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Known for their stunning plant collections, captivating displays, and awe-inspiring exhibitions, America’s botanical gardens offer some of the most beautiful sights in the country. These gardens are dynamic destinations where garden and nature lovers and families can connect with nature.
Whether it’s the sweet aroma of blooming roses or the impressive sight of towering palm trees, botanical gardens are visually stunning and rich educational resources.
Here are 15 of the most beautiful botanical gardens in the United States, perfect for a family visit this spring.
New York Botanical Garden, Bronx, NY
A short subway ride from Manhattan takes you to the New York Botanical Garden. Spread across 250 acres, this garden houses an impressive collection of over one million plants, including 650 rose varieties. The garden is a hub for special events, art exhibits, and educational programs catering to adults and children.
San Francisco Botanical Garden, California
Situated in Golden Gate State Park, this garden is home to nearly 9,000 plant species from around the world. The garden’s design mimics various global environments, offering visitors a diverse botanical experience.
Brooklyn Botanical Garden, Brooklyn, NY
Opened in 1911, The Brooklyn Botanical Garden is a staple in New York. Covering 52 acres, this garden boasts a unique collection of plant species. More than 200+ cherry blossom trees bloom each spring, transforming the garden into a vibrant tapestry of colors. The garden offers a unique experience, including live jazz performances and other attractions, to draw in visitors from around the country.
Atlanta Botanical Garden, Atlanta, GA
Opened in 1976, the Atlanta Botanical Garden is located in the heart of Midtown Atlanta. This 30-acre garden features “an award-winning Children’s Garden, the serene Storza Woods highlighted by a unique Canopy Walk, and the picturesque Skyline Garden.” This urban oasis is worth a visit.
Desert Botanical Garden, Phoenix
Nestled among the Papago Buttes, the Desert Botanical Garden in Phoenix is a 140-acre expanse that showcases a vast collection of cacti, succulents, and desert flora from around the globe. Since its inception in 1939, this garden has drawn roughly 400,000 visitors annually, providing a unique blend of natural beauty and educational opportunities within its scenic desert landscape.
Hawaii Tropical Botanical Garden, Big Island
This non-profit garden spans over 100 acres on Hawaii’s Big Island and features more than 2,500 species of plants, including a variety of heliconias and bromeliads. Visitors can explore lush vegetation alongside streams and waterfalls, making it an ideal spot for education and nature walks enriched by guided tours and extensive plant information resources.
Chicago Botanical Garden, Illinois
As the most frequented public garden in the U.S., the Chicago Botanical Garden covers over 385 acres and includes 26 distinct gardens in various habitats. This garden attracts over a million visitors annually and focuses on the conservation of rare plant species while also offering multiple academic programs.
Fort Worth Botanic Garden, Texas
Located in the heart of Fort Worth, this 110-acre garden is the oldest in Texas and features over 2,500 species of plants. It’s known for its Japanese-styled rose garden, waterfalls, and a 10,000-square-foot rainforest conservatory, making it a must-visit for family outings.
Missouri Botanical Garden, St. Louis
Founded in 1859 by Henry Shaw, this 79-acre site is the oldest botanical garden in North America. It features a herbarium with over 6.6 million specimens and a Japanese-style garden. The garden also hosts a summer Green Living music festival with a geodesic dome and a historic brick conservatory from 1882.
International Rose Test Garden, Oregon
Located in Portland, this garden is the oldest public rose test garden in the U.S., featuring 10,000 rose bushes across 600 varieties. It’s a paradise for rose enthusiasts and a beautiful spot for summer visits.
United States Botanic Garden, Washington D.C.
Established by Congress in 1820, this historic garden near the US Capitol is one of the oldest in America. It contains over 65,000 plants, including ancient ferns, and features themed garden rooms and public displays in a compact yet diverse setting.
Fairchild Tropical Botanic Garden, Florida
Near Miami, Fairchild covers 83 acres and is both a lush botanical garden and a hub for conservation research. It features a butterfly conservatory and a vast collection of tropical fruit plants, making it a comprehensive venue for both leisure and learning.
Huntington Library Art Museum and Botanical Garden, California
This expansive site in San Marino offers 16 themed gardens and an extensive collection of art and library resources. It’s famous for its Japanese garden and the Garden of Flowering Fragrance, providing a serene escape filled with cultural and botanical treasures.
Longwood Gardens, Pennsylvania
Longwood Gardens spans 1,075 acres and features spectacular shows like the Orchid Extravaganza. It’s known for its diverse plant collections and seasonal light shows, offering something for everyone.
Filoli Botanical Garden, California
Filoli is located in the Santa Cruz Mountains and features 16 acres of formal gardens within a 654-acre estate. It’s known for its spring bulb displays, fruit trees, and elegant water features.
Dallas Arboretum and Botanical Gardens, Texas
This 66-acre garden in Dallas hosts the largest outdoor flower festival in the Southwest, known as Dallas Blooms. The garden offers numerous amenities, including a children’s area and thematic gardens exploring different botanical experiences.
ABQ BioPark Botanic Garden, New Mexico
Located in Albuquerque, the ABQ BioPark Botanic Garden has 36 acres of gardens. It features several rare and exotic plants of the Southwest and worldwide.
Visitors to the garden can enjoy various public displays, such as the Sasebo Japanese Garden, the Children’s Fantasy Garden, the Butterfly Pavilion, and the BUGarium, one of the biggest arthropod displays in the United States. ABQ BioPark is also home to a zoo, an aquarium, and Tingley Beach.
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