Botanical gardens, also known as botanic gardens are typically open year round. However, did you know that most botanical gardens are in urban cities all across the United States? Flora and fauna, these public gardens are where beautiful horticultural landscapes meet cityscapes. And they are just waiting for you to smell their bloomers!

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What is a Botanical Garden?

A botanical garden is a live pictorial dictionary and display of plants; each labeled with their botanical names.

These beautiful botanical urban gardens function as an aesthetic and educational display for public enjoyment as well as the board room for scientific research.

Also known as botanic gardens, these public gardens are a collection of living plants illustrated in plant groups. Not to be confused with Arboretums which are collections of wooded plants such as trees and shrubs.

There are, depending on criteria noted, over 1000 botanical gardens peppered throughout the United States. And in those, over 600,000 living plant species are recorded.

Why are Botanical Gardens so important?

Botanical Gardens are necessary for studying the conservation of plants. But, they are equally important to creating a place to enjoy fresh air, natural wonder and solitude.

The many mysteries in the veins of every leaf and petal of every flower holds a special place for everyone who visits.

And who doesn’t love flora and foliage? Flowers and plants are the very living entity that helps clean the air for us to breath while providing habitats and food for wildlife, insects and arachnids.

But guess what?

You don’t have to drive for hours out into the country to see all of these amazing intriguing environments!

In this article, we’ve concentrated our efforts in showing you 12 urban botanical gardens in the United States.

So, pack your sightseeing bag, grab your camera and put on your comfortable walking shoes because we’re going show you some of America’s most beautiful urban botanical gardens!

15 Best Botanical Gardens in the United States

Northeast Region Botanical Gardens in the United States

1) Boston Public Garden

The Boston Public Garden was America’s first public botanical garden dating back to the 1830’s. So, its no wonder it’s made it’s way into the National Historic Landmark register.

The Boston Public Garden, also known as Public Garden, is a 24 acre completely outdoor park in the hub of Boston, Massachusetts, adjacent to Boston Common.

Having been there ourselves as young adults, it’s one of our favorite places. There’s nothing more exciting than the day they put the swan boats on the pond and meandering about the lagoon, fountains, unique plants and flowers.

But you can’t miss taking the kids (of all ages!) to see the Make Way for Ducklings.

The Boston Public Garden is a wonderful place for families to take a picnic and enjoy this open air free park in the middle of Beantown.

2) Elizabeth Park Conservancy

Driving south from Boston to West Hartford, Connecticut will bring you to Elizabeth Park Conservancy.

This botanical garden is the first municipal rose garden in the United States and the third largest rose garden in the country today.

Over 100 acres of green space, it’s noted as the first municipal rose garden in the Country. Beautiful Rambler Roses veiling the park gazebo, 800 varieties of flowers.

And with its’ over 15,000 rose bushes, it makes the perfect place to get down on one knee to proclaim one’s love for another. After all, roses are the flower of love.

3) New York Botanical Garden

ADDRESS:  2900 Southern Blvd., Bronx, New York 10458

ADMISSION:  FMI Ticket Info

Further down the Atlantic coast to The Bronx in New York City, the New York Botanical Garden has been deemed the largest metropolitan botanical garden. Over 1 million plants blanket the 250 acres that contain 50 specialty gardens.

 

But since you’re already in the Big Apple, you may want to meander over to the Brooklyn Botanical Garden.

Brooklyn Botanic Garden’s 52 acres of world-class indoor and outdoor gardens and iconic architecture makes it a desirable location for amateur photography.

The beautiful urban garden awakens every Spring with the well known Sakura Matsuri Festival, a week-long celebration combining the cherry blossom bloom with Japanese culture.

It’s one of the best natural exhibits in the whole world! 

East Coast Region Botanical Gardens in the United States

4) United States Botanic Garden

It’s no surprise that Washington D.C. makes it to our top twelve list of botanical gardens.

The United States Botanic Garden also known as The National Garden will allure you through every indoor and outdoor garden on the premises. Established in 1820 by Congress, the National Garden was originally brought about by George Washington earlier. 

