Explore Longwood Gardens

Closeup of pink waterlilies with water-platter in background.
Hank Davis

Longwood Gardens, one of America’s quintessential landscapes, is a place of ever-changing seasonal beauty, handcrafted feats of horticultural wonder, and an awe-inspiring collection of the most beautiful plants from around the globe. 

From our humble beginnings as a Quaker farmstead and arboretum, to Pierre S. du Pont’s forward-thinking stewardship, to today’s collection of renowned landscape designers, horticulturists, and architects, our great garden of the world evolves and emerges again and again.

Through Longwood Gardens and its program of outstanding horticultural display, every visitor to the Gardens has the opportunity to gain, culturally and spiritually, a better peace of mind.

Russell J. Seibert, Longwood’s first director

Explore nearly 200 acres of lush, formal gardens, open meadows, and winding paths to breathtaking Brandywine Valley vistas. Together, mesmerizing displays, feats of engineering, and science-based research and conservation work harmoniously toward the overarching goal to unite and inspire our guests in appreciation of beauty—as only Longwood can. 

Explore Our Gardens

View All Gardens
  • Our Districts
    A stone path winds through a lush room of colorful plants with a hanging light above

    Our Districts

    Explore nearly 200 acres of lush, formal gardens, open meadows, and winding paths.

  • Our Seasons

    Our Seasons

    We honor the four seasons with five unique Longwood seasons, celebrating the bounty of our gardens throughout the cycles of renewal, growth, and ever-evolving splendor. 

  • Our Plants
    close up of orange Clivia Miniata with green and yellow center

    Our Plants

    Explore over 10,000 species and varieties of plants, representing 200 different plant families. 

  • Our Science
    A person holds a small vial with plant material inside in a lab

    Our Science

    Our scientific work lays the groundwork for discoveries that expand our understanding of the natural world and help perpetuate and celebrate its beauty for generations to come.

What's in Bloom

See More of What's in Bloom

  • Rose Mallow

    ‘Starry Starry Night’ is a hardy, rose mallow hybrid with large flowers up to 8 inches across that blooms from July to September.  These flowers, which attract hummingbirds, are a stand out against the plant’s dark purple foliage.  This rose mallow grows to 3 feet tall and 4 feet wide and performs best in moist soils and full sun. You may associate hibiscus with tropical plants, but within the parentage of ‘Starry Starry Night’ are species of hibiscus native the eastern United States.

  • Banana-leaf Thalia

    Growing to 8 feet tall, this perennial herb grows along the margins of streams, ponds and wet ditches throughout subtropical and tropical Africa and America.  The flowering inflorescence bears purple flowers in pairs which are only open one day and perform a unique explosive pollination mechanism triggered by bees and other pollinators.  The large leaves are reminiscent of banana or canna foliage, giving this large specimen plant a real tropical look in our Waterlily Court center pool.