2022’s Most Romantic Gardens in the U.S.

By Brenda Ryan | Updated:
Studies
Romantic Garden Entrance

What says romance better than a dozen roses? How about thousands of roses, along with lilies, tulips, philodendrons, and every other flower you can imagine.

You don’t have to spend a fortune at the florist to please your valentine. Your budding romance can bloom by spending the day in one of the Most Romantic Gardens in the U.S. 

And if you’re planning a June or summer wedding, maybe one of these romantic gardens will be the perfect backdrop.

We’ve done the research to spotlight one romantic garden for each state (and Washington, D.C.), so you can be the master of your own date.

What makes for a garden romantic? These aren’t the biggest or most popular botanical gardens in the country. The most romantic gardens have lush greenery, intimate settings, and picture-perfect backdrops for wedding photos.

How did we select the most romantic gardens across America? We scoured dozens of romantic gardens, visited many of them over the years, and we factored in reviews from Tripadvisor and Wedding Wire.

The end result: These gardens are definitely the most alluring ones to visit with your special someone. 

Table of Contents

  1. Most Romantic Gardens by Region
  2. Most Romantic Gardens Slideshows
  3. Highlights of Romantic Gardens

Most Romantic Gardens by Region

Most Romantic Gardens Slideshows

Northeast region (Connecticut, Delaware, Maine, Massachusetts, New Hampshire, New Jersey, New York, Pennsylvania, Rhode Island, Vermont, Washington, D.C.)

Shaded pathway through tall trees and plants
Model of the US Capitol Building surrounded by flowers
Model of the US Capitol Building surrounded by flowers
Large mansion with a walkway lined with flowers
Large mansion with a walkway lined with flowers
Topiary shaped in animal forms: bird, giraffe, deer
Topiary shaped in animal forms: bird, giraffe, deer
A variety of plants and flowers inside of a brick border wall
A variety of plants and flowers inside of a brick border wall
People walking on pathway through a park with tall trees and fenced in gardens
People walking on pathway through a park with tall trees and fenced in gardens
Bridge over a frozen river with snow on the ground.
Shaded pathway through tall trees and plants
Wedding at Fuller Gardens
Wedding at Fuller Gardens
Path leading through a garden to stone steps with pergolas above
Path leading through a garden to stone steps with pergolas above
White archway leading to a white house in the distance
White archway leading to a white house in the distance
Yellow mansion in the background of a green lawn and pink flowers in the foreground.
Yellow mansion in the background of a green lawn and pink flowers in the foreground.
Bridge over a frozen river with snow on the ground.
New Jersey: The Frelinghuysen Arboretum

The Frelinghuysen Arboretum is perfect for a midday picnic, a romantic proposal, or a beautiful photo session. With more than 125 acres of lush landscape, this large estate offers all the majesty of the Old World, located in the cozy comfort of new-world convenience.

Ratings:
Tripadvisor excellent rating: Nearly 60%

The Frelinghuysen Arboretum / 353 E Hanover Ave Morris Township, Morristown
/ Photo credit: CC0 1.0

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Southeast region (Alabama, Florida, Georgia, Kentucky, Louisiana, Maryland, Mississippi, North Carolina, South Carolina, Tennessee, Virginia, West Virginia)

Natural archway over a brick path leading to a white statue of a woman
Scenic country landscape with flowers in the foreground
Scenic country landscape with flowers in the foreground
Two women standing beneath a circle entrance
Two women standing beneath a circle entrance
Six colorful parrots standing on a branch
Six colorful parrots standing on a branch
Large white plantation home
Large white plantation home
Art installation, stick figures, at Sarah P. Duke Gardens in Durham, N.C.
Art installation, stick figures, at Sarah P. Duke Gardens in Durham, N.C.
Natural archway over a brick path leading to a white statue of a woman
Rode garden with a brick pathway and a pergola
Ornately trimmed topiary
Ornately trimmed topiary
Brick walkways leading to fountains with a white house in the background
Brick walkways leading to fountains with a white house in the background
Multi-colored hydrangeas around an open iron gate
Multi-colored hydrangeas around an open iron gate
Large topiary on a checkered surface, shaped as guards and playing cards holding spears
Large topiary on a checkered surface, shaped as guards and playing cards holding spears
A pond surrounded by trees and flowers
A pond surrounded by trees and flowers
Rode garden with a brick pathway and a pergola
Mississippi: Rosalie Mansion and Gardens_statue

