Longwood Gardens: A Deep Dive into America's Most Ambitious Garden
Longwood Gardens in Kennett Square, Pennsylvania, is the most ambitious display garden in the United States. Built up by industrialist Pierre S. du Pont from 1906 on the basis of an existing Quaker arboretum, the 1,083-acre estate combines formal Italianate gardens, the largest conservatory complex in the United States, fountain spectacles, and one of the country's most comprehensive plant collections.
Pierre S. du Pont's purchase
In 1906, Pierre du Pont (head of the chemical company) bought the property to save the trees of the Peirce-du Pont Arboretum, planted by Quaker brothers in the early 1800s, from being logged. He developed Longwood as his country estate over the next forty years.
The Italian Water Garden
Designed by du Pont himself in 1925-27 after a trip to Villa Gamberaia outside Florence. Six water-jet basins arranged in classical geometric pattern; 600 jets in operation.
The Main Fountain Garden
Du Pont's masterpiece, a 5-acre formal garden with 1,719 jets that can throw water up to 50 metres. Rebuilt 2014-17 in a $90 million project that preserved du Pont's design while completely renewing the mechanical and electronic systems.
The Conservatory
The 4-acre glasshouse complex includes the Orangery, the Exhibition Hall, the Rose Garden Glasshouse, the Acacia Passage and the Mediterranean Garden. The largest glasshouse complex in the United States.
Topiary Garden
With around 65 topiary specimens, including the iconic Yew Spirals and the long boxwood maze.
The Open Air Theatre
Built 1913-14, with hidden water jets in the stage floor that turn the theatre itself into a fountain spectacle.
Visiting
Open year-round. Reach by car from Philadelphia (45 minutes) or from Wilmington (30 minutes). Allow a full day; longer if you want to see both day and night with illuminated fountains.
Explore on the map
All of the gardens mentioned in this article are pinned on the interactive map. Use it to plan a route, group nearby sites into a single trip, or compare gardens by style and season.