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Spring in central North Carolina leaves no doubt why the dogwood is our state flower. The temperature and climate create a hospitable home for flora and fauna, as well as for the land’s famed golden-leafed tobacco.
Many of our state’s signature gardens, regional treasures and smaller gardens of note are free for visitors. Others double as historic sites offering extended places to explore.
1 NC Botanical Garden
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1 NC Botanical Garden
Chapel HillSee on map
Roam through rare wildflowers in the Piedmont Habitat, check out the Salamander Pool in the Coastal Plain Habitat or step into the restored cabin of Pulitzer Prize-winning author Paul Green at this blossoming paradise dedicated to conserving native North Carolina plant species.
2 Martin Luther King Memorial Gardens
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2 Martin Luther King Memorial Gardens
RaleighSee on mapMore than 8,000 flowers surround a life-sized statue of King, and a two-ton granite water monument honors 25 pioneers in civil rights and education.
3 Sarah P. Duke Gardens
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3 Sarah P. Duke Gardens
DurhamSee on mapThese landscaped gardens on the campus of Duke University are known as one of the premier public gardens in the United States. Enjoy 55 acres and 200+ colorful plants meandering along more than 5 miles of walkways.
4 Cape Fear Botanical Garden
4 Cape Fear Botanical Garden
FayettevilleSee on mapMeander through old growth forest and lush flowers and plants at the confluence of the Cape Fear and Cross Creek Rivers.
5 Greensboro Public Gardens
5 Greensboro Public Gardens
GreensboroSee on mapFour distinct gardens make up the Greensboro Public Gardens, which are open year-round. The Tanger Family Bicentennial Garden is filled with massive annuals and bronze sculptures. The Bog Garden at Benjamin Park is a wetland home to a number of wildlife species. The 17-acre Greensboro Arboretum features display gardens, distinct structures and more. And the Gateway Gardens' 11 acres welcome you as you enter the city. Admission to all is free.
6 Reynolda Gardens of Wake Forest University
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6 Reynolda Gardens of Wake Forest University
Winston-SalemSee on mapThis early 20th-century formal garden designed by Thomas W. Sears is surrounded by open fields and forests. The greenhouse and conservatory feature tropical and succulent plants and an extensive orchid collection.
7 McGill Rose Garden
7 McGill Rose Garden
CharlotteSee on mapOrder coffee, wine and pastries from Rosie's Coffee and Wine Garden and take a seat in the rose garden, located just outside Uptown Charlotte.
8 Daniel Stowe Botanical Garden
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8 Daniel Stowe Botanical Garden
BelmontSee on mapLocated a short drive west of Charlotte, Daniel Stowe Botanical Garden features 110 acres of themed gardens – including Lost Hollow Children's Garden – sparkling fountains, and a grassy outdoor amphitheater for concerts and other events.
9 Elizabeth Holmes Hurley Park
9 Elizabeth Holmes Hurley Park
SalisburySee on mapWildflower and azalea gardens, woodlands, streams and quiet pathways fill 18 acres to create a wildlife haven.
10 Old Salem Museums & Gardens
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10 Old Salem Museums & Gardens
Winston-SalemSee on mapSituated close to the heart of modern-day downtown Winston-Salem, Old Salem Museums & Gardens features the best-documented restored community gardens in America in a 1766 Moravian village.
11 Wilson Rose Garden
11 Wilson Rose Garden
WilsonSee on mapThis unique public rose garden with more than 1,000 plants blooming from mid-April through October boasts rare Old Garden Roses and the latest All-American Rose Selections.
12 Fearrington Gardens
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12 Fearrington Gardens
PittsboroSee on mapThese stunning, meticulous gardens surround the inn, shops, restaurants and spa at Fearrington Village, which is a short drive from Raleigh, Durham and Chapel Hill. Wander formal perennial gardens, kitchen and herb gardens, cutting gardens and white fragrant garden, all yielding delightful displays of color.
Additional Central North Carolina Gardens to Explore
Bethabara Community Garden
Winston-Salem
Well-documented colonial community and medical gardens.
Davidson College Arboretum
Davidson
A major collection of woody plants and magnificent trees beautify this classical campus.
Duke Mansion
Charlotte
Majestic trees and year-round blooms in the heart of a historic Charlotte neighborhood.
Hezekiah Alexander Homesite
Charlotte
18th century-style herb and weaver’s gardens on the grounds of the Revolutionary War-era home that is Mecklenburg County’s oldest surviving structure.
The JC Raulston Arboretum
Raleigh
A model for excellence with the nation’s most effective plant introduction program.
Joel Lane Museum House
Raleigh
Beautiful period gardens, including a formal garden and culinary and medicinal herb garden, at Wake County’s oldest existing dwelling.
Juniper Level Botanic Gardens
Raleigh
More than 6,000 different plants aesthetically displayed in rock, aquatic, desert, shade and grotto gardens, and extensive mixed borders.
Magic Wings Butterfly House
Durham
Exotic butterflies and their tropical habitats in one of the largest butterfly houses on the East Coast.
Memorial Garden
Concord
A multitude of azaleas, dogwoods, magnificent flowering cherries and 14,000 tulips entwined through the 200-year-old cemetery of the First Presbyterian Church.
Raleigh Rose Garden
Raleigh
More than 60 varieties including hybrid teas, floribundas, grandifloras, English roses, miniatures, tree roses and climbers.
Sandhills Horticultural Gardens
Pinehurst
27 acres of richly varied gardens on the Sandhills Community College campus.
Tanglewood Park
Clemmons
An arboretum and fragrance garden with new and historical native cultivars as well as a large AARS-accredited rose garden with more than 800 bushes and 75 varieties.
UNC Charlotte Botanical Gardens
Charlotte
Outstanding indoor and outdoor environments offering year-round enjoyment.
Wing Haven Garden and Bird Sanctuary
Charlotte
Formal gardens and natural areas create a serene environment for birds and other visitors.
