minute walk.
There are 3 trails that begin from the Front Office.
Each takes approximately 20-45 minutes to complete.
Spice Trail
View over 100 varieties of tropical spices and herbs used as flavourings, medicines, dyes and perfumes. Get hands-on experience of grinding spices, and retrace the historical spice trade routes on the "Spices of the World" globe installation painted by local artist, Rebecca Duckett.
Ornament Trail
In the heart of the valley is a collection of exotic flora chosen for their structural forms (palms), ornamental foliages (ferns, crotons) or stunning flowers (gingers). Mature and endemic palms are planted to provide a frame for the trail. Look out for the giant swing and waterfalls!
Jungle Trail
This is a shady elevated pathway that meanders through the jungle and overlooks the stream, showcasing ferns, wild orchids, understorey palms and other significant jungle flora, some of which are major commercial crops (palm oil, rubber) or are used by the Orang Asli (indigenous Malaysian)
GARDEN ROOMS
Throughout the Garden are different themed Garden Rooms featuring special plant collections such as spices and herbs, aquatic plants, bamboos, crotons, cycads, ferns, gingers, heliconias, jungle plants, orchids and rare palms, with educational signage displaying the names and uses for each plant.
Cycad Room - palm-like plants up to 280 million years old
Banana/Heliconia Bank - plants with large leaves and colourful flower bracts
Spice Terraces - plants valued for medicinal and culinary uses
Bamboo Garden - clump-forming plants
Ginger Walk - plants with stunningly beautiful flowers
Sugar Terrace - sugar-producing palm trees
Ornamental Valley - flowering plants, trees, shrubs and herbs
Croton Wall - plants with attractive foliage and inconspicuous flowers
Fern Walk - non-flowering plants with spores up to 400 million years old
Jungle Trail - tropical rainforest plants
GARDEN FEATURES
Transition points in between the Garden Rooms are created in the form of numerous child-friendly Garden Features such as stream crossings, doorways, hammocks, gazebos and pergolas.
Water Features
The Garden was designed in such a way that one should be able to hear the relaxing sounds of running water at almost any vista. The stream that runs through the core of the gardens is based on perfect feng shui principles - the water flows from top to bottom to the sea and the mountain is at the back . Sensitive visitors have commented on the calming/ peacful and happy energy that is present in the Gardens.
Water features provide the relaxing sound of running water at waterfalls, ponds and streams, providing a cooling and soothing sensation. The use of waterways provides an alternative habitat for a more diversified ecosystem and also serves as an irrigation network.
Wooden Structures
Pavilions, gazebos, gateways, bridges, benches, steps, sign posts and decking have been constructed out of a variety of Malaysian seasoned and mature hardwoods including chengal batu, meranti and teak, salvaged and recycled for use from demolished warehouses and pre-war houses in Penang.
Viewing Stations
Benches built with more than generous proportions and deep seating are strategically positioned throughout the Garden for visitors to relax and fully take in the sights and sounds. If you're lucky you might have a chance to sit back on our specially imported Mayan hammocks.
VISITOR CENTRE
Our Visitor Centre is located in a picturesque Straits Colonial holiday bungalow - Lone Crag Villa - overlooking the sea, with a built-up area of about 5,500 square feet.
Spice Museum
Our galleries host collections on the origins of the spice trade, historical spice routes and how spices are produced or processed.
Spice Café
Our hilltop café is the ideal setting for a relaxing cup of spiced tea or coffee with superb bay views. The menu features tasty Asian-Café styled snacks and delicious teas made from fresh local herbs and spices. Catered services for special occasions are available.
Gift Shop
We have a fantastic selection of gift and souvenir items including spices, a spice spa range, toiletries, T-shirts and stationery exclusively designed for the Garden and a selected horticultural literature for both beginners and specialists.
Garden Shop
Many plants you see in the Garden are propagated for sale, as are (gardening accessories and organic fertilizers.) Pick up a helpful gardening tip or two from our friendly experts!
Address:
Lone Crag Villa, Lot 595 Mukim 2, Jalan Teluk Bahang, 11100 Penang, Malaysia.
Contact Details:
Telephone: 604 - 881 1797
Facsimile: 604 - 881 3794
Email : info@tropicalspicegarden.com
Content and Photographs courtesy of Tropical Spice Garden in Penang.