9 Beautiful Gardens in Raleigh and The Greater Triangle

In amongst the high-rises and historic neighborhoods, flowers bloom in abundance in Raleigh, N.C.’s gardens.

We are so lucky to have several gorgeous gardens in Raleigh that feature a kaleidoscope of colorful flowers, plants, ponds, and arboretums.

From botanic gardens that use nature as its canvas, combining artistry with floral aromas and sensory delights, to exclusive landscaped grounds – if you’re looking to soak up the sights and smells of Raleigh’s gardens, then don’t miss these following gardens in the Triangle region.

Raleigh Rose Garden

Tucked away off Hillsborough Street near the main campus of NC State University, Raleigh Rose Garden is a hidden gem.

Open from dawn to dusk, 7 days a week, the Raleigh Rose Garden is owned by the Raleigh Little Theatre, but is open to the public and is free to visit.

It was dedicated in 1951 and is 1 of 3 accredited rose gardens in North Carolina.

The grounds include more than 1,200 roses set in 60 rose beds. surrounded by an arboretum of evergreen and deciduous trees.

The roses are typically in bloom between Mother’s Day and mid-November.

As well as being a beautiful garden, it is also a venue for theatrical performances.

Over in the outdoor amphitheater, you can watch performances such as musicals and outdoor cinema.

As well as the theater, there are also picnic tables, an open play area, a gazebo, and an arbor.

There are no restrooms and there is minimal parking nearby, so do plan ahead if you intend to drive.

The Raleigh Rose Garden is also a spectacular location for photography.

Many people choose it as a backdrop for wedding photos, graduation photos, and family portraits – like we experienced with my parents when they visited from Australia!

Hot Tip: Grab a coffee to go from one of our favorite coffee shops in Raleigh, Jubala Coffee on nearby Hillsborough St and check it out.

Read our full review of Raleigh Rose Garden.

• Address: Located behind the Raleigh Little Theater at 301 Pogue Street, Raleigh.
• Website: Here.

JC Raulston Arboretum At NC State

This nationally acclaimed arboretum and botanical garden administered by North Carolina State University has one of the largest and most diverse collections of landscape plants in the Southeast.

At the JC Raulston Arboretum you can stroll through 10 acres of gardens with 5,000 plants collected from all over the world on display. 

Although many of these plants are international, they are collected to see how well they adapt to Piedmont North Carolina conditions and are evaluated in order to find superior plants.

This means you’re likely to see plants here you won’t find anywhere else in the Triangle.

In fact, if you do find some plants you like, you can visit The Plant Stand, a new additional to the JC Raulston Arboretum, which is located just outside the Bobby G. Wilder Visitor Center. 

Here you can find an assortment of unusual plants that you can plant in your own garden.

It’s open daily to the public without charge. No pets or emotional support animals are allowed in the gardens, but service animals are welcome.

It’s located in west Raleigh near the NC State Fairgrounds, two miles west of the NC State University’s main campus.

Read our full guide to JC Raulston Arboretum here.

• Address: 4415 Beryl Rd, Raleigh
• Website: jcra.ncsu.edu

Video: JC Raulston Arboretum

WRAL Azalea Gardens

Situated conveniently behind the WRAL television studios and between the Main and Centennial campuses of North Carolina State University, Pullen Park, and Dorothea Dix Park, WRAL Azalea Gardens offer tranquility and beauty in the heart of the city.

Capitol Broadcasting Company founder A. J. Fletcher created the WRAL Azalea Gardens as a service to the community.

They were opened to the public in 1959 and surround the television studios on Western Boulevard.

The gardens cover 1.5 acres of land, which has expanded in size and plant varieties over the years. The gardens feature winding paths, shaded benches, and manicured lawns which children can run around and play on.

The WRAL Azalea Gardens are free and open to the public year-round from dawn until dusk.

You can bring a picnic basket with food and drink to enjoy at one of the benches or spread out on the grass. No grilling is allowed due to fire hazard concerns.

Weddings are hosted in the Gardens on weekends from April through mid-September. If you’re thinking about using the WRAL Azalea Gardens as your wedding backdrop, check here for availability.

See more in our guide to the WRAL Azalea Gardens.

• Address: 2619 Western Blvd, Raleigh
• Website: wral-gardens.com

Juniper Level Botanic Garden

Established in 1988 and a true hidden-gem in Wake County, Juniper Level Botanic Garden is a 28-acre education, research, and display garden with over 23,000 unique taxa of plants from around the world, plus two gorgeous waterfalls and creeks. 

A stunningly beautiful garden if you love plants, from local to the exotic, and from different countries.

Even our kids enjoyed this garden, and they are hard to impress sometimes!

This is the private garden of Tony Avent and Anita Avent and is only open to the public 8 weekends per year; two weekends each in winter, spring, summer and fall – try to go during a different season!

During these open days, no visit reservations are needed, just check the opening days and turn up. See dates here.

No matter the time of year though, these are some of the most beautiful gardens in Raleigh, even if they are exclusive.

Viewings at other times by scheduled weekday appointment only – see request form.

Read more about the Juniper Level Gardens with photos.

