Showcase

Map of Top US Botanical Gardens

Direct answer

What does this interactive map show?

The best US botanical gardens on one interactive map, grouped by region.

Locations shown
23
Categories
5: Northeast, DC / Mid-Atlantic, South, Midwest, and 1 more
Data snapshot
Legacy snapshot date not recorded; use the linked sources for time-sensitive facts
Evidence
1 reviewed page-level source; row-level lineage is not retained
Build your own custom map

DC / Mid-Atlantic

4 locations

United States Botanic Garden

Washington, DC · on the National Mall · free

38.8881, -77.0131

United States National Arboretum

Washington, DC · National Capitol Columns

38.9114, -76.9697

Lewis Ginter Botanical Garden

Richmond, VA

37.6166, -77.4775

Norfolk Botanical Garden

Norfolk, VA · waterfront

36.9051, -76.1923

Midwest

5 locations

Missouri Botanical Garden

St. Louis, MO · Climatron · est. 1859

Oldest botanical garden in continuous operation in the US.

38.6125, -90.2588

Chicago Botanic Garden

Glencoe, IL · 28 islands · free admission

42.1517, -87.7867

Cleveland Botanical Garden

Cleveland, OH · Costa Rica + Madagascar biomes

41.5097, -81.6113

Powell Gardens

Kingsville, MO · 'Kansas City's botanical garden'

38.8997, -94.1361

Lauritzen Gardens

Omaha, NE

41.2186, -95.9275

Northeast

4 locations

Brooklyn Botanic Garden

Brooklyn, NY · cherry blossoms

40.6694, -73.9621

New York Botanical Garden

Bronx, NY · 250 acres · Enid A. Haupt Conservatory

40.8629, -73.8770

Longwood Gardens

Kennett Square, PA · DuPont estate · 1,100 acres

One of the most-visited gardens in the US — fountains, conservatory, and seasonal displays.

39.8709, -75.6740

Phipps Conservatory

Pittsburgh, PA · Victorian glasshouse

40.4395, -79.9477

South

4 locations

Atlanta Botanical Garden

Atlanta, GA · orchid conservatory

33.7905, -84.3725

Fairchild Tropical Botanic Garden

Coral Gables, FL · tropical specimens

25.6770, -80.2745

Marie Selby Botanical Gardens

Sarasota, FL · epiphytes + Banyan Grove

27.3215, -82.5494

Naples Botanical Garden

Naples, FL · 7 distinct gardens

26.1244, -81.7858

West

6 locations

Denver Botanic Gardens

Denver, CO · high-altitude specialists

39.7321, -104.9594

Desert Botanical Garden

Phoenix, AZ · 50,000 desert plants

Specializes in arid-climate species — one of the largest cacti collections in the world.

33.4624, -111.9444

Tucson Botanical Gardens

Tucson, AZ · 16 gardens · butterfly conservatory

32.2625, -110.9417

Huntington Library & Botanical Gardens

San Marino, CA · Japanese garden

34.1287, -118.1146

San Francisco Botanical Garden

San Francisco, CA · Golden Gate Park

37.7670, -122.4691

South Coast Botanic Garden

Palos Verdes, CA

33.7799, -118.3633

America's premier botanical gardens

The US has over 600 botanical gardens; here are the most-celebrated.

  • Longwood Gardens (PA): the DuPont estate, world-class fountains + conservatory
  • Missouri Botanical Garden: oldest in continuous US operation (1859)
  • Desert Botanical Garden (Phoenix): largest cacti collection in the world
  • Brooklyn Botanic Garden: cherry blossoms + bonsai

Plan a visit by region

Several US cities cluster multiple world-class gardens.

  • Northeast: NYBG + Brooklyn BG + Longwood (one trip)
  • DC: US Botanic Garden + National Arboretum (both free)
  • Midwest: Chicago BG + Missouri BG (free admission days)
  • Southwest: Desert BG + Tucson BG

Best months to visit

Seasonal displays make timing matter.

  • Spring (Mar–May): cherry blossoms, tulips, peak bloom
  • Summer (Jun–Aug): roses, lotus, tropical conservatories
  • Fall (Sep–Nov): foliage + chrysanthemum displays
  • Winter (Dec–Feb): orchid shows + holiday light displays

Frequently asked questions

Largest US botanical garden?
Longwood Gardens (PA) at 1,083 acres including the formal Conservatory, fountains, and 200+ acres of gardens.
Oldest US botanical garden?
Missouri Botanical Garden (St. Louis), founded 1859 — oldest in continuous US operation.
Free admission?
US Botanic Garden (DC), National Arboretum (DC), Missouri BG (members + select days), and Lincoln Park Zoo are all free.
Best time to visit?
Mid-spring (April-May) for most US gardens; late fall + winter holiday displays at conservatory-heavy gardens.
Build with MapsMaker

Build your own version of this map

Add filters, photos, and your own pins. Then embed it anywhere.