Explore Longwood Gardens

Closeup of bright orange, yellow, and red outdoor blooms, with light green foliage and sunlight shining through.
Carol DeGuiseppi

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
    looking through fall leaves to the canopy cathedral treehouse

    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

  • Flowering Dogwood

    Cornus florida ‘Cherokee Brave’ is a striking cultivar of the native flowering dogwood, a species indigenous to the eastern United States, where it naturally inhabits woodland edges and understories. Selected as part of a breeding program to improve disease resistance and ornamental qualities, ‘Cherokee Brave’ was named in honor of the Cherokee people, it was named to honor the Cherokee people and reflect its American heritage. This selection is especially valued for its deep rose-red bracts surrounding a cluster of small true flowers that attract a range of early-season pollinators, including native bees, small beetles, and butterflies. 

  • Carolina Silverbell

    Carolina silverbell is a deciduous tree native to the southeastern United States, best known for its delicate, bell-shaped white flowers that dangle in clusters like tiny lanterns in spring. Despite its dainty appearance, it’s a hardy tree that can tolerate a range of soils and grows well in partial shade, making it a favorite for woodland gardens. The flowers bloom before the leaves fully emerge, in early spring. After flowering, it produces distinctive four-winged seed pods that add interest through fall and winter. Carolina silverbell is also a magnet for pollinators, especially bees, and plays a quiet but important role in our native ecosystem. Though not as widely known as other flowering trees, it’s a hidden gem for gardeners who want something graceful, native, and just a little bit unusual.