In December 1979, fourteen people met with the sole purpose of establishing a botanical garden in Huntsville, and in the short span of five years, a dream had become a reality.
The 112-acre garden is open year-round and contains a diverse ecosystem of meadows, upland and bottomland forest, and wetlands, as well as a variety of specialty gardens and native plant collections. The Mathews Nature Trail contains the largest accredited trillium collection in the U.S. and the Anderson Education Center is home to the nation’s largest open-air butterfly house. The Native Plants Teaching Garden is a public space that highlights the way local plants, soil, pollinators, and birds create distinct communities and how they interact to form a diverse, sustainable, and attractive landscape. The Children’s Garden consists of eight themed areas and is a popular destination for play, pretend, and hands-on learning.
The Wade Wharton Sculpture Trail was installed in the Garden in 2012 and is comprised of works made from recycled materials. Botanically-themed art exhibitions are displayed in the Guest Center.
The Huntsville Botanical Garden is one of the gardens in the state to be featured on the Alabama Garden Trail.