The 9 Best Botanical Gardens That Are “Must Visits” in Ohio

Ohio has well over a dozen botanical gardens and arboretums to explore. They range in size and diversity. However, there are a few that stand out among the long list. Follow along to discover the 9 best botanical gardens that are must-visits in Ohio and some plants you can find in each.

1. Franklin Park Conservatory and Botanical Gardens

The first botanical garden on our list is the Franklin Park Conservatory and Botanical Gardens in Columbus. It’s an excellent place to visit during spring and fall. The exhibitions are frequently changed and are often themed to the season. The Franklin Park Conservatory and Botanical Gardens have a long history. Technically, it was established in 1895 as the Franklin Park Conservatory. It was just one building, a beautiful grand Victorian-style glass structure.

The modern-day Franklin Park Conservatory and Botanical Gardens has expanded a lot. There are multiple gardens and sections within the botanical garden including the John F. Wolfe Palm House, Grand Mallway, and Daylily Garden. Within the conservatory, you can find the Himalayan Mountain Biome, Rainforest Biome, and Pacific Island Water Garden.

2. Cleveland Botanical Garden

Another must-visit green space in Ohio is the Cleveland Botanical Garden in the University Circle neighborhood of Cleveland. It’s a beautiful garden open from Tuesday to Sunday for a small fee. The opening hours vary. 

This lovely garden was established in 1930 as the Garden Center of Greater Cleveland. Originally, this garden center was in a converted boathouse on Wade Park Lagoon and offered gardening and horticulture classes. It took no time for this wonderful garden center to grow and when it outgrew its boathouse location, it moved to its present location. Fun fact, the Cleveland Botanical Garden sits at the site of the old Cleveland Zoo. 

A main attraction in this garden is the Eleanor Armstrong Smith Glasshouse. It houses many tropical and desert plants.

3. Toledo Botanical Garden

Although written in no particular order, the third must-visit Ohio botanical garden on our list is the Toledo Botanical Garden in Toledo. The Metropolitan Park District of the Toledo Area owns and manages the stunning garden. The surface area is about 64 acres, which is plenty of space to explore in a day. However, originally, the Toledo Botanical Garden only sat on about 20 acres of land.

This lovely garden is a favorite for many. It features a rose, herb, green, perennial, and pioneer garden. Previously, the Toledo Botanical Garden was the site of the Blair Museum of Lithophanes, however, this is now at Schedel Arboretum & Gardens.

So, what plants can you find while taking a nice stroll through the garden? Some plants within the Toledo Botanical Garden are bush clovers, seven-son flowers, Japanese anemones, hydrangeas, and dahlias.

4. The Holden Arboretum

If you’re unsure of which botanical garden to prioritize visiting in Ohio, make sure to add the Holden Arboretum to the top of your list. The Holden Arboretum is a wonderful botanical arboretum that covers 3,600 acres of space. It recently merged and partnered with the Cleveland Botanical Garden. Like the Cleveland Botanical Garden, the Holden Arboretum is open every day except for Mondays. During fall, the Arboretum hosts multiple events including the Fall Forest Fest and Artisans at the Arboretum.

Currently, a few of the major collections on display include the Helen S. Layer Rhododendron Garden, Display Garden, Eliot and Linda Paine Rhododendron Discovery Garden, and Conifer and Magnolia Collections.

5. Cox Arboretum MetroPark

Next on our list of must-visit botanical gardens in Ohio is the Cox Arboretum and Gardens MetroPark in Dayton. It’s open daily and is free. This lovely gem of a garden has a surface area of around 189 acres. It’s an excellent place to visit with friends and family members. There are thousands of species of plants in the Cox Arboretum and Gardens MetroPark including over 500 species of trees and shrubs. One of the most iconic parts of the park though is the butterfly garden, which is only open seasonally.

It’s also a great spot for education and constantly hosts events like eco-talks and fall events. Another iconic point within this free and gorgeous botanical garden is the Tree Tower.

6. The Dawes Arboretum

Another unforgettable botanical garden in Ohio is the Dawes Arboretum. It’s an excellent place to visit in the fall to watch the vibrant leaves fall and crunch at your feet. The Dawes Arboretum isn’t as large as some of the botanical gardens on our list, but it’s worth a mention. It’s located in Newark, Ohio, and has a surface area of about 2,000 acres. Within the gardens are nearly 17,000 plant species. Every year, about 267,000 travel to the Dawes Arboretum to admire the plants and their beauty.

The Dawes Arboretum also has one of the northernmost native bald-cypress swamps in North America. Some animals present in this bald-cypress swamp are Jefferson salamanders and spotted salamanders.

7. Inniswood Metro Gardens

Have you ever heard of the Inniswood Metro Gardens? The Inniswood Metro Gardens is a botanical garden and nature preserve in Westerville. It’s open for a small fee and sits on about 123 acres of land. Although you can visit this lovely botanical garden throughout the year, it’s especially worth it during fall and spring. In the fall, you can take a stroll through the Inniswood Metro Gardens concrete path to view the orange, red, and yellow leaves.

Although the park only opened in 1984, it has a lot longer history. Previously, the Inniswood Metro Gardens was the site of the estate of sisters Grace and Mary Innis. They spent a lot of time cultivating unique gardens throughout their land, before giving their home and land to Metro Parks in 1972.

8. Schedel Gardens

Also on our list of the best botanical gardens in Ohio is the Schedel Gardens on the bank of a river in Elmore. It’s a hidden gem and favorite for Elmore locals. This lovely garden opened in 1991, although the land was used since 1929 by Joseph and Marie Schedel. They built a Victorian-style mansion and an arboretum with various plant species including Japanese maple trees, umbrella magnolias, and lilacs. The gardens aren’t just wonderful to admire and stroll through, but also as a wedding venue.

Currently, the garden only operates seasonally. It’s closed from November 1st to March 31st. The Schedel Gardens has many main attractions including the beautiful Japanese Garden, which was built in the 1950s. Here you can find a 30-foot waterfall.

9. Kingwood Center Gardens

Last but not least is one of the most beautiful spots in the state, the Kingwood Center Gardens in Mansfield. The gardens are breathtaking and the historic buildings on site are one of a kind. C. Mack built this lovely Colonial Revival-style estate in 1926. It was added to the National Register of Historic Places on November 7, 1976.

There is no limit to things to do and see in the Kingwood Center Gardens. You can spend the day walking through the winding paths, or shopping and dining without leaving the area. You can also host events like weddings and anniversaries for a fee. Truthfully, you might need more than just one day to see everything.

Summary of the 9 Best Botanical Gardens That Are “Must Visits” in Ohio