UNC Charlotte Botanical Gardens, 9090 Craver Road, Charlotte, North Carolina, is free to visit. You don’t have to be a student or affiliated with the university to visit. It’s open to everyone.
Read on to learn a little bit about the Gardens. The gardens are a hidden gem in Charlotte. If you haven’t visited yet, make sure to make a point to do so soon! They are interesting and beautiful in every season.
If you have an interest in botany you’ll want to spend hours exploring every square inch of the Gardens. But you don’t have to be interested in plants to enjoy the peace and beauty of the Gardens.
You’re welcome to bring your leashed dog to the gardens, and it’s a wonderful place for dogs! Please do clean up after your dog, of course.
There are two main areas to explore, Susie Harwood Garden and Van Landingham Glen. If you have kids, definitely check out the Polly Rogers Sensory Garden in the Glen!
Susie Harwood Garden
The Susie Harwood Garden features native and non-native plants that grow well in the Piedmont. If you’re planning to do landscaping of your own, you’ll be inspired by the plants, gardening styles and landscaping here.
Susie Harwood Garden also features a pagoda, bridges, creeks, waterfalls, a pond, an Asian Garden, and more.
Van Landingham Glen
The Van Landingham Glen is a woodland section of the gardens. It features a collection of rhododendrons and native plants of the Carolinas. You’ll find wildflowers, ferns, native trees and shrubs.
Much of the trail is now surfaced, enabling those with limited mobility to explore more of the Glen. Because of the natural slope of the land, however, it’s not ADA compliant.
Within Van Landingham Glen is The Polly Rogers Sensory Garden, which honors the memory of Polly Rogers, a rising sophomore at UNC Charlotte who was studying special education, and who passed away at a young age in 2018. The garden includes interactive musical artwork by Rick Dior, stonework and paths by Johnny Massengale of Ponders, Inc, and nine garden art pieces by Vickie Jo Franks.
The plants of the Glen are catalogued on the UNCC website. So, feel free to explore the website and then use the map to look for the plants in the Glen.
Hours for UNC Charlotte Botanical Gardens
Outdoor Gardens
Open every day during daylight hours
The McMillan Greenhouse
Monday to Friday: 9 a.m. to 4 p.m.
Closed on University holidays
Parking at UNC Charlotte Botanical Gardens
Weekday Parking
There are five free parking spaces next to McMillan Greenhouse for garden and greenhouse visitors. They are in Lot 16A. Just sign the sign-in sheet inside the greenhouse with your license plate number.
If those spots are full, additional, paid, parking is available at East Deck 1 and the Union Deck. Use the Campus Parking Map to find these decks.
Weekend Parking
You may park in any space on campus that’s not marked as reserved, for free, without a permit.
Light Rail
If you are traveling on the light rail, it’s about a half mile walk form UNC Charlotte Main Station.
Upcoming events at UNC Charlotte Botanical Gardens
Find upcoming events on UNC Charlotte Botanical Gardens’ Facebook page.
Double-Check Before You Head Out!
We make every effort to make sure that everything on Charlotte on the Cheap is 100% accurate.
However, sometimes things change without notice, and we are not always notified. It’s also possible that we can make a mistake.
Please verify all deals and events with the venue or organizer before you go.
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