Best gardens and parks in North America
Best gardens and parks in North America
Historic conservatory greenhouses and public parks in North America
North America's garden tradition is younger than Europe's or Asia's, but that hasn't stopped some of its institutions from becoming genuinely world-class. Botanical gardens founded in the 19th century have had time to mature, and a handful of privately funded estate gardens from the early 20th century are now among the most visited garden destinations anywhere. The continent also has a strong conservatory tradition, partly driven by the need to grow tropical plants through harsh winters.
The range here is wider than most people expect. Japanese gardens built by immigrant communities in the early 1900s, reclaimed industrial sites turned into formal displays, aquatic gardens that peak for a few weeks in midsummer, rainforest arboretums on volcanic Hawaiian hillsides. Public funding and private philanthropy have both played a role, and the quality varies considerably between institutions.
Seasons shape the experience more than in some other regions. Spring bulbs, summer water lilies, autumn colour and winter conservatory displays each draw their own visitors, and several of the destinations on this page are worth timing around a specific season rather than visiting at random.
Lists by region
City in Canada
Victoria
Garden city by the Pacific
Butchart Gardens grew out of a limestone quarry that the Butchart family began planting in 1904. The Sunken Garden now fills the old pit with terraced flower beds. Visitors can follow paths through a Japanese Garden and a rose garden nearby. Summer evenings bring fireworks and illuminated displays after dark.
City in United States
St. Louis
Gateway to the West's Soul
The Missouri Botanical Garden opened in 1859, making it the oldest continuously operating garden in the country. Its Climatron greenhouse was built as a geodesic dome back in 1960. Visitors can walk through a Japanese garden called Seiwa-en, one of the largest outside Japan. Seasonal displays fill the grounds from spring bulbs to summer lilies.
Island in United States
Oahu
Hawaii’s Vibrant Island Adventure
Foster Botanical Garden in downtown Honolulu grows trees planted since the 1850s. A giant kapok tree spreads its buttressed roots wide enough to shelter a small crowd. Visitors can wander under a canopy of rare tropical species from Africa and Asia. Waimea Valley on the North Shore adds waterfalls and native Hawaiian plants.
City in Canada
Vancouver
Where mountains, ocean and city life meet
Stanley Park's seawall runs for about 9 kilometres around the edge of the peninsula. Old growth cedar and Douglas fir tower over paths near the totem poles at Brockton Point. Visitors can cycle or walk the full loop with views across Burrard Inlet. VanDusen Botanical Garden across town adds a maze and a floating boardwalk.
City in United States
New York City
Five boroughs of skyline, food and museums
The Brooklyn Botanic Garden's cherry walk turns pink each spring during the Sakura Matsuri festival. Its Japanese Hill and Pond Garden dates back to 1915. Visitors can cross a wooden bridge over koi filled water. The elevated High Line park nearby was built on an old freight rail line.
City in United States
Atlanta
A City of Southern Charm and Surprises
The Atlanta Botanical Garden's Skyline Garden opened in 2018 beside the downtown connector. A canopy walk lifts visitors 40 feet into the tree line for views over Midtown. Inside, the Fuqua Orchid Center holds thousands of blooms in a humid glasshouse. Piedmont Park next door adds miles of open green space.
City in United States
Washington, D.C.
Capital of History and Culture
The United States National Arboretum keeps 22 sandstone Corinthian columns standing alone in a meadow. Builders salvaged them from the US Capitol during a 1950s renovation. Visitors can walk among the columns at sunset when the light turns them gold. Dumbarton Oaks across town adds terraced formal gardens above Rock Creek Park.
City in United States
Chicago
Skyline, Deep-Dish and Jazz Nights
Lurie Garden sits inside Millennium Park behind a tall hedge called the Shoulder Hedge. Piet Oudolf designed its prairie style planting of grasses and perennials. Visitors can walk the boardwalk over a still reflecting pool called the Seam. The Garfield Park Conservatory across town grows palms under century old glass.
City in Canada
Montreal
A city of festivals, food and culture
The Montreal Botanical Garden opened in 1931 and now ranks among the largest in the world. Its Chinese Garden and Japanese Garden sit side by side near the Insectarium. Visitors can walk stone paths past pavilions built by artisans from Shanghai. Each autumn the Chinese lanterns light up for a festival after dark.
Park in New York City
Central Park
Nature’s Heart in NYC
Frederick Law Olmsted and Calvert Vaux designed Central Park in 1858 after winning a public competition. The plan wove lakes, meadows and woodland into a park built entirely by hand. Visitors can cross Bow Bridge or climb the steps at Bethesda Terrace. Sheep once grazed on the wide lawn now called Sheep Meadow.
City in United States
San Antonio
River Walk, missions and fiesta spirit
The Japanese Tea Garden sits inside a former rock quarry on the city's north side. Workers turned the abandoned limestone pit into terraced gardens in the 1910s. Visitors can cross stone bridges over koi ponds beneath a waterfall. A pagoda style pavilion at the entrance now serves coffee and tea.
Botanical Garden in United States
Longwood Gardens
Enchanted floral landscapes await in Pennsylvania
Pierre du Pont built Longwood Gardens on a former Quaker arboretum in Pennsylvania. His Main Fountain Garden now shoots water more than 175 feet into the air. Visitors can watch choreographed fountain shows set to music after dark. A vast conservatory shelters orchids and palms through the winter months.
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