Only a short walk from the Capitol Dome, each of the gardens have great significance. You certainly will want to visit them all; The Rose Garden, Butterfly Garden and Ladies Water Garden just to name a few.

It also has an Amphitheater, used as an outdoor gathering place for educational programs. It also provides a spectacular view of the U.S. Botanic Garden Conservatory and the U.S. Capitol dome.

5) Atlanta Botanical Garden

ADDRESS:   1345 Piedmont Avenue,  Atlanta, GA 30309

ADMISSION:  Adult and Youth Ages 12+  $24.95;  Children Ages 3-12 $21.95.   Children under -3 FREE

Located adjacent to Piedmont Park in Midtown Atlanta, Georgia, the 30 acre Atlanta Botanical Garden develops and maintains plant collections to educate and display for visitors to enjoy and Botanists to study and research.

Walk along the treetops, garden houses and Cascade Gardens in Atlanta, Georgia’s incredible urban greenery oasis, Atlanta Botanical Garden.

And don’t forget the 100+ kinds of roses! It’s the perfect place for a romantic walk, take amazing photos or just a peaceful place to just find solace.

6) Brookgreen Gardens

ADDRESS:  1931 Brookgreen Drive  Murrells Inlet, SC 29576

ADMISSION:  Adults 13-64 $18;  Seniors 65+ $16;  Children 4-12 $10; Children -3 are Free.

Brookgreen Gardens is the floral jewel of South Carolina’s coastal community. This botanical garden boasts of southern charm, history and science.

It’s the perfect ground to spend a couple hours with the family. Located south of Myrtle Beach, the 9,127-acre property preserves the natural and cultivated landscape of this historic site.

Its’ beauty reigns from the themed sculpture gardens and wildlife preserve near Murrells Inlet.

It features the Lowcountry Zoo exhibiting wild animals and trails through several ecosystems in nature reserves on the property. But also, it has the Lowcountry History that tells the story of the region. 

Southeast Region Botanical Gardens in the United States

7) Fairchild Tropical Botanic Garden

ADDRESS:  10901 Old Cutler Road  Miami, Florida 33156

ADMISSION:  Adults $25, Student (with valid school ID) $16,  Seniors 65+ $18, Children 6-17 $12, Children -5  Free

Fairchild Tropical Botanic Garden located just south of Miami in Coral Gables, Florida, surrounded at the north and west by Matheson Hammock Park.

This incredibly beautiful 83-acre tropical botanic garden with extensive collections of rare tropical plants including palms, cycads, climbing vines and beautiful flowering trees.

But that’s not all at Fairchild. on the grounds also hosts a museum, learning center, labratory and conservation research facility.

Their main mission is to preserve biodiversity. In 2012, Fairchild became the home of the American Orchid Society.

Just a side note worth mentioning, Matheson Hammock Park (mentioned earlier) is a 630 acres urban park in metropolitan Miami. The park surrounds the north and western ends of Fairchild Tropical Botanic Garden.

So, you and your family can visit two garden parks in one day.

Also, Fairchild Tropical Botanical Garden offers active military personnel and veterans free admission year-round.

They also offer a 50% discount on regular admission year-round to active first responders. You’ll need to present appropriate ID to receive your discount.

For more discounts and information visit the Fairchild Hours and Admission page.

Midwest Region Botanical Gardens in the United States

8) Garfield Park Conservatory

ADDRESS: 300 N Central Park Ave, Chicago, IL 60624

ADMISSION: FREE – Donations are appreciated

If your travels take you to the Windy City, be sure to visit the Garfield Park Conservatory.

Despite being in the middle of Chicago, this 10-acre urban botanical garden has a stately indoor conservatory.

Once you enter, you’ll be drawn into its’ colossal sized tropical garden with palms and tropical plants. And then, you’ll wander into the desert house of a great variety of succulents and cacti.

Garfield Park Conservatory boasts itself as being one of the elaborate and largest conservatories in the world!

Often referred to as landscape art under glass, it includes cold frames and propagating where thousands of plants are grown each year for displays all over.

One of the best parts is this urban botanical garden has free admission and free parking! They also have bicycle  racks and a Divvy bike station on the premises.

