Discover 10 of America's best gardens:
A journey through landscape artistry
Explore the beauty and diversity of America’s finest gardens, from forest reserves to contemporary sculpture parks, writes Maxine Sheppard
The United States is home to an outstanding array of public gardens, each offering a unique experience for visitors. Whether you’re a true gardening enthusiast, a nature lover or simply looking for a tranquil escape, these horticultural wonders are sure to inspire and delight. Delve into a beguiling world of trees, plants and flowers, with the romantic allure of Magnolia Plantation & Gardens in South Carolina or the elemental beauty of Desert Botanical Garden in Phoenix, as we embark on a journey through these remarkable landscapes.
Magnolia Plantation & Gardens
(Gateway city: Charleston, South Carolina)
Experience the living legacy of Magnolia Plantation & Gardens, a horticultural paradise that will leave you in awe of its timeless grace
Founded in 1676, Magnolia Plantation & Gardens is a historic former rice plantation and one of America's oldest and most beautiful public gardens. Located near Charleston, South Carolina, the garden was planted by the enslaved workers who lived and laboured on the property, resulting over time in an informal, romantic-style design that continues to set it apart from other top gardens in the nation.
The plantation is famous for its superb collection of azaleas and camellias – signature flowers of the South – which erupt into bloom during late March and April. Nearby, the Audubon Swamp Garden is a blackwater cypress and tupelo swamp where various bird species nest, including herons, egrets and ibises. The landscape drips with hanging Spanish moss and is criss-crossed by boardwalks and bridges, making it easy to find a quiet corner for contemplation.
The plantation's past is brought to life through the “From Slavery to Freedom” tour. Knowledgeable guides shed light on the enslaved families who lived on a “street” of small timber cabins that remained occupied into the 20th century, now fully preserved and restored. The tour honours and remembers those slaves – many of whom became paid garden staff – and contextualises the plantation’s history, from its founding to the present day.
Best time to visit:
Early spring, when the azaleas are in bloom
Visit Magnolia Plantation & Gardens
The Oregon Garden
(Gateway city: Salem or Portland, Oregon)
Discover the tranquil beauty of The Oregon Garden, a haven of lush greenery and captivating landscapes
The Oregon Garden, an 80-acre botanical garden located near Salem, Oregon, showcases the diverse beauty of the Pacific Northwest. With 20 themed spaces – including a pet-friendly garden, a medicinal garden and a bee apiary – it offers plenty of experiences for young and older visitors alike.
The Sensory Garden is designed to engage all five senses, with fragrant flowers, textured foliage and soothing water features, including a cascading, 20ft-long rain curtain. The Conifer Garden displays an impressive collection of dwarf and miniature conifers, as well as harmonious companion plants such as heather and Japanese maples, while The Wetlands highlights the importance of wetland ecosystems and their role in supporting native plants and wildlife. For a glimpse into Oregon’s native ecosystems, the Douglas fir-filled Rediscovery Forest includes a mix of coniferous and deciduous trees, as well as interpretive trails for an insight into forest management and conservation.
The Oregon Garden also hosts seasonal events such as the annual Christmas holiday bazaar, which features a local artisan market and festive live entertainment.
Best time to visit:
Late spring and summer, for the best Pacific Northwest weather
Visit The Oregon Garden
Lady Bird Johnson Wildflower Center
(Gateway city: Austin, Texas)
Unleash your inner botanist at the Lady Bird Johnson Wildflower Center, a vibrant paradise celebrating the beauty and diversity of native wildflowers
On the outskirts of Austin, Texas, the Lady Bird Johnson Wildflower Center is dedicated to preserving the natural landscapes of the region. Founded by former first lady Lady Bird Johnson and actress Helen Hayes in 1982, this 284-acre garden focuses on native plants and sustainable gardening practices, including the storage of seeds for use in the restoration of landscapes damaged by catastrophic wildfires or floods.
The Central Gardens feature a variety of native Texas plants, including bluebonnets, Indian paintbrushes and black-eyed Susans, which create a vivid display of colours during the wildflower season in spring. The Family Garden offers interactive exhibits and play areas for children, encouraging them to connect with nature and learn about the environment. There’s also a 16-acre arboretum within the garden, full of native trees like bigtooth maples and pecans, which offer a habitat for birds and other wildlife.
Best time to visit:
Spring, for emerging wildflowers and manageable temperatures
Visit Lady Bird Johnson Wildflower Center
Longwood Gardens
(Gateway city: Philadelphia, Pennsylvania)
A paradise of breathtaking blooms and architectural marvels awaits at Longwood Gardens
On a 1,077-acre site near Philadelphia, Longwood Gardens evolved from a simple Quaker farmstead into a botanical wonderland filled with over 11,000 types of plants. Established by industrialist Pierre S du Pont in 1906, the gardens feature a variety of indoor and outdoor displays, with seasonal highlights throughout the year.
