
Every plant and flower fanatic should add these must-see gardens to his or her bucket list. Make a garden the destination, or tack one or more onto the end of an already-planned trip. Whether they are nestled in a lush forest or set smack-dab in the middle of a metropolis, these grandiose gardens are worth the detour.
Missouri Botanical Garden – St. Louis, Missouri
This 79-acre garden is a National Historic Landmark and one of the oldest botanical gardens in the U.S. The expansive grounds include a 14-acre Japanese garden that features a myriad of distinctly Japanese cultural influences, from an architectural bridge to plantings such as lotuses, cherry blossoms, azaleas and chrysanthemums. The grounds also include 23 residential-scale demonstration gardens; Garden founder Henry Shaw’s 1849 country home, Tower Grove House; and one of the world’s largest collections of rare and endangered orchids.
Longwood Gardens – Kennett Square, Pennsylvania
Greater Philadelphia is known as America’s Garden Capital. One of more than 30 public gardens in the area, Longwood boasts more than a million visitors each year and has more than 1,000 acres of gardens, woodlands and meadows. You’ll find special outdoor displays year-round, or you can venture into the country’s largest conservatory, with 4.5 acres of indoor gardens.
Perhaps the most famous part of the gardens is the Main Fountain Garden, featuring magnificent European-inspired Italian limestone fountains that shoot jets of water as high as 130 feet into the air.
Denver Botanic Gardens – Denver, Colorado
The Denver Botanical Gardens’ mission is to connect people with the plants of the Rocky Mountain region and similar regions around the world. The gardens are spread among three locations, but the main site is just 10 minutes east of downtown.
In addition to housing flora, the grounds also have indoor and outdoor art exhibits, with landscape paintings, sculptures and photos. The renowned Rock Alpine Garden—one of about 45 individual gardens—has more than 500 tons of rock and 2,300 species of plants.

Jack Aiello/Shutterstock.com New York Botanical Garden
Lewis Ginter Botanical Garden – Richmond, Virginia
A healthy dose of Southern charm is injected throughout all 50 acres at Lewis Ginter. The Conservatory, crowned by a 63-foot-tall dome, is often called the “jewel of the garden.” Inside, you can find exotic plants from around the world, including orchids, as well as seasonal themed displays. The Central Garden unites the grounds and features a variety of garden “rooms,” such as the Healing and Fountain gardens.
Another highlight of Lewis Ginter is its interactive children’s area, complete with a giant, accessible tree house.
Desert Botanical Garden – Phoenix, Arizona
Founded in 1930 by a group of volunteers who wanted to preserve the local flora, the Desert Botanical Garden is still run by more than 1,000 volunteers today. The 140-acre garden focuses solely on desert plants, and you can find 50,000 plants showcased in beautiful outdoor exhibits that dispel any expectations of a colorless desert landscape. The collection of cacti is unique, and several loop trails wander through a vast variety of arid-adapted plants from the Sonoran Desert. A popular time to visit is spring, when the garden hosts its annual butterfly exhibit and wildflowers begin to bloom.
New York Botanical Garden – New York, New York
This 250-acre picturesque paradise, open year-round, is in the heart of the Bronx and features an astonishing 50 gardens and more than a million living plants.
Fifty acres of old-growth forest still lie at the heart of the garden, the largest remnant of the original forest that covered all of New York City until the 17th century. If you’re looking for a colorful show, be sure to visit in April or early May, when 25,000 tulips bloom.
Kathy says
Great choices, but the Atlanta Botanical Garden is the best garden I have ever visited. I lived in Atlanta for 11 years and was a member there all those years. Now I live 4 hours away and still drive over for these special events.
Consider ABG for a great visit. Wonderful kids garden!
ernaldo says
Brooklyn has a botanical garden that’s impressive as well…..
Reb says
Yes! I’ve visited it, and was enchanted with it, also. It was n winter, in January and it was still marvelous, even though there was not much of anything in bloom.
