The Norse Hill Botanic Garden

A place of healing, reflection, and relaxation.

Norse Hill Estate and Botanic Garden began in 1960 as the personal project of one of the most well-travelled and charming women in the upper echelon of the 20th century, Iris Hay-Edie. A Scot by birth and free-spirit by nature, Hay-Edie landed in Jamaica as the final chapter to a life that was as magnificent as it was tumultuous, chronicled in the historical memoir: “Adventure, Romance, and War in the Far East: The Iris Hay-Edie Diary”. 

Into the grounds of the estate, Iris poured her worldly knowledge and joy of living things:

“Here everything I planted grew brilliantly. Tall bamboo, ginger, bougainvillea, hibiscus, tulips, grapefruit, avocado, papayas, allspice, vanilla bean creepers and endless others made the garden a magical place…”

In 2005, the Hay-Edie Family sold Norse Hill to the Merritt Family, who have shared the history and panorama of the property with many others since. The estate has seen a remarkable transformation into a well-loved family vacation villa.

The COVID-19 pandemic brought the unique opportunity for rebirth, allowing for a grand renovation that modernizes and expands utilities, while preserving Hay-Edie’s vision and cosmopolitan style. Most prominently, the once private garden has begun a new era of growth and development, with seeds being planted that will one day bloom into an internationally accredited Botanic Garden -- complete with research stations, meditation gardens, public events, and botanic identifiers. 

Botanic Garden Tours

To schedule a botanic tour please call our property concierge Sudan at 876-490-2431.

$10 per ticket. Cash only.