Mississippi: Rosalie Mansion and Gardens

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Midwest region (Arkansas, Illinois, Indiana, Iowa, Kansas, Michigan, Minnesota, Missouri, Nebraska, North Dakota, Ohio, Oklahoma, South Dakota, Wisconsin)

Topiary and flowers lining a brick path leading to a white statue
Golden Thai pavilion surrounded by water
Golden Thai pavilion surrounded by water
Small cottage in a countryside
Small cottage in a countryside
Pond with lily pads
Pond with lily pads
Overlooking a body of water with trees and plants around it
Overlooking a body of water with trees and plants around it
Stream between rocks with flowers on either side
Stream between rocks with flowers on either side
Sunken garden full of flowers
Sunken garden full of flowers
Topiary and flowers lining a brick path leading to a white statue
Waterfall over rocks with greenery around stone steps on the right.
Large garden with pathways and a gazebo in the background
Large garden with pathways and a gazebo in the background
Path with flowers on either side leading to a pavilion with flowers in the center
Path with flowers on either side leading to a pavilion with flowers in the center
Natural wood bench in front of pink/purple flowers
Natural wood bench in front of pink/purple flowers
Brenton Arboretum in the Dallas Center
Brenton Arboretum in the Dallas Center
Cottage with a blue roof and a rock in the foreground that reads "Wellfield"
Cottage with a blue roof and a rock in the foreground that reads "Wellfield"
Bridge over a body of water with trees on either end of it.
Bridge over a body of water with trees on either end of it.
Waterfall over rocks with greenery around stone steps on the right.
Missouri: Botanical Garden

Missouri: Botanical Garden

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Western region (Alaska, Arizona, California, Colorado, Hawaii, Idaho, Montana, Nevada, New Mexico, Oregon, Texas, Utah, Washington, Wyoming)

A couple standing in front of tall cactus
Bride and groom standing among exotic plants and flowers
Bride and groom standing among exotic plants and flowers
Small bench in a garden with flowers all around it.
Small bench in a garden with flowers all around it.
Colorful flowers with stone stairway in the background
Colorful flowers with stone stairway in the background
Colorful flowers near a path
Colorful flowers near a path
Japanese style garden with a stream running through it
Japanese style garden with a stream running through it
Multi-colored flowers in the foreground with a bench in the background
Multi-colored flowers in the foreground with a bench in the background
A couple standing in front of tall cactus
Alaska Botanical Garden
DeWalt Gardens in Billings, Montana, landscaping, flowers and a pedestal with a book open.
DeWalt Gardens in Billings, Montana, landscaping, flowers and a pedestal with a book open.
Waterfall moving down uneven rocks surrounded by a rock wall
Waterfall moving down uneven rocks surrounded by a rock wall
White gazebo with pathway leading up to it, surrounded by floral landscape
White gazebo with pathway leading up to it, surrounded by floral landscape
Bride and groom walking down a stone path amid flowers
Bride and groom walking down a stone path amid flowers
A golden lit conservatory with a pond in the foreground
A golden lit conservatory with a pond in the foreground
A woman and child walking among tall cacti
A woman and child walking among tall cacti
Alaska Botanical Garden
Nevada: Ethel M. Chocolates Cactus Garden

Nevada: Ethel M. Chocolates Cactus Garden

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3 Highlights of Romantic Gardens

The Most Romantic Gardens in the U.S. are:

Beautiful Outside and Indoors

Flowers need rain to blossom, but you and your best bud may not want to get soaked while taking in the atmosphere. Pennsylvania’s Phipps Conservatory & Botanical Gardens and other gardens we chose have greenhouses to enjoy on those less-than-perfect days.

Mystical, Not Massive

Some of the most beguiling gardens are smaller and less popular. New Jersey’s Frelinghuysen Arboretum and many of the other gardens we chose offer a sense of intimacy for you and your beau. So once you’ve found a place you two can cherish, mums the word.

Picture Perfect

Whether you’re looking for a place to wed, propose, or for that first date, you want a setting that is a perfect backdrop for memorable photos. For example, New Hampshire’s Fullerton Gardens has flowers, trees, and privacy — all paramount for Instagram photos you two will want to share.

Main Photo Credit: Pexels

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Brenda Ryan

Brenda Ryan

Brenda Ryan is a former content director for LawnStarter. She is a former radio newscaster and journalist. In her free time she enjoys traveling, gardening, visiting wineries, reading, and playing trivia games in her home state of Colorado.
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