The USA has some of the world’s most impressive botanical gardens, from a 1,000-acre estate in Pennsylvania to a 3-acre dry garden in California. These are living museums, curated plant collections that combine ecological significance, historical depth, and genuine visual impact. If you’re working through your USA bucket list, honestly, a botanical garden probably isn’t the first thing you’d think to add. But it should be. Here are the best ones to put on your list.
Quick Answer
Longwood Gardens in Kennett Square, Pennsylvania is widely cited as a top botanical garden in the USA. The oldest surviving botanical garden is Bartram’s Garden, founded in 1728. For sheer variety, standout options span every region, from tropical Florida to arid Arizona to coastal Maine.
The Best Botanical Gardens in the USA by Region
East Coast
Longwood Gardens – Kennett Square, Pennsylvania
Founded by Pierre S. du Pont in the early 20th century, Longwood Gardens spans over 1,000 acres of formal gardens, meadows, and woodlands. Key features include the Main Fountain Garden, a 50-foot waterfall, a Main Conservatory, and topiary gardens. It regularly pulls in thousands of TripAdvisor reviews and consistently sits among the top-rated attractions in the entire state. Not gonna lie, a thousand acres is a lot of ground to cover, so wear decent shoes.
New York Botanical Garden – The Bronx, New York
This 250-acre garden holds over one million living plants, including rare and endangered species. The Enid A. Haupt Conservatory is the headline structure, and the garden hosts rotating seasonal exhibitions throughout the year. If you’re visiting in spring or summer, it’s a brilliant pairing with a Rangers game at Madison Square Garden or catching Disney On Ice at Heritage Bank Center across the river in Cincinnati for a family trip.
Brooklyn Botanic Garden – New York City
Founded in 1910, Brooklyn Botanic Garden covers 52 acres and contains more than 10,000 different plant species. It holds two notable firsts: the Native Flora Garden, established in 1911 as the first of its kind in the USA, and the first Japanese garden built in the United States. A new Water Garden is currently in development. The garden has a strong focus on conservation research for regional plants.
Bartram’s Garden – Pennsylvania
The oldest surviving botanical garden in the United States, founded in 1728 by John Bartram, botanist, explorer, and plant collector. The 45-acre National Historic Landmark contains the oldest Ginkgo biloba tree in North America. Bartram’s sons later expanded the garden; it was sold in 1850 and preserved by the City of Philadelphia in 1891. Today it operates through a partnership between the John Bartram Association and Philadelphia Parks and Recreation.
Biltmore Estate Gardens – Asheville, North Carolina
Designed by Frederick Law Olmsted, the Biltmore Estate Gardens draw on Italian and English garden traditions. The grounds include formal gardens, a conservatory, and a dedicated rose garden.
Coastal Maine Botanical Gardens – Near Boothbay, Maine
Covers more than 300 acres along the Maine coast. Notable features include a fairy house village and large-scale trolls constructed from recycled materials. Turns out, giant trolls made from scrap wood are a surprisingly effective way to get kids interested in plants.
Midwest
Missouri Botanical Garden – St. Louis, Missouri
Opened in 1859, this is the oldest continually operating botanical garden in the USA and a National Historic Landmark. It occupies 79 acres and is recognized internationally for botanical research programs. The 14-acre Japanese Garden is one of its standout features, and the Climatron, a geodesic dome, houses a tropical rainforest complete with waterfalls and exotic plants.
Chicago Botanic Garden – Glencoe, Illinois
Opened in 1972, the Chicago Botanic Garden covers 385 acres spread across nine islands. It contains 26 themed gardens and four natural areas, including a Japanese garden, an English walled garden, and native habitats. The bonsai collection is particularly well regarded. Chicago Botanic Garden is one of only 17 public gardens in the USA accredited by the American Association of Museums.
Frederik Meijer Gardens and Sculpture Park – Grand Rapids, Michigan
A 158-acre site combining indoor conservatories, outdoor gardens, and a sculpture collection featuring more than 50 works by international artists.
The Nichols Arboretum – Ann Arbor, Michigan
Part of the University of Michigan campus, The Nichols Arboretum (known locally as “The Arb”) is best known for the W.E. Upjohn Peony Garden.
Denver Botanic Gardens – Denver, Colorado
Covers 23 acres and includes more than 32,000 plants across 45 different gardens.
West Coast and Southwest
Huntington Botanical Gardens – San Marino, California
Part of the broader Huntington Library, Art Museum, and Botanical Gardens complex, the Huntington covers 150 acres across 16 themed gardens. The Desert Garden alone contains more than 5,000 species, making it one of the largest outdoor collections of cacti and succulents in the world. The Huntington Library also holds a significant botanical art collection.
