11 gardens in Iowa checked against official websites: 8 arboretums, 5 display gardens, 5 botanical gardens. Most are listed in or near Clinton, Indianola, Waterloo. 2 list free general entry and 3 charge admission; the rest are unrecorded or vary.Gardens near Des Moines
Admission and hours checked September 28, 2026. Prices may change.
A 15-acre arboretum in Clinton with a large dwarf conifer collection, peony, rose and daylily gardens. The grounds are open every day of the year.
City park in Indianola with an arboretum, formal and butterfly gardens and a children's garden. A printed self-guided tree tour is kept in a display case near the gazebo.
Arboretum and botanic garden in Waterloo, Iowa, open Tuesday through Sunday. Adults pay $10; children 4 and under are free.
Dubuque gardens with conifer and tree collections, a Japanese garden and a visitor center with a gift shop. Restrooms are accessible and a wheelchair can be borrowed free.
Accessible-gardening demonstration garden in Altoona with raised beds, vertical wall gardens, a water feature, a rain garden and a children's garden. Run by Master Gardeners.
A 5-acre county park arboretum near Perry with over 100 species of mostly native trees and shrubs, next to a free museum. The park grounds are open year-round.
Downtown Des Moines garden with a domed tropical conservatory, 12 acres of gardens and trails, and a bonsai collection. Hours change by season and it is closed Mondays.
A community-supported public garden near Madrid with tree groves, woodland and prairie trails and a treehouse village. Paid admission; members enter free.
Nonprofit public garden and arboretum in Newton, Iowa with several garden landscapes and trails. Entry is free and the grounds open daily from sunrise to sunset.
A university garden in Ames with formal and home-demonstration gardens and a butterfly wing. Parking is free during open hours.
A tree arboretum near Dallas Center with walking trails and a nature play area. Entry is free and dogs need a pass.
These are gardens we could check against their own official websites, not every garden in the area. “Free” refers to general garden entry, not parking, tours or special events. We do not show live opening status.
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