North Carolina Botanical Garden
100 Old Mason Farm Road, Chapel Hill
Explore 1,100 acres of garden and conservation areas – home to a variety of common, rare and endangered species, including 2025’s Wildflower of the Year: common blue curls (trichostema dichotomum). Check out the botanical garden’s services and support, like native plant sales, gardening and pollinator resources and the green gardener clinic – a year-round free public service offering help with gardening and plant identification from the garden’s horticulture department.
The Raleigh Rose Garden
301 Pogue St., Raleigh
Take in the sights and smells of this garden’s year-round display of roses, trees and perennials, including 60 rose beds spanning 6.5 acres. The historic destination was dedicated in 1951 as a part of the Raleigh Little Theatre campus, and is one of only three accredited rose gardens in North Carolina.
Sarah P. Duke Gardens
420 Anderson St., Durham
Spend the afternoon perusing four distinct sections spread across 55 acres, connected by five miles of walking trails on Duke University’s campus:
- The Historic Gardens – including the terraces, Mary Duke Biddle Rose Garden and the historic Roney Fountain
- The H.L. Blomquist Garden of Native Plants – which houses flora native to the southeastern United States
- The W.L. Culberson Asiatic Arboretum – showcasing plants from across eastern Asia
- The Doris Duke Center Gardens – including the new Charlotte Brody Discovery Garden
Montrose Garden
320 St. Marys Road, Hillsborough
These historic grounds are owned and maintained by author Nancy Goodwin and former Dean of the Graduate School at Duke University, Crauford Goodwin and have served as a prime inspiration for Southern gardening for decades. Make sure to RSVP 24 hours in advance for a tour any Tuesday or Thursday at 10 a.m., September through May. Explore several 19th century buildings, woodland plantings, large sunny gardens and more reaching across this finely curated 61-acre property. See what’s in bloom!
JC Raulston Arboretum
4415 Beryl Road, Raleigh
Venture through the 10.5-acre arboretum’s 14 unique areas, from gardens and terraces to open fields and shady lath houses. Attend plant sales, makers markets, gardening talks and search the arboretum’s current collection of plants or see what’s in bloom this time of year.
Looking for more to do this spring? Read our guide to spring arts events in the Triangle, explore our ultimate checklist or follow us on Instagram!
