United States Botanic Garden

United States Botanic Garden

The United States Botanic Garden is North America’s oldest continually operating public garden. Its roots go back to George Washington, Thomas Jefferson, and James Madison, who wanted a national garden to collect and study useful plants. Congress officially established the garden in 1820, and today it sits right at the foot of Capitol Hill, welcoming over a million visitors every year.

Located directly on the National Mall, the property consists of 3 unique public grounds; the Conservatory, the National Gardens, and the Bartholdi Fountain & Gardens.

US Botanic Garden Conservatory (38.888164, -77.012805)

Conservatory

The main highlight is the historic glass Conservatory, built in 1933. Designed by the famous greenhouse architects Lord & Burnham, the building was an engineering marvel for its time due to its innovative glass-and-aluminum frame. Between 1997 and 2001, it underwent a major $33.5 million renovation to modernize its climate controls and restore its historic features. Inside, you will find around 25,000 living plants divided into 10 different rooms, including a towering 93-foot-tall tropical rainforest dome, a prehistoric primeval garden, desert exhibits, and a massive orchid collection.

Firecracker flower (38.888164, -77.012805)

Blood Lily (38.888164, -77.012805)

Flamingo flower (38.888164, -77.012805)

National Garden

Just outside and to the west is the three-acre National Garden, which opened in October 2006. Built entirely through about $10 million in private donations, this outdoor space focuses on American plant diversity. Visitors can explore native mid-Atlantic species in the Regional Garden, wander through a dedicated Rose Garden, spot pollinators in the Butterfly Garden, and relax by the peaceful First Ladies Water Garden.

Vanda orchid (38.888164, -77.012805)

Coffee plant (38.888164, -77.012805)

Spiny Nightshade (38.888164, -77.012805)

Bartholdi Fountain & Gardens

Across Independence Avenue, you will find the two-acre Bartholdi Fountain and Gardens. At its center stands a stunning 30-foot cast-iron fountain created by Frédéric Auguste Bartholdi, the same French sculptor who designed the Statue of Liberty. Congress bought the piece for $6,000 after it debuted at the 1876 Centennial Exposition in Philadelphia and moved it to its current location in 1932. Today, the surrounding grounds serve as a sustainable demonstration garden, showing off practical ideas like rain gardens, native flowers, and edible plants that home gardeners can easily replicate.