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Longwood Gardens — Exterior view across the lawns toward the ConservatoryPhoto: P. Hughes · CC BY-SA 4.0 · edited
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Longwood Gardens

Gardens ·Kennett Square ·Closed
4.937.2K
#1Things to do in Kennett SquareMost reviewed in Kennett SquareTravelers' Choice 2026
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About

Longwood Gardens is a public botanical garden in Kennett Square, Pennsylvania, 50 km west of Philadelphia. Its gardens, woodlands and meadows cover more than 445 hectares in the Brandywine Creek Valley.

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Longwood Gardens — Main Fountain Garden with its long pool and central fountain P. Hughes · CC BY-SA 4.0 · edited
Longwood Gardens — Main Fountain Garden with its long pool and central fountainLongwood Gardens — Conservatory garden with a broad lawn and lush plantingsLongwood Gardens — Conservatory’s palm filled central room beneath the glass roofLongwood Gardens — Indoor garden with tropical plants surrounding a reflecting poolLongwood Gardens — Conservatory path bordered by dense tropical foliage and flowersLongwood Gardens — Fountain jets rising above the garden lawn at duskLongwood Gardens — Formal garden fountain framed by clipped hedges and treesLongwood Gardens — Round fountain basin amid flower beds and garden pathsLongwood Gardens — Conservatory walkway beneath hanging baskets and tall greeneryLongwood Gardens — Wall of orchids displayed among layered green plantsLongwood Gardens — Desert garden with succulents and tall trees beneath the glass roof

Why go

  • The Cascade Garden is Roberto Burle Marx’s only North American garden design, preserved in its own glasshouse.
  • The West Conservatory has Mediterranean-inspired gardens, pools, canals and fountains across about 2,970 m².
  • Six Waterlily Court pools hold around 100 varieties of waterlilies, lotus and water-platters; obsidian-dyed water creates mirror-like reflections.
  • Rotating Orchid House displays feature a collection of more than 4,500 plants across 2,500 taxa.

Opening hours

TodayClosedShow all
Monday10:00 – 18:00
TuesdayClosed
Wednesday10:00 – 18:00
Thursday10:00 – 18:00
Friday10:00 – 21:00
Saturday10:00 – 21:00
Sunday10:00 – 21:00

What's in season

  • May – OctWaterlilies bloom in the Waterlily Court.

Don't miss

  • Round FountainFind Longwood’s first fountain along the roughly 183-metre Flower Garden Walk.Flower Garden Walk
  • Aeolian organLook through the organ museum’s glass panels at the 10,010-pipe instrument, the largest pipe organ ever installed in a private residence.Organ museum in the Conservatory
  • Peirce-du Pont HouseVisit Longwood’s oldest building, whose heritage exhibit traces 300 years through photographs and manuscripts. Quartz spear points found nearby are displayed here.Peirce-du Pont House
  • Meadow GardenExplore about 35 hectares of native meadow plantings; the restored historic Webb Farmhouse serves as an interpretive centre.Meadow Garden

Shorts

History

For thousands of years, the Lenni Lenape fished, hunted and farmed on this land. The Peirce family later allowed their house to serve as a station on the Underground Railroad for people escaping slavery.

  1. 1700George Peirce bought 402 acres from William Penn’s commissioners.
  2. 1798Samuel and Joshua Peirce began planting an arboretum.
  3. 1906Pierre S. du Pont bought the estate to save its trees from being cut for timber.
  4. 1914Du Pont added a mirrored wing to the farmhouse, linking the two wings with Longwood’s first conservatory.
  5. 1919–1921Construction of the greenhouse complex culminated in the opening of Longwood’s second and largest conservatory in 1921.
Show all
  1. 1921Du Pont opened the garden to the public.
  2. 1946The Longwood Foundation began managing and maintaining the garden.
  3. 1950sLongwood began research into plant diversity, growing methods, ecosystems and soil health.

Sources: Longwood Gardens - Wikipedia · Longwood Gardens - Wikipedia (part 2) · Longwood Gardens - Wikipedia (part 3) · Kennett Square - Wikivoyage (see) · Longwood Gardens - Wikipedia · checked 26 Sep 2026

Where
1001 Longwood Rd, PA, Kennett Square

Plan from here: Evening walk →

Questions and answers

What is there for children at Longwood Gardens?

The Indoor Children’s Garden was enlarged in 2007, and Longwood offers children’s programs.

Where can I see native woodland plants at Longwood Gardens?

Peirce’s Woods has thousands of native plants, including 10,000 rescued before highway construction.

What inspired Longwood Gardens’ Italian Water Garden?

Villa Gamberaia near Florence inspired the garden northeast of Large Lake.

Are there indoor performances at Longwood Gardens?

The Conservatory’s Ballroom and Exhibition Hall host performances throughout the year. The Ballroom ceiling contains 1,104 panes of rose-colored etched glass.

Why is Longwood Gardens’ Exhibition Hall floor covered with water?

Its sunken marble floor is usually flooded to reflect seasonal displays and drained for events.

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