Portland Japanese Garden – Portland, Oregon
Known for its serene beauty and authentic Japanese design, the garden includes tea houses, ponds, and views of the city skyline. It’s one of the highest-rated attractions in Portland on TripAdvisor for good reason.
Desert Botanical Garden – Phoenix, Arizona
A 140-acre garden entirely dedicated to arid-adapted plants. Thematic trails run through the site, and the garden runs special events including illuminated evening trails. If you’re planning a visit during the cooler months, Phoenix is also one of the best warm places to visit in December.
Los Angeles County Arboretum and Botanic Garden – Arcadia, California
Covers 127 acres in the historic Rancho Santa Anita area. Managed jointly by the Los Angeles Arboretum Foundation and the Los Angeles County Department of Parks and Recreation.
Ruth Bancroft Garden – California
A compact 3-acre site on a former walnut orchard. The dry garden features more than 2,000 cacti, succulents, trees, and shrubs.
Washington D.C.
U.S. Botanic Garden Conservatory – Washington, D.C.
Established in 1820, the U.S. Botanic Garden Conservatory is one of the oldest botanic gardens in North America. Its collections cover economic plants, medicinal plants, orchids, carnivorous plants, cacti, succulents, Mid-Atlantic native plants, and ferns. The garden’s stated mission is to demonstrate the aesthetic, cultural, economic, therapeutic, and ecological importance of plants. Honestly, the fact that this one is free makes it an easy addition to any D.C. itinerary.
Southeast and South
Cincinnati Zoo and Botanical Garden – Cincinnati, Ohio
One of the oldest zoos in the United States, the Cincinnati Zoo and Botanical Garden is noted for its conservation and sustainability programs.
Fairchild Tropical Botanic Garden – Coral Gables, Florida
Focused on tropical plants, the garden includes themed sections and a butterfly conservatory. If you’re visiting South Florida, this is easily one of the best things you can do with a half day. The butterfly conservatory alone is worth the trip.
At-a-Glance Comparison
| Garden | Location | Size | Founded | Highlight |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Bartram’s Garden | Pennsylvania | 45 acres | 1728 | Oldest surviving US botanic garden; oldest North American ginkgo |
| U.S. Botanic Garden | Washington, D.C. | – | 1820 | One of the oldest continually operating public gardens in North America |
| Missouri Botanical Garden | St. Louis, MO | 79 acres | 1859 | Oldest continually operating botanical garden in the USA; Climatron dome |
| Longwood Gardens | Kennett Square, PA | 1,000+ acres | Early 1900s | Main Fountain Garden; 50-foot waterfall |
| Brooklyn Botanic Garden | New York City, NY | 52 acres | 1910 | First Native Flora Garden in USA; 10,000+ plant species |
| Chicago Botanic Garden | Glencoe, IL | 385 acres | 1972 | 26 gardens; AAM-accredited; bonsai collection |
| New York Botanical Garden | The Bronx, NY | 250 acres | – | 1 million+ living plants; Enid A. Haupt Conservatory |
| Huntington Botanical Gardens | San Marino, CA | 150 acres | – | 16 themed gardens; world-class Desert Garden |
| Desert Botanical Garden | Phoenix, AZ | 140 acres | – | Arid-adapted plants; illuminated trail events |
| Portland Japanese Garden | Portland, OR | – | – | Authentic Japanese design; tea houses and ponds |
| Coastal Maine Botanical Gardens | Near Boothbay, ME | 300+ acres | – | Fairy house village; large-scale recycled-material trolls |
| Frederik Meijer Gardens | Grand Rapids, MI | 158 acres | – | 50+ sculptures; indoor and outdoor gardens |
Frequently Asked Questions
What is the oldest botanical garden in the USA?
Bartram’s Garden in Pennsylvania, founded in 1728 by botanist John Bartram, is the oldest surviving botanical garden in the United States. The U.S. Botanic Garden Conservatory in Washington, D.C., established in 1820, is one of the oldest continually operating public botanical gardens in North America.
What is the largest botanical garden in the USA?
Longwood Gardens in Kennett Square, Pennsylvania spans over 1,000 acres, making it one of the largest. Chicago Botanic Garden (385 acres) and Coastal Maine Botanical Gardens (300+ acres) are also among the biggest.
What is the best botanical garden in the USA?
Longwood Gardens in Pennsylvania is frequently cited as one of the best botanical gardens in the country. The Portland Japanese Garden is known for its authentic Japanese design and is highly regarded among Japanese-style gardens in the USA. Use our USA trip planner to figure out which gardens fit into your route.
Which US botanical garden has the best cactus collection?
The Desert Garden at Huntington Botanical Gardens in San Marino, California contains more than 5,000 species and is considered one of the largest outdoor collections of cacti and succulents in the world.