At the heart of the garden is the spectacular Conservatory District, a four-acre greenhouse complex that houses a diverse collection of plants from around the world, including orchids, ferns and cacti. The Italian Water Garden, inspired by the Villa Gamberaia in Florence, features intricate water displays, fountains and geometric pools, while the naturalistic 86-acre Meadow Garden contains native wildflowers and grasses, providing a habitat for birds, butterflies and insects.
Longwood Gardens is also known for its extensive fountain displays at the Main Fountain Garden, which features more than 1,700 jets with water shooting up to 175 ft in the air during the special illuminated shows in spring and summer.
Best time to visit:
Mid-April to mid-October, when all the water features are in action
Visit Longwood Gardens
Ladew Topiary Gardens
(Gateway city: Baltimore, Maryland)
Look out for more than 100 topiaries, a mile-long Nature Walk and native Butterfly House at Ladew Topiary Gardens
Ladew Topiary Gardens, a 22-acre garden near Baltimore, Maryland, is a unique destination that combines the art of topiary with the beauty of nature. Established by socialite and avid fox hunter Harvey Smith Ladew in the 1930s, the garden was inspired by his admiration for English gardens, and includes a life-sized scene of a topiary fox pursued by topiary riders and hounds.
The Great Bowl, a large oval lawn surrounded by sculpted yew hedges, serves as the centrepiece of the garden, with a magnificent view of the surrounding topiaries. The nearby Rose Garden has a wonderful collection of hybrid tea roses, floribunda roses and climbing roses, which produce a fragrant display during the blooming season.
In a secluded spot, the Garden of Eden contains a variety of azaleas and topiaries, as well as a statue of Adam accepting an apple from Eve, inspired by the biblical story. There’s also a white clapboard manor house on the property, which houses a collection of equestrian art and antiques, adding a touch of charm to this unique garden experience.
Best time to visit:
The garden opens seasonally, between 1 April and 31 October
Visit Ladew Topiary Gardens
Desert Botanical Garden
(Gateway city: Phoenix, Arizona)
The Desert Botanical Garden has more than 50,000 desert plants on display throughout five thematic trails
The Desert Botanical Garden in Phoenix, Arizona, is a 55-acre garden that highlights the beauty and diversity of desert plants and ecosystems, with a focus on the Sonoran Desert. Established in 1939, the garden features more than 50,000 plants, including cacti, agaves and succulents, as well as a variety of desert-adapted trees and shrubs.
The Sonoran Desert Nature Loop Trail offers visitors an immersive experience of the desert and mountain landscape, with interpretive signs providing information about the plants, animals and geology of the region. There’s an emphasis on sustainable practices for desert gardening and landscaping along the Center for Desert Living Trail, including water-efficient planting, while the relationship between native plants and indigenous cultures of the region is explored on the Plants & People of the Sonoran Desert Loop Trail, which features traditional uses of plants for food, medicine, and crafts.
The garden also hosts seasonal events, such as the Las Noches de las Luminarias, a holiday celebration featuring thousands of festive luminarias and live music.
Best time to visit:
February to April, for spring wildflower season
Visit Desert Botanical Garden
Missouri Botanical Gardens
(Gateway city: St. Louis, Missouri)
Don't miss the Climatron tropical rainforest, Japanese Garden and founder Henry Shaw's Victorian home at Missouri Botanical Garden
Founded in 1859 by philanthropist Henry Shaw, the Missouri Botanical Garden in the city of St. Louis is the nation’s oldest botanical garden in continuous operation and a National Historic Landmark. It’s home to a large collection of endangered and rare plants such as the double coconut – which produces the largest and heaviest seed in the plant kingdom – as well as several themed gardens and historic structures.
Best known of these is the Climatron, the world’s first geodesic dome greenhouse. Dating from 1960, it houses a diverse collection of tropical plants including palms, ferns and orchids, which create a lush and humid environment to explore. The Japanese Garden – designed by renowned landscape architect Koichi Kawana and especially serene – features a traditional teahouse, stone lanterns and a koi-filled pond. The garden also hosts annual events, such as the Japanese Festival and the Whitaker Music Festival, so you can experience the beauty of the garden while enjoying cultural and musical performances.
Best time to visit:
Autumn, for spectacular fall colours and ornamental grasses
Visit Missouri Botanical Gardens
Conservatory of Flowers, Golden Gate Park
(Gateway city: San Francisco, California)
The Conservatory of Flowers is a greenhouse and botanical garden that houses a collection of rare and exotic plants
The Conservatory of Flowers in San Francisco's Golden Gate Park is a historic Victorian-style greenhouse filled with an eclectic collection of tropical plants. Built in 1879, the Conservatory is the oldest public wood-and-glass conservatory in North America and is a designated city, state, and national historic landmark.