9) Missouri Botanical Garden

ADDRESS: 4344 Shaw Blvd., St. Louis, MO 63110

ADMISSION: General $14 per person

The Missouri Botanical Garden located in the heart of St. Louis, is one of the most popular urban gardens in the United States.

Its’ almost 80 plus acres of beautiful gardens, exhibits, displays, and historic landmarks, it’s no wonder it’s been named one of the Travel Channels America’s Most Beautiful Botanical Gardens.

It includes a 14-acre Japanese garden, a Floral Display Hall that is home to an annual rare orchid show. It also hosts the historic 1850 estate of garden founder Henry Shaw.

Open year round, the top attractions at the Missouri Botanical Gardens are Climatron, Japanese Garden, Linnean House, Sachs Museum and the Children’s Garden. 

They also offer tram tours around the grounds for an additional $5 each visitor.

 

Southern Region Botanical Gardens in the United States

10) Dallas Arboretum and Botanical Gardens

ADDRESS: 8525 Garland Road, Dallas, Texas 75218

ADMISSION: Adult 13-64 $17; Seniors 65+ $14; Children 2-12 $12; Children’s Adventure Garden $3 each; Parking $15. Discounts offered during off season.

Dallas Arboretum and Botanical Gardens in east Texas spreads over 66 acres. It’s no wonder their gardens were voted one of Southern Living Magazine’s  South’s Best Botanical Gardens in 2017.

The most popular gardens to visit are the Woman’s Garden, Jonssons Color Garden, and the stunning Trial Garden.

While all of the gardens are incredibly amazing, the Trial Garden features 3,000 to 5,000 new plants annually. The Trial Garden has planted and researched more than 1.4 million plants.

The Woman’s Garden includes various sculptures, infinity pool with flowers and fountains while the Jonssons Color Garden is 6.5-acres of large, sweeping beds of seasonal flowers and plants.

Bring your picnic blanket and cooler as the beautiful lush green lawns are perfect to enjoy lunch and relax.

11) Denver Botanic Gardens

Denver Botanic Garden is a living museum that showcases plants of the Rocky Mountain and Great Plains Region, a semi-arid, steppe climate on it’s 24 acres.

The staff and Botanists exhaustively record and register every plant from seed to compost; capturing every stage of their life cycle.

It’s also known for its Gardens of the West, which highlight plants native to Colorado. You’ll find a vast variety of drought-tolerant plants, succulents, alpines, and sturdy ornamental grasses.

But in the winter, Denver botanic Garden doesn’t close their doors for the winter season. The gardens take on new life by featuring award winning Dale Chihuly’s tempered glass sculptures, which become the primary attractions on snowy days.

Also in the winter, the gardens host their annual Blossoms of Light holiday light show. 

Southwest Region Botanical Gardens in the United States

 

12) Desert Botanical Garden

ADDRESS: 1201 N. Galvin Parkway, Phoenix, AZ 85008

ADMISSION: General Admission $14.95–$29.95; Youth 3–17 $9.95–$14.95; Children -3 FREE.  *  Active Military Personnel FREE with ID  *  General Admission does not include special events or exhibitions.

Whoever said life doesn’t exist in the desert has never toured Phoenix’s 55 acre Desert Botanical Garden in Arizona.

The botanists and staff leave no stone unturned with their strikingly gorgeous landscapes that survive the very dry climates.

Over 50,000 plants, including 379 rare and endangered species thrive in this high desert environment.

There’s an extensive collection of agave and several cacti species, trees and flowers that thrive in the arid southwest climate. The giant cacti and rare species are a must see as is the largest 180-species agave plant collection in the United States.

Worth noting, on the second Tuesday of every month, admission is free!

13) ABQ BioPark Botanic Garden

ADDRESS:  2601 Central Ave NW, Albuquerque, NM 87104

ADMISSION:Adults $14.50; Seniors (65+) $7.50;  Youth (3-12)  $6; Children (2 & under) Free.    Military Discount -$2 off Adult & $1 off Child

Located in the heart of Albuquerque, New Mexico, the ABQ BioPark Botanic Garden, also known as Rio Grande Botanic Garden, this 36-acre botanical garden showcases plants of the desert arid climate of the Southwest which includes its’ Conservatory.

