The Free State National Botanical Garden was officially opened on 22 February 1969 by State President Jim Fouché. He marked the occasion by planting an Olea europaea subsp. africana tree which can still be seen today.

The Free State National Botanical Garden falls within the Grassland Biome of South Africa. South Africa has eight biomes, with grassland being the largest and arguably the most important. The natural vegetation type comprises Bloemfontein karroid shrubland, Bloemfontein Winburg shrubland, and Bloemfontein dry grassland dominated by magnificent wild olive, false olive, and Searsia species. The harmony of the garden has been achieved by retaining and highlighting the best elements of the natural landscape.

The garden covers 73.5 hectares and is home to about 400 species of plants, mainly from the Free State, Northern Cape, Eastern Cape, and Lesotho.The National Tree of South Africa, Real Yellowwood (Podocarpus latifolius), and the Dwarf Coral tree (Erythrina zeyheri), along with Tree wisteria (Bolusanthus speciosus) provide touches of colour against a restful woodland backdrop. A series of vistas leads one through the Garden to the wooded koppies dominated by Cussonia paniculata. The Garden also has a magnificent specimen of the Wild Olive (Olea europaea subsp. africana), which is more than 200 years old.