UNC Charlotte Botanical Gardens

Few places in Charlotte offer you the opportunity to take a stroll through a beautiful setting and study the diverse flora of NC. Gardens feature orchids, carnivorous plants, desert plants, fruit plants, tropical ferns, shrubs, flowers, and vines.

Every other week, the botanical gardens host events, such as stories in the woods, basic botany lessons, botanical macro photography, orchid care 101 workshops, and wildlife gardening. Check the Facebook page for upcoming events. Interestingly, some of the lessons are taught on-site.

One of the top attractions is the Susie Harwood Garden, which features both indigenous and non-native plants. Several gardening styles and new hardscaping are on display, which will give you grand inspiration for your Carolina home garden.

The Van Landingham Glen is another excellent location in a woody section of the gardens. It carries a collection of rhododendrons and other native plants. Both gardens are on the UNC campus in Charlotte and were the brainchild of Dr. Herbert Hechenbleikner.

Guided tours for adults and children can be arranged. Photography is allowed so that you can take photos of the greenhouses and gardens. Be mindful of the plants by sticking to routes and paths.

They don’t sell plants from permanent collections, but there is a selection of plants for sale three times a year (in April and October, and on Valentine’s Day).

Wooden benches and stone benches are scattered throughout the gardens. Restrooms and a water fountain are located within the greenhouse building.

A variety of plants and over ten beautiful acres of gardens to explore gives you a lot of ground to cover. Outdoor gardens are open to visitors during the day from 9.00 am to 4.00 pm, Monday through Saturday, and from 1:00 pm to 4:00 pm on Sundays.

It takes roughly 27 minutes to get to UNC Charlotte Botanical Gardens from Well Doctor LLC via NC-49 S.

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