The Birmingham Botanical Gardens offer something for all ages and interests. During your visit to the Botanical Gardens, enjoy a self-guided tour of the gardens and grounds featuring 67.5 acres, over 25 unique gardens and more than 30 works of original outdoor sculpture. At the Garden Café you can enjoy a relaxing lunch.
Birmingham Botanical Gardens
The Birmingham Botanical Gardens are divided into the Gardens of Collections, the Gardens of Nature and the Gardens of Culture. Focusing on a specific plant genus, family, or other identified group, the Gardens of Collections include: Abroms Rhododendron Species Garden, All-America Selections Garden, Asian Glade, Crape Myrtle Garden, Curry Rhododendron Garden, Dunn Formal Rose Garden, Fern Glade, Hess Camellia Garden, Hosta Walk, Hulsey Woods, Ireland Iris Garden, Ireland Old-Fashioned Rose Garden and the Jemison Lily Garden. Visit the Abroms Rhododendron Garden, a hidden gem in the Gardens, where you can relax under the rustic swing arbour or in the similarly-styled gazebo and admire the botanical garden’s uncommon collection of plants, or delight in the fragrant and colourful roses featured in the Ireland Old-Fashioned Rose-Garden. Native plants of the southeastern US and eco-geographical plant groups fall into the park’s Gardens of Nature Collection. Stroll through the Barber Alabama Woodlands and witness the botanical garden’s oldest native trees. Also part of the Gardens of Nature Collection is Kaul Wildflower Garden, a nationally renowned, seven-acre naturalistic rock garden that began in 1966. Gardens of Culture focus on particular design styles and aspects of human culture and include: Blunt Plaza, Bruno Vegetable Garden, Enabling Garden, Formal Garden, Forman Garden, Herb Terrace, Hill Garden, Japanese Garden, Little One’s Memory Garden, McReynolds Garden, Rushton Garden, Southern Living Garden and Thompson Enthusiast's Garden. Explore Birmingham palmettos, shrub and perennial plantings, and a color border planted with salvias and seasonal annuals in Blount Plaza, the formal entrance to the Birmingham Botanical Gardens. Established in 1977, the Southern Garden is the only public garden that showcases the largest regional magazine in America, Southern Living. Wander the Southern Garden’s outdoor rooms and discover countless ideas for your own home and garden. In one area, a flagstone terrace and seat wall offer a peaceful retreat near a pool where the beautiful sculpture Echo admires her reflection. At the back of the garden, the Emory Cunningham Native Azalea Walk features large specimens of hybrid and Alabama native azalea species such as Alabama, Piedmont and Florida flame azaleas.
Other Areas of Interest at the Birmingham Botanical Gardens
In addition to its collections, the Birmingham Botanical Gardens feature the Arrington Plant Adventure Zone, a Conservatory, the Gerlach Plant Information Center, the Lawlor Gates and the Moon Tree. In the Arrington Plant Adventure Zone a wealth of activities focus on the significance of the interaction between people and their plants and gardens. Manufactured by Lord & Burnham, the Conservatory communicates the need for worldwide natural resource conservation and features a Tropical House, Arid House, and Camellia House. Get answers and advice about plant questions and plant problems in the Gerlach Plant Information Center, a multi-purpose educational area. The Lawlor Gates are located to the north of the Southern Garden. Designed by Jim Cooper and forged at the Lawler Machine and Foundry Company in Birmingham, these intricately designed, French-inspired gates lead out onto Cahaba Road and are opened for special occasions. One of the Birmingham Botanical Garden’s most notable landmarks is the Moon Tree. Located in the upper portion of the Birmingham Botanical Gardens’ entry plaza, the Moon Tree was grown from a seed that orbited the moon with astronaut Stuart Roosa in Apollo 14’s command module.
Shopping in Leaf and Petal Gift Shop
Enjoy a unique shopping experience at Birmingham Botanical Gardens’ Leaf and Petal Gift Shop. Stationary, jewelry, botanical arrangements, garden items, containers, children’s toys, furniture and home décor are available to purchase.
Dining at the Garden Café
A relaxing lunch awaits you at the Garden Café. With a menu inspired by local greens and produce, the Garden Café offers a selection of soups, salads, sandwiches, and hot entrées prepared by Kathy G. & Company.
- Complimentary wheelchairs are available to check out at the Receptionist’s desk on a first-come, first-served basis.
- The Birmingham Botanical Gardens asks that visitors do not feed any wild or domesticated animals including ducks, geese and fish.