As soon as you enter the garden gates, you can’t help noticing the Spanish-Moorish architecture. walled gardens.

After, you’ll want to explore more than 1.5 miles of paths through 13 different exhibits. Also, you’ll not want to miss the Sasebo Japanese Garden, Mediterranean Conservatory and the 1930’s style farmstead, the Rio Grande Heritage Farm. 

While you’re visiting the Botanical Gardens, visit the Aquarium and Zoo as they are communed together. There is a tram that connects all three attractions. 

And, if you’re in Albuquerque in December, make sure you visit the River of Lights when the sculptures and plants are glowing with millions of sparkling lights sychronized with music.

West Coast Region Botanical Gardens in the United States

14) San Francisco Botanical Garden

ADDRESS:  1199 9th Ave   San Francisco, CA, 94122

ADMISSION:  Adults – Weekend $12; Adults $9; Youth (12-17) & Seniors (65+) $7; Children ( 5-11) $3; Toddler (Ages 4 and under) FREE.   Families – 2 adults & all children under 17 residing in the same household $21

Escape to a unique urban oasis of extraordinary beauty at San Francisco Botanical Garden, showcasing more than 8,000 different kinds of plants from around the world.

Located in San Francisco’s Golden Gate Park at Strybing Arboretum, this 55 acre natural wonder showcases high elevation palms, conifers, and cloud forest species from Central America, South America and Southeast Asia.

But, the star of the show are the Magnolias; one of the most significant conservation bloom collections in the United States.

From January to March, the 200-plus Magnolia trees are at their prime. There are 63 different species, many of which are uniquely rare or historic.

15) Portland Japanese Garden

ADDRESS:  611 SW Kingston Avenue  Portland, OR 97205

ADMISSION:  Adult $18.95, Senior 65+ $16.25, Student (with ID): $15.25, Youth (6-17): $13.50, Child (-5) FREE

Located in Portland, Oregon’s Washington Park, the 12 acre Portland Japanese Garden overlooks the city and providing a tranquil, urban oasis for visitors of all ages.

The Portland Japanese Garden hosts eight different serene garden styles, authentic Japanese Tea House, beautiful walkways, meandering streams, and a breathtaking view of Mt. Hood.

More Botanical Gardens in the United States?

Remember in the beginning I mentioned there are about 1000 botanical gardens in the United States?

Those I listed above are only a handful of those situated in or around large cities. They offer locals and tourists a chance to learn about the different plants and flowers at the same time, enjoy a peaceful morning or afternoon of fresh clean air.

To see other botanical gardens in your region, state, or locations you’re traveling through, check out this List of botanical gardens and arboretums in the United States.

Check out these books on these botanical gardens in the United States below:

That’s a wrap on our best botanical gardens in the United States

We hope this opened your eyes to a new sightseeing venue. As you’ve just read, many of these magnificent botanic gardens are free to visit. But, it’s a recommended courtesy to show your appreciation by slipping $5-$10 into their donation boxes.

The best time to visit these urban public gardens is weekday mornings before noon or late afternoon before closing. However, you may need reservations ahead of time. There may be other stipulations you need to be aware of so it is our recommendation to visit their websites to get all the details prior to your visit.

Also, we’ve found some have a bistro, cafe or small restaurant and gift shops. So, make sure you bring a little cash or credit card to make a purchase which helps support their mission. Or, bring a small box lunch and enjoy basking near the beautiful blooms and blossoms.

Check out these books on these botanical gardens in the United States below:

Lastly, before leaving for your botanical garden adventure, we highly recommend brushing up on your photography skills by reviewing our Smartphone Photography Tips for Beginners.

Also, check out iPhone Photography School’s 10 Tips for Taking Sunning iPhone Photos of Flowers.

Here’s a great video to obtain beautiful close up shots of flowers:

Other Blogs to Read

Tatanka “Story of the American Bison”   Deadwood, SD 2016

Standin’ on the Corner in Winslow, AZ 2016

Our Walk of Faith in   Santa Fe, NM 2015

 

 

 

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