At the mouth of the River Lagan where it becomes a deep and sheltered lough, Belfast sits surrounded by mountains that create a micro-climate conducive to horticulture. From the Victorian Botanic Gardens in the heart of the city to the heights of Cave Hill Country Park, the great expanse of Lagan Valley Regional Park to Colin Glen, Belfast contains an abundance of parkland and forest parks.

The Botanic Gardens Palm House is one of the earliest examples of a glasshouse made from curved iron and glass. These advances in glasshouse technology allowed Victorian horticulturists to grow and display exotic plant species from throughout the British Empire and beyond. Such displays, some in hanging baskets, along with seasonal displays and birds of paradise, continue to be enjoyed by visitors today. The nearby Tropical Ravine, at the moment being renovated until 2017, contains some of the oldest seed plants in the world, along with banana plants, cinnamon trees, bromeliads and orchids.