Explore Longwood Gardens

Wide view of an indoor water-filled oval basin with two pedestal fountains at each end, surrounded by dense tropical foliage reaching up to an arched glass ceiling.
Daniel Traub

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

  • Glory-of-the-snow

    Chionodoxa forbesii is in its glory in late March to early April as its upward facing, sky blue flowers begin to appear. It should be placed in a partially shaded location with well-drained soil. Because it seeds freely, glory-of-the-snow, is an excellent choice for naturalizing. Reaching 6 inches these flowers are growing on Oak Knoll, in the Hillside Garden, outside the Peirce-du Pont House and under the beeches south of the Main Fountain Garden.
  • Japanese Camellia

    This Japanese camellia was selected among seedlings grown from seed collected on a 1984 expedition to So-cheong Island in the Yellow Sea off the northeast coast of South Korea. A small number of seedlings proved to be hardy outdoors in Pennsylvania for more than 20 years. ‘Longwood Centennial’ was selected because of its exceptionally handsome glossy foliage and dense, full growth habit. The cultivar may reach twelve feet in 20 years and is an excellent broad-leaved evergreen for areas where temperatures stay above -11.2 degrees Fahrenheit. Its flowers are red and typical of the species.