Head to your nearest one for inspiration and education.
There are dozens of public gardens in Pennsylvania that welcome visitors and emphasize nature education. They are an important part of what makes the state such a special place for plant-lovers.
“We know the value of being outdoors in nature,” says Keith Kaiser, executive director of Pittsburgh Botanic Garden and active member of the Pennsylvania Public Horticulture Coalition (PPHC). “Just being outdoors in a beautiful, natural setting — it drops your shoulders and lowers your blood pressure.”
Pittsburgh Botanic Garden is actually one of PA’s newer public gardens. While several can trace their roots back to the Colonial era, this 460-acre space opened in 2015 on the edge of Allegheny County. The land had previously been used for farming, oil and gas drilling, and coal mining. The transformation of a brownfield into a showcase for the natural world mirrors a narrative being repeated across Pennsylvania as the state grows its commitment to green space and preservation.
“Our focus and mission is to connect people to plants,” explains Kaiser. They follow the philosophy that “Nature Nurtures.”
The network of public gardens continues to be strengthened in Pennsylvania and nationwide. The American Public Gardens Association website features a searchable map so you can find gardens near you.
The listing that follows represents the current members of the PPHC. There are 35+ public gardens across Pennsylvania. We encourage you to find public gardens near your getaway destination.
Allegheny Arboretum at IUP
Indiana
The 354-acre Indiana University of Pennsylvania campus doubles as a public arboretum, dedicated to the study and conservation of trees, shrubs, and vines. Visitors can enjoy shade from more than 1,200 trees from 104 different species, the most beloved being the Oak Grove, a cluster of mature trees along Oakland Avenue.
The Arboretum at Penn State
State College
The state’s flagship public university first set aside land for an arboretum back in 1914, but it wasn’t until 2009 that the H.O. Smith Botanic Gardens opened to the public. Featuring a children’s garden, pollinator and bird garden, and demonstration gardens, this incredible site continues to evolve, with 20 additional acres of cultivated gardens planned to augment 340 acres of woodlands and fields.
Awbury Arboretum
Philadelphia
Located in the Germantown neighborhood, Awbury Arboretum has been open to the public — free of charge — for more than 100 years. Comprising 56 acres of open space as well as several historic buildings that once housed a local Quaker family, this urban oasis offers a full slate of programming that emphasizes history, community engagement, and nature education.
Bartram’s Garden
Philadelphia
This waterfront public park in Southwest Philly boasts the oldest surviving botanic garden in North America, a boat launch, and Sankofa Community Farm, a 3.5-acre plot dedicated to exploring the experience of the African Diaspora through agriculture. It’s a great place to learn something new and also ideal for an afternoon spent on a picnic blanket, watching the Schuylkill River roll by.
Brandywine Conservancy & Museum of Art
Chadds Ford
Nestled in a bucolic corner of the state, this 15-acre campus is home to the Brandywine Museum of Art— housed in a renovated 19th century grist mill overlooking the Brandywine Creek — and features more than four miles of public trails and sprawling native plant gardens, meadows, woodlands, and wetlands. This land was saved from industrial development in the 1960s after locals rallied around the cause to purchase the site.
Chanticleer, A Pleasure Garden
Wayne
This is a gardener’s garden — a place to seek inspiration and see something new. Chanticleer employs seven horticulturists, each responsible for designing and planting their own area around themes such as Mediterranean gardens (Gravel Garden) and Asian foliage (Asian Woods). Take a class from one of their experts or simply set out for a romantic stroll through the flowers.
Hershey Gardens
Hershey
“Create a nice garden of roses.” That was Milton Hershey’s request in 1937. Since then, his three-and-a-half acre rose garden has grown into a 23-acre botanical garden featuring plants from around the world — including rare trees — a tropical butterfly atrium, and a children’s garden for when the little ones have had their fill of chocolate.