Charlotte, NC, offers a tranquil escape into nature through its beautiful gardens. From the vibrant blooms of spring to the lush foliage of summer and fall, the city’s gardens provide an oasis for those looking to connect with nature while escaping the hustle and bustle of urban life.
Historic Gardens
Two historic gardens in Charlotte are deeply intertwined with the lives of two remarkable women—both named Elizabeth—who were born in 1904. Elizabeth Clarkson and Elizabeth Lawrence, gardening just a few houses apart in the Myers Park neighborhood, became legends in Southern garden history.
Long before Elizabeth and Eddie Clarkson built their home at 248 Ridgewood Avenue, Elizabeth had a vision of creating a garden. With time, the couple expanded their land by acquiring 11 more parcels, resulting in what is now known as Wing Haven Garden and Bird Sanctuary.
A Wing Haven garden / courtesy of the garden
Behind the brick walls and wrought iron gates, this garden unfolds in a double cruciform design. The long brick paths lead through several garden sections, lush with azaleas, camellias, weeping cherries, chaste trees, and more. A rose garden with varieties from the 1920s to 1930s is a focal point, while bird-friendly features like water elements and birdbaths reflect Elizabeth Clarkson’s love for wildlife. Wing Haven will celebrate its 100th anniversary in 2026.
The Elizabeth Lawrence House & Garden, located just a short walk away at 348 Ridgewood Avenue, is a testament to this Southern garden writer’s passion for plants. Elizabeth Lawrence, the first female graduate in landscape architecture from NC State University, moved to Charlotte in 1948. She used her expertise to design a formal garden at her Myers Park home, with intersecting axial pathways that lead visitors through various garden areas.
Elizabeth Lawrence garden path / courtesy of the garden
Though smaller than Wing Haven, her garden feels expansive, with over 1,500 plant varieties spilling over from the garden beds. Labels provide details about each plant’s origin and history, a nod to Lawrence’s meticulous attention to detail. After her departure in the mid-1980s, the garden was maintained by Lindie Wilson before being entrusted to the Wing Haven Foundation.
Another historic gem in Charlotte is Historic Rosedale, a Federal-style house dating back to 1815. With five generations of the same family contributing to its landscape, Rosedale’s gardens have evolved over time. Boxwoods were planted to form a double colonnade when the house was completed in 1815. Notable additions include a pleasure garden, a pergola covered in yellow Lady Banks roses, and a French-style kitchen garden (or “potager”) filled with medicinal herbs. A parterre, camellia walk, and rock garden were installed, too.
Historic Rosedale / courtesy of Rosedale
The gardens also boast an impressive collection of trees, including five designated “treasure trees,” such as the Chinese parasol tree (Firmiana simplex), which was the first designated treasure tree in the county. There is a magnolia grove, an Osage Orange grove, a double colonnade of willow oaks, golden larch, swamp chestnut oak, red mulberry, and more. Rosedale is recognized as a Tier 2 arboretum and offers a variety of events and tours, including blacksmithing demonstrations.
Located minutes from Charlotte’s Uptown, the McGill Rose Garden is another beloved garden, rooted in the McGill family’s legacy. When the McGills owned the coal yard on the property in the 1950s, it was the wife Helen who started planting roses along the edge. Over the next three decades, she expanded the collection even after they closed the business, turning the garden into a city block-long masterpiece.
McGill Rose Garden / Charlotte Regional Visitors Authority
The McGill family opened the garden to the public on Mother’s Day starting in 1962, and later the city acquired the land. It has remained open year-round since. While the garden has evolved to include native and pollinator-friendly plants, 60 of the original roses remain, along with a piece of coal car track and a nostalgic coal car. The recent addition of Rosie’s Coffee & Wine Garden makes it a perfect spot for enjoying a drink in a beautiful setting.
Botanical Gardens
The Daniel Stowe Conservancy, formerly known as the Daniel Stowe Botanical Garden, is located in nearby Belmont, NC, and is rebranding its offerings. While the botanical garden is still there, the property is focusing forward to the conservancy part of its mission. With only 90 acres of the 380 acre property developed, the master plan is extending into more of the wild land. That means more trails, more experiences, and more opportunities to inspire a love of nature in the multi generations who visit here. More garden sections are also part of the plan – edible gardens with outdoor kitchen, woodland garden and sculpture trail, and a bog garden due to the connection to nearby Lake Wylie.
