In my previous report, I explored Norfolk Botanical Garden’s Garden of Tomorrow, an ambitious expansion opening in September 2026. This time, I’m taking a closer look at the established gardens and family-friendly spaces that make this 175-acre destination worth a visit.
The Story of Norfolk Botanical Garden
The story of Virginia’s largest botanical garden began with a single plant species almost 90 years ago. In 1938, a Works Progress Administration crew of 200 African American women and 20 African American men cleared the way for the property’s first azaleas. Those azalea beds still put on a show every spring, and around them, Norfolk Botanical Garden has thrived.
From roses in spring to camellias in winter and a conifer garden filled with color and texture year-round, there’s something to enjoy in every season. Today, there are more than 60 themed gardens to explore, linked by meandering pathways and an expansive inner canal system. Even on the busiest days, the mood is peaceful. Around every corner is a private “room” of layered plantings—a natural buffer of sight and sound that encourages visitors to linger and relax awhile.
Read More: Finding Inspiration at Public Gardens
A few highlights of the 60-plus themed gardens at Norfolk Botanical Garden
- One of the largest rose gardens on the East Coast, featuring more than 3,000 individual rose plants
- The Enchanted Forest, with secluded shaded paths and lakeside views
- A Colonial Garden with formal plantings and heirloom roses
- A Native Plant Garden that offers a close-up look at the ecology of Virginia’s southeast coastal plain
- A wildflower meadow that shows off alternative landscaping methods and plenty of pollinators
- Renaissance Court, with its classic symmetry, statues, and grassy terraces
- A hill-and-pond-style Japanese Garden that offers year-round tranquility with evergreen plants and elegant stonework
- A functioning Kitchen Garden in the traditional French potager style
- A camellia collection with more than 1,700 individual plants
- A 17.5-acre Flowering Arboretum with more than 300 flowering trees
Wonder for Every Age
This year, Norfolk Botanical Garden’s Summer Butterfly House was voted the number one Butterfly House in the USA Today 10 Best Readers’ Choice Awards for the second year in a row. It’s well-deserved: Filled with nectar-rich flowers and eastern native butterflies, this space offers a front-row seat to the butterfly life cycle and an engaging experience for children and adults alike. More than 45,000 visitors come to the Butterfly House each year, which opens seasonally every summer.
The magic doesn’t end there. Families with children should stop by the World of Wonders Children’s Garden, appropriately called “WOW,” for three acres with plenty to explore. This colorful space features Passport Gardens styled to represent different parts of the world and the animals that live there. Children can venture up Discovery Peak and prowl through the Plant Safari, all while learning important lessons about protecting the environment and coexisting with wildlife. On warm days, though, nothing tops the splash fountains in World Plaza.
Visit the Norfolk Botanical Garden
There’s almost too much to see at Norfolk Botanical Garden in one day, but that just means it’s worth coming back. To make the most of your visit, take advantage of the free public tram tours and seasonal boat tours.
Hours, events, and seasonal openings are available on the Garden’s website at norfolkbotanicalgarden.org. There’s also a convenient What’s in Bloom calendar to help plan around the plants you most want to see.
Learn more about great public gardens worth visiting:
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Cheyenne Wine is a writer and gardener with experience in the plant nursery industry. She currently helps promote conservation efforts through the Virginia Department of Conservation and Recreation.
Photos: Courtesy of Norfolk Botanical Garden
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