• Location: 9241 Sauls Rd, Raleigh
• Website: JLBG.org

Video: Juniper Level Botanic Gardens

Sunflowers at Dorothea Dix Park 

The 5-acre Sunflower Field at Dorothea Dix Park offers stunning foreground views of the beautiful downtown Raleigh skyline – afternoon/sunset is the optimal time as the sun will be shining on the fields and the skyline behind them.

There are walking paths between the sunflowers, and ample space for you to spread out a picnic blanket and enjoy the sunflowers at sunset.

There’s also a cool hammock area set up in the pine forest on the edge of the sunflower field. 

You’ll see hundreds of bees and butterflies (the bees won’t harm you, but be careful).

Raleigh is a member of Bee City USA and celebrates National Pollinator Week in June.

Fun fact: Raleigh has a few “pollinators” dotted around the city. These are habitats created for bees to do their bee work at key city sites in the city, such as at Durant Nature Preserve, Duke Energy Center for the Performing Arts and Raleigh Convention Center.

These sunflowers are planted each year as the city harvests the sunflowers to produce gallons of biodiesel for tractors, trailers and farm equipment.

Top tip: peak bloom is typically in mid-July, and they are likely to stay in bloom for approximately two to three weeks (through the end of July) 

• Location: Hunt Drive near the former soccer fields and the historic cemetery in Dix Park

Wildflowers (and Sunflowers) at NC Museum of Art 

The sunflowers and wildflowers at North Carolina Museum of Art also feature a magnificent background of artwork and sculptures. 

This 2.5-acre sunflower field was first planted in 2018.

It’s located near the intersection of the Blue Loop and Meadow trails. You will see it as soon as you walk into the Museum grounds from the car park.

I love this sunflower field because of the colorful cosmos and zinnias wildflowers sharing the fields with the sunflowers. It adds a perfect artistic flair.

There is also plenty of space in the museum grounds to enjoy a picnic while visiting the sunflowers or trails you can enjoy on a short hike.

NOTE: this is also a seasonal garden, check their website before you visit.

• Address: 2110 Blue Ridge Rd, Raleigh
• Website: https://ncartmuseum.org/series/city-of-sunflowers/

Video: Sunflower fields at Dorothea Dix & NC Museum of Art

Sarah P. Duke Gardens

No, Duke Gardens is obviously not in Raleigh, but considering they are recognized as one of the premier public gardens in the USA, so I think the 30-minute drive to Durham is more than worth it so I’m adding them to this list.

If you love gardens, you’ll be blown away by the 55-acres of beautiful, landscaped gardens over four themed sections.

The themed sections include a large central terraced garden, wooded areas, fountains, artistic sculptures, gazebos, pathways, bridges, grassy areas, and more than 2,500 colorful plant species (local and exotic).

Included in the 55 acres of landscaped and wooded areas are 5 miles of allées, walks, and pathways throughout the gardens.

Over 600,000 visitors per year from around the world visit Sarah P. Duke Gardens which is open 365 days of the year from 8 a.m. to dusk with free admission. 

Read our full review of Duke Gardens here, and while you are there, here are some of the best things to do in Durham.

• Address: 420 Anderson St, Durham
• Website: Gardens.Duke.edu

Video: Sarah P Duke Gardens, Durham

Joslin Garden

A small, hidden gem of a garden is the Joslin Garden. It’s owned by the City of Raleigh Parks Recreation and Cultural Resources Department.

It was designed by William and Mary Coker Joslin, who believed that parks and greenways are what makes Raleigh special.

They donated their home and garden to the City of Oaks Foundation to provide a peaceful haven to the residents looking for an escape from urban life.

It’s one of the newest public park’s in the city, having opened in 2021, and covers over four acres of rolling hills, wildflower meadows with streams, and walking trails.

The garden features many rare and native plants in both formal and informal settings.

The gardens are open dawn until dusk, every day, and are free to enter.

• Address: 2431 W Lake Dr, Raleigh, NC 27609
• Website: https://www.cityofoaksfoundation.com/parks/joslin-garden

North Carolina Botanical Garden

Just a 30-minute drive out of downtown Raleigh and you’ve reached the North Carolina Botanical Garden in Chapel Hill, the largest botanical garden in the state, spanning over 1,100 acres.

It’s a university-led garden, designed to demonstrate the beauty and importance of plants, and to educate visitors on plant biodiversity in the southeastern United States and beyond.

It opened in 1961, and is a non-profit organization and is largely cared for by volunteers.

It’s made up of three sections; the display garden, the Allen Education Center, and the Piedmont Nature Trails. The gardens and education center are wheelchair accessible but the nature trails are not.

They are open Tuesday – Sunday, 9:00am – 5:00pm, and closed Mondays and University holidays.

• Address: 100 Old Mason Farm Rd, Chapel Hill
• Website: http://ncbg.unc.edu/

Final Thoughts

If you’ve been following us for a while, you’ll know that one of the reasons we love living in Raleigh is the abundant nature, greenery, lakes. and outdoor activities the city has to offer.

Just like experiencing our wonderful parks in Raleigh, one of the popular things to do in Raleigh is to explore these gardens at different times of the year. We have a few hidden gems in our guide on where to find Spring blooms in Raleigh.

If you love gardens too, we hope you found a garden worth jumping in the car to – or if you live close enough, strolling to!

Now it’s your turn? What are your favorite gardens in Raleigh, or within a short drive? Share in the comments below!