Norfolk Botanical Garden, Norfolk: what to see and when to go

Norfolk Botanical Garden is a large public garden and arboretum in Norfolk, Virginia, covering 158 acres. Visitors can explore themed gardens featuring roses, camellias, native plants, and more, as well as take guided tram and boat tours of the grounds.

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Covers 158 acres with themed gardens and an arboretum
Home to over 3,000 rose bushes in the Bicentennial Rose Garden
Features a Japanese garden honoring Norfolk’s sister city
Offers tram and boat tours for visitors
Includes a large collection of camellias and native plants

What is Norfolk Botanical Garden?

Norfolk Botanical Garden stretches across 158 acres and features a wide range of themed gardens. Visitors will find collections of roses, camellias, hydrangeas, native plants, and more. There are formal gardens, wildflower meadows, a butterfly habitat, and a Japanese garden. The grounds include lakes, walking trails, and sculptures. The garden is designed for year-round interest, with plantings that bloom or provide color in every season.

The history of Norfolk Botanical Garden

The garden began in 1938 when city officials and a horticulturalist secured land for a public garden. The initial clearing and planting were carried out by a group of African-American workers under a federal work program. Early plantings included thousands of azaleas, rhododendrons, and daffodils. Over the decades, the garden expanded with new themed areas, such as the rose garden and Japanese garden, and changed its name to Norfolk Botanical Garden in 1958.

What there is to see

The garden is divided into many themed sections, each with its own focus. For example, the Bicentennial Rose Garden has over 3,000 rose bushes, while the Camellia Garden holds hundreds of camellia varieties. There are also gardens for herbs, conifers, hydrangeas, and native plants. Visitors can explore on foot, take a tram that stops at key points, or join a boat tour on Lake Whitehurst during the summer.

When to go

Norfolk Botanical Garden is open to the public and offers a variety of experiences throughout the year. Guided tram and boat tours help visitors learn about the different gardens and the plants they contain. The garden hosts educational programs and seasonal events, and is a popular spot for walking, photography, and family outings.

Parts and collections

The garden includes several notable themed areas: the Bicentennial Rose Garden with hundreds of rose varieties, the Hofheimer Camellia Garden with over 500 types of camellias, and the Japanese Garden, which honors Norfolk’s sister city in Japan. There are also specialty gardens for hydrangeas, ferns, herbs, and native plants.

Why Norfolk Botanical Garden matters

Norfolk Botanical Garden is recognized as a historic site and is listed on the Virginia Landmarks Register. Its Japanese Garden reflects the relationship between Norfolk and its sister city in Japan. The garden’s collections and sculptures offer cultural and artistic value to the community, and it serves as a center for horticultural education and appreciation.

Questions people ask about Norfolk Botanical Garden

Where is Norfolk Botanical Garden located?

Norfolk Botanical Garden is in Norfolk, Virginia, at 6700 Azalea Garden Road. It is easily accessible within the city and near the Norfolk International Airport.

What can visitors see at the garden?

Visitors can explore themed gardens such as the rose garden, camellia garden, Japanese garden, and native plant areas. There are also walking trails, lakes, and sculptures throughout the grounds.

How did the garden begin?

The garden was established in 1938 on land set aside by city officials. The first plantings were done by African-American workers as part of a federal program, and the garden has expanded with new sections over the years.

What is special about the Japanese Garden?

The Japanese Garden was created to honor Norfolk’s sister city in Japan. It features traditional design elements and was redesigned in 1995 to reflect its connection to Kitakyushu.

Are there guided tours available?

Yes, the garden offers tram tours that stop at major gardens, as well as seasonal boat tours on Lake Whitehurst. Guides share information about the plants and history during these tours.

Good reading and sources

Where this page comes from

The facts on this page come from the Wikipedia article "Norfolk Botanical Garden", written by its contributors and used under the CC BY-SA 4.0 licence, and from its Wikidata record (CC0). Phool rewrote the text in its own words, with AI assistance, and compares every page with the article to make sure no passage is copied. It may be reused under the same CC BY-SA 4.0 licence with a link back.

It may contain mistakes. Opening times, prices and bloom dates change: check with the place before you travel. If something is wrong, tell us. Last refreshed 2026-10-03.

Photo credits on this page

The small pictures above come from Wikimedia Commons under free licences. Some are cropped to fit.

Sim's Park, Coonoor: Thangaraj Kumaravel, CC BY 2.0, source

Tropical Botanical Garden and Research Institute: No machine-readable author provided. Shyamal assumed (based on copyrig, CC BY 2.5, source

Baldha Garden: Muntasir du, Public domain, source

Hakone Botanical Garden of Wetlands: 663highland, CC BY 2.5, source

Longwood Gardens: P. Hughes, CC BY-SA 4.0, source

Dumbarton Oaks: Boucher, Jack E. (as "creator" of the work), National Park Service, US, Public domain, source

Hillwood Estate, Museum & Gardens: Jllm06, Public domain, source

Morton Arboretum: Bruce Marlin, CC BY-SA 2.5, source

Norfolk Botanical Garden