Partners: Botanical 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…

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.

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 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.

Dedicated to research and education about plants, the University of Delaware Botanic Gardens features 11 themed gardens set across 15 acres. These beautiful collections are free to enter, making this site a great day out if you’re in Delaware.

Coastal Maine Botanical Gardens is New England’s largest botanical garden, stretching for nearly 300 acres along the shore. The site opened in 2007 and attracts an average of 200,000 visitors every year. The gardens aim to conserve, research, and display Maine’s native plants.

The State Botanical Garden of Georgia is one of the South’s leading botanical institutions. The 313-acre site is operated by the University of Georgia and is dedicated to conservation, research, and education. Admission is free.

Think the desert is all dirt and tumbleweeds? Think again. The Desert Botanical Garden is home to thousands of species of cactus, trees, and flowers from all around the world, spread across 55 acres in Phoenix, Arizona.

Gardens of Golden Gate Park seeks to establish itself as a top 10 botanical garden in the country over the next five to ten years through new collections and exhibits, expanded public programs, and a larger role in worldwide conservation efforts.