North Carolina Arboretum, Asheville

We are so lucky to have the North Carolina Arboretum in Asheville! Surrounded by the botanically diverse Southern Appalachian Mountains, the NC Arboretum is one of the most beautiful natural garden settings in America. The 434-acre campus in Pisgah National Forest is the ideal place for a sensory-rich stroll or hike while admiring and learning about our natural wonders. Home to many events throughout the year, it is located at the entrance to the Blue Ridge Parkway in south Asheville. Photo above: Fall Quilt Garden

A center for education, research, conservation, and garden demonstration, the Arboretum offers a wide range of activities for visitors of all ages. Stop by the information desk at the Baker Exhibit Center to pick up a brochure listing educational programs, tours, and events. They also have some great art to admire.

New for Fall 2023!

Starting on Monarch Butterfly Day, September 30, 2023, and running until January 7, 2024, the NC Arboretum will showcase a new "Monarchs and Milkweed: A Story of Survival" exhibit. Journey into the world of butterflies and plants and see the complex relationship between monarchs and milkweed. This new exhibit will explore how the very survival of these majestic creatures has been shaped over time by one another, traveling through the seasons of a calendar year and revealing how both insect and plant grow and interact, culminating in a massive migration that crosses a continent.

See the gorgeous Life of the Monarch Butterfly sculpture in the Forest Meadow behind the amphitheater.

Garden Areas

• Blue Ridge Court: A central point of the Grand Garden Promenade and features a garden pool.
• Heritage Garden: The chimney stone foundations and water spring recall features of old homestead sites. The garden includes plants used in the region's medicinal herb and craft industries.
• Holly Garden: Shows a variety of plants in the holly genus that can be grown in this area.
• Plants of Promise Garden: This 1/2-acre garden at the wood's edge features promising landscape plants appropriate for the Southern Appalachian region and demonstrates ways to use stone in the garden.
• Quilt Garden: A floral representation of a traditional quilt pattern, complete with a stone overlook (photo at top of the page - design is butterflies).
• Stream Garden: Planted primarily with native plants, this garden represents a Western North Carolina mountain stream and the plant communities of stream sites.
• National Native Azalea Repository: Established to help preserve and protect native azaleas with 16 of 17 species native to the U.S. See it in full bloom each April.

RomanticAsheville.com Travel Guide is delighted to be a Community Partner of the North Carolina Arboretum!

See the impressive and fascinating bonsai collection in the special outdoor garden (usually May-October). During the cooler months, see a tropical bonsai exhibit in the greenhouse at the Baker Center.

Hiking & Biking
There are many trails to choose from, including many easy walking trails and easy-to-moderate mountain bike trails.

• The Natural Garden Trail is a 3/4-mile walking trail that makes a loop from the Plants of Promise Garden to the north end of the Core Area Gardens.
• Bent Creek Road and Trail is a 1.3-mile, mostly flat trail shared by pedestrians, pets on leashes, and cyclists with many Southern Appalachian wildflowers and ferns.
• The 1.2-mile Carolina Mountain Trail connects the production greenhouse with the Education Center, Core Garden area, and Bent Creek Road. This trail winds through three different forest types, pine, mixed hardwood, and ericaceous.
• For a full list of trails, see the Arboretum's Hiking page.
• There are many more trails in the surrounding Bent Creek. See our guide to Bent Creek Biking & Lake Powhatan Camping.

Bee Campus USA
The Arboretum was certified as the 7th Bee Campus in the nation and the first campus in North Carolina. Seasonal Landscape Exhibits program on plants and nesting sites for pollinator species.

Free Extra Activities April-October

• Guided Trail Walks on Tuesdays & Saturdays, 1 PM
• Rocky Cove Railroad runs on Saturdays & Sundays

Winter Lights

Special Events & Exhibits
There are many throughout the year. See our special guide to their Spring Flower Shows and Fall Events at the Arboretum. For the holiday season, see the beautiful Winter Lights extravaganza.

• Arbor Evenings: June 16 – September 30, 2023
  On Thursdays and Fridays, sip and stroll through the NC Arboretum gardens after dark (5:30-8 PM) with live music. Light food, beer, and wine are available for purchase. Admission is $5 per person. 
• Fall Plant Sale & Market: September 29-30, 2023
  The Market features unique plants grown in The North Carolina Arboretum’s Production Greenhouse and includes over 25 local growers and businesses. Shop an outstanding collection of annuals, perennials, and crafts to the sounds of live music. The Arboretum’s standard $20 parking fee applies to all non-members. Interested in joining as a member? Join today!

NC Arboretum Fast Facts

• Property Hours: The gardens and trails are open daily, weather permitting, 8 AM-9 PM April-October and 8 AM-7 PM November–March. The entrance gate closes one hour before. The Education Center, Baker Exhibit Center, and Bonsai Garden are open daily 9 AM-5 PM. Also open Thursday evenings, April-October, 6-9 PM. Bent Creek Bistro opens in March, 10 AM-4 AM. Connections Gallery Gift Shop Hours: 10 AM-4 PM.
• Admission: Free, but there is a parking fee. $20 per personal motor vehicle, $60 15-seat passenger van, $125 motorcoaches. Parking is $7 on the first Tuesday of each month. No charges apply to pedestrians, bicyclists, or The North Carolina Arboretum Society members.
• The NC Arboretum Society Membership: In appreciation for their support, Members receive special benefits such as free parking, discounts at the gift shop and for education programs, special mailings, member events, a monthly e-newsletter, and reciprocal privileges with more than 200 American Horticultural Society gardens nationwide. 
• Pets: Dogs on leashes are permitted on the grounds and in the gardens (except the Bonsai exhibit). Service or guide dogs only are allowed in buildings & Bonsai exhibits.
• Picnics: Informal picnicking is permitted on the grounds. No alcoholic beverages. Picnic goodies are available for purchase in the education center at the cafe. 
• Wheelchair Access: The buildings, gardens, and some trails are wheelchair accessible. Wheelchairs are available free of charge on-site, on a first-come, first-served basis.
• Directions: The NC Arboretum is located off NC Highway 191, south of Asheville. From I-26, take exit 33; from I-40, use exit #47 (Farmers Market). From both these exits, follow Blue Ridge Parkway (and 191 South) signs to the Parkway entrance ramp. The Arboretum entrance is immediately on the right after exiting onto the ramp. From the Blue Ridge Parkway, take the Milepost 393 exit. The Arboretum entrance is on the left, at the end of the ramp.
• Address: 100 Frederick Law Olmsted Way, Asheville
• Telephone: 828-665-2492 | Click here to visit their website.