The Franklin Park Conservatory has been a fixture in Columbus, Ohio since 1895. Although it has occupied various locations, the site remains one of Ohio’s most popular botanical gardens. The Conservatory showcases over 400 plants from a range of ecosystems. Some of the most interesting areas include the Desert biome, the Himalayan Mountain biome, and…
Despite its small size, Lendonwood Gardens has achieved some big things. This three-acre garden displays more than 1,400 plants, including the Southwest’s largest collections of rhododendrons. Lendonwood Gardens was established in 1995 and became a non-profit organization in 1997.
Lendonwood boasts one of America’s largest collections of false cypress trees. The site also displays 500 daylily varieties, 75 species of Japanese maples, over 50 bonsai trees, and more than 70 types of hostas.
The International Rose Test Garden is situated within Portland’s Washington Park. Established in the 1920s, this 4.5-acre garden is America’s oldest continuously-operated rose garden. This small site brings in approximately 700,000 visitors a year, which seems appropriate for the “City of Roses.”
This privately-owned botanical garden features a stunning range of sculptures and architecturally themed gardens. Bedrock Gardens covers 20 acres and was opened to the public in 1990 by its current owners. More than 1,000 plant species are displayed throughout the garden. The site contains several collections, including dwarf conifers. There are woodland areas decorated with sculptures, as well as the Spiral Garden and the Funnel Garden. There is also a French-inspired parterre garden.
Owned and operated by Rutgers University, this 130-acre site is split between 60 acres of specialty gardens and 70 acres of woodland. Rutgers Gardens is the official botanical garden of the university and aims to conserve and research its collection to educate visitors. The garden began in 1916 and now includes several distinct garden areas. The site consists of a Bamboo Grove and a dedicated Pollinator Garden. Several gardens are themed around various plant types, including the Holly Collection, a Rhododendron and Azalea Garden, and a Succulent Garden.
Headlined by a 10,000 ft² conservatory, the ABQ BioPark Botanic Garden cultivates a collection of plants native to the Southwest. Opened in 1996, the 36-acre garden is part of the wider BioPark site in Albuquerque. The conservatory encompasses two main zones. The first showcases plants that grow in Mediterranean climates worldwide, including olive trees and…
Situated in the Bronx, the New York Botanical Garden was founded in 1891 and covers 250 acres. The gardens contain more than a million individual plants. The NYBG is also home to the LuEsther T. Mertz Library, which houses one of the largest collections of botanical texts in the world.
Also known as Omaha’s Botanical Center, Lauritzen Gardens is a 100-acre site that opened in 1982. The gardens also include a four-acre arboretum that showcases trees from seven local ecosystems, such as oak-hickory forests and prairies. Some of Lauritzen’s most popular specialty gardens include the Founder’s Garden, Rose Garden, and Tree Peony Garden. The Spring…
With thousands of Mojave Desert and desert-adapted plants, the Botanical Garden at the Springs Preserve provides an inviting oasis and inspiration for Las Vegas residents and visitors alike. The Preserve’s collection received the Award for Garden Excellence from Horticulture Magazine and was named one of the “Top 10 North American Gardens Worth Traveling For” at the Garden Tourism Awards.
The University of Kentucky Arboretum aims to preserve and research Kentucky’s native flora. The 100-acre site opened in 1991 and became Kentucky’s State Botanical Garden in 2000. Admission is free. The collection of Kentucky’s native plants and trees is the main draw. The site displays approximately 100 species native to Kentucky and a grand total of 1,200 plants native to the US. The “Walk Across Kentucky” trail showcases species representing the state’s seven regional ecosystems.
President Ronald Reagan named the rose America’s national floral emblem in 1986. And after a visit to the Garden of the American Rose Center, it’s not hard to see why. Spreading across 118 acres of pine woodlands, the site contains more than 20,000 rose bushes. The site has housed the headquarters of the American Rose Society since 1974.
