Gardens in the US to Visit During Spring

This blog post was updated on March 10, 2022.

Spring’s finally here! If you are known for having a green thumb, we’re sure it’s a season you enjoy in a special way. With so many wonderful gardens around the United States, it’s no surprise that you might be in search for inspiration to create your own lush haven at home. Check this list of some of the best gardens to visit in the U.S. to know where you can appreciate spring blooms at their best and brightest!

Longwood Gardens

In terms of size, Longwood Gardens takes the cake. Home to 1,077 acres, the space is considered one of the world’s great gardens. Longwood Gardens are particularly worth the trip to Pennsylvania from April 4th through March 31st, when the Spring Blooms displays begin to pop. Visitors can see more than 240,000 tulips, native azaleas, and plenty of flowering trees!

Desert Botanical Garden

If you seek a visit to a non-traditional garden, Phoenix has just that with its Desert Botanical Garden. Across 145 acres, the garden boasts over 50,000 plants. Its emphasis remains largely not on rare flowers from other parts of the world, but rather plants from the Southwestern United States. Visitors can experience a unique collection of cacti on the grounds. In addition, Spring brings wildflower blooms and the annual butterfly exhibit. Admission costs $22 for adults.

Missouri Botanical Garden

While Saint Louis, Missouri, might not come to mind as an ideal destination for spring, it should merely because of the Missouri Botanical Garden. Across 79 acres, the grounds hold eye-popping displays including the Chinese Garden, English Woodland Garden, Ottoman Garden, the Victorian District, and one of the world’s largest collections of rare and endangered orchids. Home to more than 4,800 trees, the garden is also a historic one. Founded in 1859, the Missouri Botanical Garden remains the nation’s oldest botanical garden in continuous operation. It’s even a National Historic Landmark!

San Francisco Botanical Garden

If you spend some time in Golden Gate Park, you are bound to stumble upon the San Francisco Botanical Garden. One of the most diverse gardens on the globe, this garden sprawls across 55 acres of landscaped gardens and open spaces. Visitors can take in the scents of over 8,000 plants from around the world. San Francisco’s climatic conditions have lent the garden a unique make up. It’s particularly notable for its magnolia collection, boasting the world’s fourth most significant collection of magnolia for conservation purposes.

Portland Japanese Garden

Tucked in the midst of Portland is its magnificent Japanese Garden. You will definitely find serenity here, thanks to its beautifully designed natural elements intended to immerse yourself in Japanese art. Visitors can choose to walk on a small incline towards this garden or take a shuttle bus to the very top. This option takes you to the Cultural Village, your starting point to the gardens. A sensory experience, here you can enjoy the soft sound of the Koto or Shakuhachi — Japanese harp and flute– as you relax amidst the calm setting. There’s even a beautiful Japanese Tea Room to enjoy a traditional ceremony. Stroll at your leisure, as this is a garden of calm reflection.

Filoli

Just a half-hour south of San Francisco, tucked in the Santa Cruz Mountains, you’ll come across the beautiful gardens of Filoli. These 16 acres of Italian-style formal gardens comprise both annuals and perennials plants. You’ll find a cornucopia of tulips and other bulb plants blooming in the spring. In the summertime, fragrant roses, zinnias, and salvias are the stars. But there’s more than plants here: Filoli has statues, pools, and a spectacular sunken garden. Wander around the Walled Garden to admire the beautiful design that uses hedges to create many garden rooms. Bask in the sensory experience with the scent of blooming crab apple and cherry blossoms, and be sure to check out the orchards and the spectacular views of the Crystal Springs Reservoir!

Lewis Ginter Botanical Garden

Located in Richmond, Virginia, the Lewis Ginter Botanical Garden is comprised of 50 stunning acres of 12 different gardens, a historic home, and a classically domed conservatory…so be prepared to explore and walk! There is the Cherry Tree Walk, the Children’s Garden, lush Rose Garden, and the spectacular Asian Valley. Moreover, this is a four-season experience: there is always something special here, no matter when you visit!

You may also like: 7 Botanical Gardens You Should Visit This Spring

Fairchild Tropical Botanic Gardens

Located at the heart of Dade County Florida, in Coral Springs, are the 83-acre Fairchild Tropical Botanic Gardens. Tropical flowers mean some spectacular cycads, orchids, bromeliads, as well as rare palms. In this unique haven, visitors can admire the largest collection of bamboo in the world and the only Cannonball Tree in the United States among more than 740 species of flowering trees. And don’t miss the two-acre rainforest display… there’s a misting system installed to emulate a real-life rainforest!

Forestiere Underground Gardens

Located in the midst of Fresno, California, the Forestiere Underground Gardens is a unique botanical marvel with 65 subterranean garden rooms. Made of stone and created in the image of Roman Catacombs, it has beautiful and fragrant fruit trees, old grapevines winding along the walls, and shrubs. Carefully crafted with skylights and water catch-basins, these gardens are cool and comfortable even on the hottest day. It’s truly a place unlike any other!

United States Botanic Garden

If you’re looking for cheap flights in March, Washington DC is always a good place to go! Because here’s where we put an end to our list, more specifically on the grounds of the United States Capitol Building. The United States Botanic Garden has three locations: The Conservatory, Barholdi Park, and the Production Facility. The Conservatory features the spectacular Garden Court, apart from rooms with orchids, rare and endangered plants, jungle species, medicinal plants, and Hawaiian plants. Don’t forget to check out the delightful Children’s Garden and the Southern Exposure gardens, both located in the massive courtyard. Bartholdi Park is just south of the Conservatory. As for the Production Facility, you’ll find it in Southwest Washington D.C.