Sarah P. Duke Gardens

Explore 55 acres of breathtaking botanical gardens right on the Duke University campus.

Located on the Duke University campus you can find the oasis that is Sarah P. Duke Gardens, a 55-acre botanical garden that offers free entry and is open 365 days a year. As you enter this beautiful property, you’ll discover 5 miles of winding paths that bring you through towering trees and themed gardens. The current gardens we know and love today were planned by the renowned landscape designer Ellen B. Shipman and officially dedicated in 1939.

The gardens feature 4 exquisite areas – the Historic Gardens, a native plant garden, an Asiatic arboretum, and the Doris Duke Center Gardens. The W.L. Culberson Asiatic Arboretum is the definition of tranquility with its large koi pond, bamboo groves, bonsai trees, and traditional Japanese bridges. There are many benches around the property for relaxing among the lush foliage as well as expansive fields that are wonderful for setting up a blanket for a picnic or just to laze in the sunshine with a book.

Sarah P. Duke Gardens pride themselves for being a place of learning, inspiration, and enjoyment. The organization hosts year-round educational programs such as birding tours, conservationist talks, and horticulture lessons taught by professionals. If you’re visiting the Raleigh and Durham area and want a fantastic daytime activity, love all things regarding plants, want to spend a relaxing morning surrounded by breathtaking scenery, need an extraordinary photoshoot location, or want to dive into the history of these gardens and the campus, Sarah P. Duke Gardens is not to be missed out on.