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

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  • 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

    The bright red berries produced in the fall, are a high-fat food source for over 36 species of birds, including wild turkeys, cardinals, and robins.  The tree supports more than 100 species of moths and butterflies, which lay their eggs on dogwood leaves—making it essential for local food webs. Because it flowers early, it’s also a critical nectar source for pollinators just coming out of winter dormancy. In fact, its ecological value is so high that Cornus florida is often promoted in native plant gardening for habitat restoration.  While the tree is too small for lumber, dogwood wood is incredibly hard and dense. It’s been used historically for golf club heads and handles for tools and knives. 

  • Kurume Hybrid Azalea

    This display of bonsai, on loan from the Kennett Collection, features early spring blooming Kurume azaleas, known for their bright flower colors and evergreen foliage. Also know as Japanese azaleas, this type of hybrid has been grown in Japan since as early as the late 1600's.  Obtained as full-sized shrubs from Fairmount Park in Philadelphia, these Kurume azaleas were given to the United States from France as part of the Centennial celebration.  Grown in the clump style, training began in 1980.