Explore Longwood Gardens

Closeup of an angled stone garden edge filled with small orangey flowers pointing toward water blooms in a conservatory pool.
Becca Mathias

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

  • Narrow-leafed Bird-of-paradise

    Striking blue and orange crane-like petals make this one of the world’s most recognized flowers. This species of bird-of-paradise has rather distinct leaves being very narrow and cylindrical without any leaf blade.  Bird-of-paradise is a fairly drought tolerant species that grows in the eastern parts of South Africa among other drought tolerant shrubs.  This species is vulnerable in nature as very little seed set is observed and the pollinator is not often seen. It produces its unusual flowers in winter and spring and makes an interesting garden plant under the right conditions.  Flowers are good for large arrangements as they have very long stems and are long lasting.

  • Big Blue Hesper Palm

    Brahea armata is a palm native to Baja California, Mexico, and can reach heights of 40 feet tall. It grows in dry canyons and once established this palm can even tolerate frost. Brahea armata has beautiful blue, palmate fronds, which are very spiny on the margin. The inflorescence extends past the fronds and has drooping panicles of fruits which are small and edible when cooked.