Terri Stephenson says
Brookgreen Gardens in Murrels Inlet, South Carolina is an awesome place to visit. (Near Myrtle Beach.)
Bonnie Prokop says
I agree. We visited Brookgreen a couple of years ago and it was gorgeous even though it was a rainy day when we were there.
Maggie says
Agree!
Elizabeth says
I want to point out that Longwood Gardens in Kennett Square, PA is currently renovating their Main Fountain Garden so it will be closed until spring of 2017.
J says
The fountain is closed. There are still acres of garden and greenhouse open.
Dolores says
Don’t know Longwood, but the other 3 mentioned in the comments above should have definitely made your list. The Los Angeles area also has Descanso Gardens and the gardens at the famous Huntington Library, both of which are well worth a visit.
Leslie says
My husband and I have been to three of the Botanical Gardens listed: Missouri in St. Louis, Denver Botanical, and the Phoenix Desert Garden. All excellent and different, but our favorite has to be the Missouri Botanical Gardens which we are old enough to remember when it was originally known as Shaw’s Gardens. Much larger and improved today. Wonderful place for the whole family to go when visiting St. Louis!’
Bonnie Prokop says
The Chicago Botanic Garden is very nice also..
Renelle Maddrey says
Absolutely love all 155 acres of Norfolk Botanical Gardens in Norfolk, VA as well.
Jack Tiggleman says
Meijer Gardens and Sculpture Park, in Grand Rapids MI is super.
Cyndi Mattson says
We LOVE The Coastal Maine Botanical Garden in Boothbay, Maine. Their children’s garden, garden of the senses, and fairy village in the forest are not to be missed.
Susan Sampson says
I have had the opportunity to visit just a few of those beautiful gardens and think one you missed was Filoli in Woodside, CA…absolutely gorgeous!
josephine hugginsjn says
The Topiary Garden in downtown Columbus Ohio is amazing!
Lynda says
I love Longwood, but the Chicago Botanic Gardens are also spectacularly lovely. Not to be missed if you are in the area!
Sue Lemon says
Dubuque Arboretum & Botanical Gardens – Dubuque, IA
http://www.dubuquearboretum.net
Sue Lemon says
One of the very best free public gardens in the US! Open 365 days/year. Exceptional variety of plants and trees well-identified, hostas, roses, dwarf conifers, iris, verbenum/azalea, Japanese Garden, English Garden, annuals, perennials, Gift shop. An amazing place!!
Judy Hulsey says
Gibbs Gardens in Georgia is amazing! Take a look at their web site. 20 Million Daffodils are coming into bloom for their Daffodil Festival – their Japanese Gardens equals any I have ever seen and I have been to several on your list. They have over 2,000 Japanese Maple trees, along with many others maples, and their Fall Festival is amazing. Take a good – it compares to any of those you mentioned!
Billie Bell says
I have been there over several different seasons and I agree. Take a good look. It is a place I love to visit.
Heather says
Yep, the Coastal Maine Botanical is amazing!!!!
M. Reyburn says
The Frederick Meijer Gardens and Sculpture Park in Grand Rapids, MI; it has a huge Japanese garden complete with a lake, a children’s garden, an amazing buttterfly exhibit i the Spring in the main conservatory. One of the most famous sculptures is an enormous replica of Leonardo Da Vinci’s “The Horse”. There’s also many Chihuili glass sculptures and chandeliers and it hosts world famous guest sculptors. Not to miss this amazing place!
Josette says
Cheekwood Botanical garden and Museum in Nashville is one of my favorites!
Diane says
Untermeyer Gardens in Yonkers, NY. In the 20’s declared the most spectacular garden in the U.
S., there is a classic walled Persian garden, a walkway modeled after the Villa d’Este overlooking the Hudson to the palisades beyond, the “Temple of Love.” Contains what may be the largest collection of outdoor mosaics in the country. Under renovation for the past several years, the gardens are a delight now, and will be even more spectacular in years to come.
Marjorie Klockmann says
The International Peace Garden in North Dakota is beautiful, also has one of the largest collections of cactus in the nation.