19 gardens in North Carolina checked against official websites: 11 botanical gardens, 7 display gardens, 7 arboretums. Most are listed in or near Wilmington, Asheville, Greensboro. 10 list free general entry and 5 charge admission; the rest are unrecorded or vary.Gardens near Charlotte Gardens near Raleigh Gardens near Greensboro Gardens near Fayetteville
Admission and hours checked September 28, 2026. Prices may change.
Coastal gardens in Wilmington with seasonal exhibits and a butterfly house. Admission includes parking; a tram serves visitors who need it.
Garden in Asheville focused on plants native to the Southern Appalachians, with trails, a bird viewing deck and a visitor center. Entry and parking are free.
Seven-acre wetland garden in Greensboro with an elevated boardwalk, stone paths and a recirculating waterfall. Admission is free and leashed dogs are allowed.
80-acre garden in Fayetteville with paved paths, woodland trails, a heritage garden, a children's garden and a river trail. Parking is free.
Five-acre arboretum on the UNC campus in Chapel Hill with flat walking paths, open lawns, and native and East Asian trees and shrubs. Open every day from dawn to dusk.
Native garden near downtown Boone with more than 200 species of trees, shrubs and wildflowers. Open daily dawn to dusk; suggested entry donation is $5.
Botanical garden in Belmont on a 380-acre property with trails, a children's garden and seasonal exhibits. Garden admission is paid; the trails and store are free.
17-acre city arboretum in Greensboro with 14 plant collections, display gardens, a rose garden and a butterfly garden. Admission is free and leashed dogs are allowed.
NC State University garden in Raleigh with a large collection of plants suited to the Southeast. Open every day of the year with free admission and limited free parking.
A 10-acre display garden with more than 27,000 plant taxa, open to the public on scheduled weekends and by appointment. A parking fee applies on open days.
County extension arboretum in Wilmington, a 7-acre garden of trees, shrubs and other plants suited to southeastern North Carolina. Grounds are open daily 8 a.m. to 5 p.m.
UNC botanical garden in Chapel Hill with 12 acres of display gardens, a garden shop, an exhibit hall and nature trails. No ticket or fee; donations welcome.
Gardens and trails on the Reynolda estate in Winston-Salem, with formal gardens and a conservatory. Grounds are free and open daily from sunrise to sunset; parking is free.
Community college gardens in Pinehurst made up of 16 gardens, with a visitor center and group tours by appointment. No cost to visit; hours change by season and pets are not permitted.
55-acre garden at Duke University with historic terraces, a native plant garden and an Asiatic arboretum. Entry is free; campus parking costs $2 per hour and fills early.
County-run arboretum and gardens inside Tanglewood Park in Clemmons showing plants that grow in the Piedmont, with monthly classes. Open during park hours; a per-vehicle park fee applies.
Arboretum near Asheville with display gardens, a bonsai exhibition garden, trails and a visitor center. No admission fee, but parking costs $25 per personal vehicle.
University botanical gardens in Charlotte with the Susie Harwood Garden, Van Landingham Glen and McMillan Greenhouse. Admission is free; weekday parking is in a paid garage.
Three linked gardens in Charlotte: a bird sanctuary garden, a children’s wildlife garden and the Elizabeth Lawrence house garden. Open Wednesday to Saturday, self-guided visits.
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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