by Kolena Thomhave, Good Info News Wire
A public garden is not merely a nice collection of plants—it’s a space where horticulture inspires both learning and fun. In contrast to private or commercial gardens, public gardens grow plants “for the purposes of public education and enjoyment, in addition to research, conservation, and higher learning,” per the American Public Gardens Association. More than two dozen public gardens in Pennsylvania are members of the association and are dedicated to botanical beauty alongside community enrichment. We’ve put together a list of the public gardens in Pa. that you can visit in all their glory this spring.
Public gardens in Western Pennsylvania
Pittsburgh Botanic Garden
Pittsburgh Botanic Garden only opened in 2015, but it’s already captured the hearts of Pittsburghers interested in sustainability: The outdoor garden was built on land previously used for coal mining. The restored land now showcases plants native to the Allegheny Plateau as well as cultivated gardens like the Asian Woodland and its lotus pond and the Garden of the Five Senses. As its name suggests, the Garden of the Five Senses invites visitors—children and adults alike—to use each of their senses to explore the woodlands.
Phipps Conservatory and Botanical Gardens
Located in Pittsburgh’s Schenley Park, Phipps Conservatory and Botanical Gardens has been wowing visitors with its botanical displays since 1893. The conservatory and botanical gardens are home to a number of horticultural attractions, such as extravagant seasonal flower shows, exotic flora, formal gardens, and a distinct Victorian-style greenhouse. Phipps also hosts a wide variety of educational programs on topics from art to gardening to cooking.
Goodell Gardens & Homestead – Edinboro
Erie County’s Goodell Gardens & Homestead is a botanical garden, arboretum, and community space where visitors can explore trails, admire plants, and revel in the seasons. The gardens are located on the 78 acres of the Goodell family homestead and help showcase a variety of plants. For example, the Welcome Garden beckons guests with exquisite roses, while the Heritage Garden serves as an example of U.S. heirloom gardening. Various events throughout the year teach community members about the environment, gardening, and more. But the gardens and homestead officially open for the season on May 1.
Allegheny Arboretum at Indiana University of Pennsylvania – Indiana
You could visit the Allegheny Arboretum at Indiana University of Pennsylvania and not even realize it because the arboretum covers the entirety of the IUP campus! More than 100 tree species are present on the college campus, including eastern hemlock, the state tree of Pennsylvania. The centerpiece of the arboretum is IUP’s Oak Grove, where students regularly relax or study under the shade of dozens of trees.
Public gardens in Central Pennsylvania
Hershey Gardens – Hershey
Milton S. Hershey, founder of the chocolate company, also founded Hershey Gardens in 1937. Originally just a rose garden, over the years, Hershey Gardens expanded to include several other gardens, such as a Japanese garden and a butterfly atrium featuring butterflies from around the world. It is also still home to the historic rose garden, which today boasts more than 3,000 roses from 115 different rose varieties.
The Arboretum at Penn State – State College
The Arboretum at Penn State is home to the 24 acres of the H.O. Smith Botanic Gardens with its themed, cultivated gardens as well as natural areas lined with walking trails. One of the arboretum’s best gardens is the Rose and Fragrance Garden, which is full of hundreds of colorful roses and other fragrant flowers and herbs, providing a delight for your eyes as well as your nose. There is also a garden targeted toward children covered with plants native to Central Pennsylvania and even a simulated limestone cave, perfect for exploring.
The Bower – Shermans Dale
The Bower is a natural landscape site in Central Pennsylvania made up of meadows, woodlands, and gardens of native plants designed to evoke the region’s unique ecology. It’s also home to a sculpture garden, with art installations adding to the landscape experience. Visitors explore the site via a walk through the meadow, a wander through the forest, or even a hike to the top of Little Mountain in the northern Appalachians. Reservations are required to visit, save for a few open visitor days each month.
Public gardens in Eastern Pennsylvania
Longwood Gardens – Kennett Square
Perhaps the most famous garden in Pennsylvania, Longwood Gardens has long been known as an immaculate botanical marvel. Open year-round, the gardens offer a close look at the beauty of the natural world through all seasons. Indeed, Longwood is made up of more than 1,000 acres of trails, woodlands, meadows, and perfectly manicured gardens, which burst with color in the spring. If that wasn’t enough, the gardens also host community horticultural programs and social events.
Morris Arboretum and Gardens – Philadelphia
Located on the campus of the University of Pennsylvania, Morris Arboretum and Gardens is the official arboretum of Pennsylvania. Gardens include a rose garden filled with roses as well as other flowers and trees for texture and diversity, a garden in the English style, and a rock wall garden covered with colorful flowers and other cascading plants. But Morris Arboretum is also home to natural areas like meadows and wetlands, both great places to see wildlife. You can also visit the Morris for educational programs designed for both kids and adults on botany, birding, and more.
Bartram’s Garden – Philadelphia
Located in Southwest Philly, Bartram’s Garden is not merely a welcoming community space along the Schuylkill River—it’s also the oldest botanical garden in the country. First established in 1728, the garden has served the study of plants for nearly 300 years. Today, Bartram’s Garden combines history with horticulture with historic buildings surrounded by gardens of plants native to the area. It’s also home to a ginkgo tree believed to be the oldest in North America; it was planted by William Bartram in 1785.
Chanticleer – Wayne
Chanticleer is proud to call itself a “pleasure garden” focused on providing enjoyment to the senses. Located just half an hour from Philadelphia, Chanticleer was originally a private estate that was later transformed into a garden accessible to the public. It now boasts several themed gardens like the Teacup Garden, which features a fountain surrounded by colorful flora that changes each year, and the Ruin, a garden constructed with hardscaping and climbing greenery meant to evoke the ruins of an old house. Chanticleer first opens for the 2025 season in late March.
More Eastern Pennsylvania public gardens:
Ambler Arboretum of Temple University – Ambler
Andalusia Historic House, Gardens and Arboretum – Andalusia
Awbury Arboretum – Philadelphia
Barnes Arboretum at St. Joseph’s University – Merion Station
Brandywine Conservancy & Museum of Art – Chadds Ford
Haverford College Arboretum – Haverford
Henry Foundation for Botanical Research – Gladwyne
James G. Kaskey Memorial Park – Philadelphia
Jenkins Arboretum & Gardens – Devon
Pennsylvania Horticultural Society Meadowbrook Farm – Meadowbrook
Scott Arboretum of Swarthmore College – Swarthmore
Stoneleigh: A Natural Garden – Villanova
Tyler Arboretum – Media
The Arboretum at Laurel Hill – Philadelphia and Bala Cynwyd