Daniel Stowe Conservancy garden / Beverly Hurley
And while you can still take a walk in the woods on eight miles of trails, there is plenty to experience in the botanical part of the property. Long views and fountains are used extensively throughout the gardens. There is a Cottage Garden where sweet scents waft through the air. The Canal Garden has fish sculptures that appear to swim down the 100-yards of sparkling water. The Piedmont prairie garden is lined by native plants, including Schweinitz sunflowers – a native herbaceous wildflower in the aster family.
The Lost Hollow children’s garden has a one-third mile adventure trail to explore the woods with nature play areas along the way. As you walk through the garden, new surprises are at every turn. A water feature that shoots out over the sidewalk.
A Serpentine Garden with color themed pools. The Conservatory is the only five story glass house filled with orchids and tropical plants in the Carolinas. And throughout, there are large meadows, picnic areas, cafe and gift shop, and plenty of places to stop and enjoy the gardens.
University Garden
The UNC Charlotte Botanical Gardens provide both indoor and outdoor spaces for exploration. The greenhouse, built in 1983, is known for its collection of carnivorous and bog plants, including Mellichamp’s Sarracenia hybrids created by the garden’s early director Dr. Mellichamp. More collections feature dinosaur plants (like ferns), desert succulents, economic plants including chocolate and orange trees, tropical plants, and an extensive orchid collection, the largest in Charlotte.
Moon gate at UNC Charlotte Gardens / Beverly Hurley
Outside, two gardens hug the hillsides of a ravine that runs through this part of the campus. The Harwood Garden covers three acres and the Glen Garden is seven acres. In both gardens, education is the prime mission. You’ll find a camellia walk, a grove of bigleaf magnolias, spring wildflowers, and 1000 different Rhododendrons. There is also an Asian garden complete with a tea house and a moon gate. The Carolina Garden Trail showcases crops indigenous to the region, like gold rice, peanuts, and hops.
Private Gardens
Two private gardens in Charlotte’s SouthPark area offer a serene experience for visitors year-round. Maple Walk Garden is the creation of Tom and Lib Jones who have spent over 30 years shaping the land of their 2.25 acre property. Known for their extensive collection of maples – over 100 varieties of both Japanese and other maples – the garden also has other notable plants and collections.
There are 180 different varieties of camellias and 23 types of dogwoods that bloom from February into June. The stone archway connects the upper gardens with the lower woodland garden. Maple Walk is a year round gardener’s garden to enjoy as you stroll the grounds filled with bulbs in springtime, perennials, shrubs, and trees year round. Enter the garden on Kingswood Road and follow the grassy path lined with stones. And since this is a private garden, please be respectful of the plants and sculpture.
Not far away is another private garden – the Serenity Garden. This professionally designed and landscaped four acre woodland oasis is a horticultural wonderland. Pathways lined with plants, rock walls, sculptures, and a waterfall create a peaceful atmosphere. A moon gate, labyrinth, and amphitheater add to the garden’s unique charm. Visitors are welcome to explore this beautiful space on Tottenham Road, but are asked to respect the homeowners’ work.
Where to Stay
The Westin Charlotte, located in the heart of Uptown, offers easy access to many of the city’s top attractions.
The hotel’s modern décor and comfortable rooms provide the perfect base for relaxing and enjoying Charlotte’s offerings. Its Dogwood Southern Table & Bar serves Southern-inspired cuisine made with fresh, local ingredients.
Where to Eat
For a delicious meal, head to Dean’s Italian Steakhouse inside the JW Marriott, offering breakfast, lunch, and dinner with prime cuts of beef and homemade pasta. Or you can grab coffee and decadent pastries at The Counter at Dean’s.
Dean’s Italian Steakhouse provided photos
Calle Sol / Charlotte Regional Visitors Authority
Calle Sol offers a casual dining experience featuring Latin, Peruvian, and Cuban cuisine at its two Charlotte locations.
Amelie’s French Bakery serves scratch-made pastries, soups, and savory dishes across its four locations.
For a more adventurous dining experience, Chapter 6 serves Western Mediterranean-inspired small plates from Spain, Morocco, Algeria, Tunisia, France, and Italy, complemented by international wines and craft cocktails.
Chapter 6 / Savor Charlotte
You can find more information about Charlotte’s gardens and events at www.crva.com or follow @charlottesgotalot on Instagram and Facebook.
Featured image: Daniel Stowe Gardens / Beverly Hurley
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Beverly Hurley is the editor of Triangle Gardener. When she isn’t gardening, she loves to travel.
