Main Fountain Garden District

Aerial view of a large fountain garden to the upper right, a topiary garden at the top, and a lined flower bed garden at the bottom

The Main Fountain Garden District represents the culmination of founder Pierre S. du Pont’s vision for Longwood: the garden as grand theater. In addition to stunning European-inspired architecture and mesmerizing fountain performances in the Main Fountain Garden, the Rose Garden stuns with four seasons of expression, in view of the expertly clipped Topiary Garden and its geometric shapes. To the east of the fountains, the Idea Garden echoes the orderly spirit of formal design with its Carpinus hedge and rectangular beds—defining a space that celebrates the creative process of gardening.

About This District

The classical gardens of this area have captivated guests for more than 90 years. Inspired by Pierre’s travels to Europe’s great water gardens and his seminal visits to several world’s fairs and expositions, the Main Fountain Garden highlights his lifelong passion for horticulture, engineering marvels, and the beauty of exceptional design.

Gardens in this District

  • Idea Garden
    A brick walkway with a wooden bench winds through green garden beds with fountains in the distance

    Idea Garden

    Horticultural inspiration comes closer to home in this inspired and beloved garden, where educational, experimental approaches to gardening and design are explored using plant varieties that can be reliably grown by home gardeners in the mid-Atlantic region.

  • Main Fountain Garden
    A large display of fountains shoots skyward above a stone facade, with green gardens and smaller fountains in the foreground.

    Main Fountain Garden

    Splendor awaits in this European-inspired, world-class destination: think classic garden design, extravagant theater, astounding choreography, a spectrum of color, musical accompaniment, and, on special occasions, fireworks!

  • Rose Garden
    A stone walkway leades to a small bench among garden beds of yellow, pink, and green plants with large water fountain streams seen in the background

    Rose Garden

    Striking colors, heady fragrances, and soft textures bud, bloom, and sway harmoniously from spring through fall, providing countless ways to celebrate the rose—and her many beautiful friends.

  • Topiary Garden
    A couple sits on the ground surrounded by shaped topiary with a child running in the distance during sunset

    Topiary Garden

    From playful bunnies to fanciful spirals, you’ll find more than 35 specimens of meticulously maintained, highly cultivated yews (as well as spirited games of hide and seek)  in our Topiary Garden.

District Highlights

A circular water fall of small water streams drops from the ceiling in a stone grotto
Fountains shoots water in the air illuminated by white lights across carved white stone structures
An allee of green trees with skinny brown trunks perfectly line a long walkway
Green vines climb up metal lattices attached to stone arches with hanging lanterns under a blue sky
tall fountains with fire on top

Our flame features in all their glory. Photo by Hank Davis.

a wall of fountains that glow colors of green, blue, purple, and pink

What’s in Bloom

  • Lavender-pink flowering plant with two butterflies.

    Perennial Phlox

    Phlox paniculata 'Jeana'

  • Coneflower

    Echinacea ′Balsomco′ Sombrero Hot Coral 

  • Ornamental Carrot

    Daucus carota ′Dara′

    You may be familiar with the common roadside wildflower Queen Anne's lace, also known as wild carrot, with a flat-topped cluster of white flowers, reminiscent of lace. This ornamental selection, 'Dara', produces flowers from light pink to purple-red. Along with its fine textured foliage, which adds a slight airy feel to summer planting beds and borders, ornamental carrot can be used as a cut flower and later in dried arrangements.

  • Bee-balm

    Monarda ′Jacob Cline′
  • Round, powdery steel-blue flower heads with prickly dark green leaves.

    Globe-thistle

    Echinops bannaticus ′Taplow Blue′
  • Spiracle heads of small light purple flowers.

    Ornamental Onion

    Allium ′Millenium′

  • Prairie-coneflower

    Ratibida pinnata
  • Light pink and white petaled flowers.

    White Gaura

    Oenothera lindheimeri ′Whirling Butterflies′
  • Groups of tiny white flower petals.

    Rattlesnake-master

    Eryngium yuccifolium
  • Bright red, trumpet shaped flower with yellow center and 6 peddles

    Daylily

    Hemerocallis 'Johnny Reb'

From Our Blog

A Labor of Love: The Topiary Garden
view of a topiary garden with blue sky

A Labor of Love: The Topiary Garden

By Gabby Rowe, on May 4, 2022
How to Grow Early Spring Vegetables

How to Grow Early Spring Vegetables

By Alex Correia, on February 25, 2021
Growing for Good
a plot of plant harvest

Growing for Good

By Nicole Krom and Alex Correia, on November 11, 2020
The Art of Heart
a bronze statue of two goats surrounded by greenery and trees

The Art of Heart

By Katie Mobley, on October 21, 2020
Midsummer is for Sowing
stem of green leafy vegetable in mulch

Midsummer is for Sowing

By Alex Correia, on July 9, 2020