Discover a variety of water-loving plants in the Aquatic Plants Gallery, including water lilies, lotuses and carnivorous plants, as well as a pond filled with koi and turtles. The Lowland Tropics Gallery displays specimens from the tropical rainforests of Central and South America, including cacao, vanilla and banana plants, alongside a towering kapok tree. If the temperature heats up, the Highland Tropics Gallery is home to a collection of high-altitude cloud forest plants including orchids, bromeliads and ferns, which make for a cool and misty environment.
Best time to visit:
Any time, year round
Visit Conservatory of Flowers, Golden Gate Park
Frederik Meijer Gardens & Sculpture Park
(Gateway city: Grand Rapids, Michigan)
Find modern sculptures in a stunning garden setting at Frederik Meijer Gardens & Sculpture Park
Frederik Meijer Gardens & Sculpture Park in Grand Rapids, Michigan, is a unique destination that combines horticulture and contemporary art. Established in 1995, the garden features a variety of indoor and outdoor exhibits, as well as a permanent collection of almost 300 sculptures by renowned artists such as Auguste Rodin, Henry Moore and Ai Weiwei.
The 30-acre Sculpture Park displays some impressive and seriously large-scale outdoor sculptures set amid meadows, forests and wetlands. There’s also the Richard & Helen DeVos Japanese Garden, designed by Hoichi Kurisu, which features a teahouse and a zig-zag bridge, as well as contemporary sculptures that blend seamlessly with the landscape, including a granite carving by Anish Kapoor. Nearby, the Lena Meijer Children’s Garden offers interactive exhibits and play zones for kids, with a treehouse village, a butterfly maze and a sensory garden, plus a watery replica of the Great Lakes.
Best time to visit:
Summer and early autumn, for the summer concert series
Visit Frederik Meijer Gardens & Sculpture Park
Bloedel Reserve, Bainbridge Island
(Gateway city: Seattle, Washington)
Every season has something new to enjoy and discover at Bloedel Reserve
A forest garden located on Bainbridge Island, Washington, Bloedel Reserve is the Pacific Northwest in microcosm. Established by timber industry magnate Prentice Bloedel and his wife Virginia in 1951, the rugged forest site contains a variety of more structured landscapes, including woodlands, a pollinator meadow and a bird marsh, as well as a rhododendron glen and a Japanese garden with cloud-pruned pines.
Deep within the garden, the Reflection Pool is a calming and minimalist water feature, surrounded by a sheared yew hedge and manicured lawn, in stark contrast to the landscape beyond. There’s also an extensive moss garden at the end of the suggested trail – an enchanting area planted with more than 40 moss species, alongside ferns and other shade-loving plants, creating a luxuriant green carpet beneath the towering trees.
Best time to visit:
Early spring for the rhododendrons or autumn for fall foliage
Visit Bloedel Reserve, Bainbridge Island
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This year’s Gardens of America exhibit at the RHS Hampton Court Palace Festival features bespoke themed landscapes dedicated to destinations such as Oregon and South Carolina, with a variety of plants, foliage and colours native to these regions. Not only that, the sweet sound of Austin, Texas will grace the RHS festival stage with sets from Americana-infused singer-songwriters Natalie Price and Jo James.
Head to the America’s Wild garden for wildflowers, grasses and shrubs that evoke the natural beauty of the American wilderness, or the Explore Charleston exhibit for a taste of the city’s historic architecture and lush perennials, annuals and shrubs. Lastly, don’t miss the Oregon Garden and its mix of native plants that reflect the state’s diverse landscape, including conifers, ferns and wildflowers set against a backdrop of craggy boulders.
Be inspired by America’s blooms at
RHS Hampton Court
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For more information on these incredible destinations, go to visittheusa.co.uk
Keith Brofksy/Bloedel Reserve, Shutterstock, Getty, Alamy, The Oregon Garden, Lady Bird Johnson Wildflower Center, Davis Harold Hank, Helen Norman, Adam Rodriguez, Desert Botanical Garden, Kent Burgess, Cassidy Moody, Drew Bird, Frederik Meijer Gardens & Sculpture Park, Kevin Beswick, Erin Fisher.
Keith Brofksy/Bloedel Reserve, Shutterstock, Getty, Alamy, The Oregon Garden, Lady Bird Johnson Wildflower Center, Davis Harold Hank, Helen Norman, Adam Rodriguez, Desert Botanical Garden, Kent Burgess, Cassidy Moody, Drew Bird, Frederik Meijer Gardens & Sculpture Park, Kevin Beswick, Erin Fisher.