Adkins Arboretum is nestled within Tuckahoe State Park. The grounds cover 400 acres and showcase more than 600 plants native to Maryland. The site opened in 1980 and includes a diverse range of habitats such as meadows, wetlands, and woodlands. The area is also laced with five miles of walking trails.
Harvard’s Arnold Arboretum has the distinction of being America’s oldest public arboretum. The 280-acre site was opened back in 1872. The collection is studied by staff at Harvard to conserve trees and educate visitors.
Operated by the University of Michigan, the Matthaei Botanical Gardens stretch across 300 acres. The grounds include several themed gardens and a 10,000 ft² conservatory with indoor specimens. The site first opened in 1907 and has continued to conserve and research plants for over a century.
The Minnesota Landscape Arboretum, nicknamed “the Arb,” is the largest public garden in the Midwest. Encompassing 1,200 acres, the site features several specialty gardens, a conservatory, and a horticultural library. The arboretum is run by the University of Minnesota.
The Crosby Arboretum is one of the South’s best botanical institutions and is operated by Mississippi State University. The site covers more than 700 acres and is centered around the famous Pinecote Pavilion. The Arboretum itself is divided into seven areas, with each representing a specific local habitat.
The Foellinger-Freimann Botanical Conservatory is an enclosed conservatory showcasing a diverse range of over 1,200 plants. The site was opened in 1983 in downtown Fort Wayne. The Showcase Garden features seasonal displays, while the Desert Garden celebrates plants that are native to the deserts of the Southwest. These include cacti such as Saguaro and prickly pear along with plants like yucca. There’s also a Tropical Garden focusing on bromeliads, citrus, and 13 species of palm trees.
It may be small, but the Tizer Botanic Gardens and Arboretum make up for it with their beauty. The site is Montana’s only full-time botanical garden and is one of only three internationally accredited arboretums in the US. The six-acre site is nestled within the Elkhorn mountains and features several distinctive gardens. The Butterfly and Hummingbird Garden is one of the best. Other gardens on the site include the Meditation Garden, the Shade Garden, and the Rose Garden.
Although this 14-acre site has been used since 1979, the modern version of the Greater Des Moines Botanical Garden opened in 2013. The area is divided into a series of outdoor gardens, a geodesic dome conservatory, and several indoor gardens. Containing more than 1,000 taxonomic groups of tropical and arid plants, the conservatory also displays…
The University of Idaho Botanical Garden and Arboreta are outdoor museums maintained for the acquisition and proper curation of a living collection of native and introduced plants hardy in the Inland Pacific Northwest. As a primary reference collection, the arboreta will emphasize plant variation and genetic diversity. Highest priority of the arboreta is to develop,…
The Chicago Botanic Garden is one of the largest horticultural institutions in the Mid-West. The stunning gardens cover 385 acres and were opened to the public in 1972. As well as 25 display gardens, the Chicago Botanic Garden is also a horticultural research and education center with over 50,000 members.
The Overland Park Arboretum and Botanical Gardens wow visitors with 300 acres of natural ecosystems and display gardens. First opened in 1991, eight distinctive ecosystems now call the site home. These include different types of woodlands as well as dry prairies and savannas.
The National Tropical Botanical Garden is dedicated to preserving tropical plant diversity and stemming the tide of extinction—through plant exploration, propagation, habitat restoration, scientific research, and education. NTBG’s Gardens and preserves are safe havens for at-risk species that otherwise might disappear forever. NTBG supports 5 gardens Allerton Garden McBryde Garden Kahanu Garden Limahuli Garden & Preserve The Kampong
The Fairchild Tropical Botanic Garden is one of Florida’s oldest and largest botanical gardens. First opened in 1938, this 83-acre paradise is dedicated to researching and conserving tropical plants. Fairchild even boasts the only patch of rainforest in the United States – a two-acre plot teeming with plants from the Amazon rainforest.
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