Knoxville Botanical Garden and Arboretum

Located just minutes from downtown Knoxville, the Knoxville Botanical Garden and Arboretum (KBGA) offers 47 acres of historic gardens, walking trails, and educational programming rooted in more than 200 years of horticultural tradition. With no admission fee, it's a welcoming space for nature lovers, history enthusiasts, families, and community groups.

Recommended For

KBGA is a great destination for:

Garden lovers interested in native Tennessee plants and historic landscape design
Families and school groups exploring outdoor education and nature play
Event hosts planning weddings or private gatherings in a scenic setting
Local volunteers and horticulture students seeking hands-on gardening experience

What to Expect

Open 365 days a year with no admission fee
Self-guided tours with downloadable garden maps
Group tours available by advance booking
Operated as a nonprofit organization funded by donations, members, and volunteers
Publicly accessible gardens and trails across 47 acres

Garden Highlights

Joe Howell House: Built in 1929 and expanded over time, surrounded by formal gardens with historic stonework
Stone Terraces: Modeled after 1950s English gardens with gatehouses and mature trees like Kentucky coffee tree and tulip poplar
Master Gardener Beds: Teaching gardens with unique plant varieties, created by Knox County Master Gardeners
Row Garden: Historic 1938 feature with partitioned beds made from repurposed concrete plates
Martha H. Ashe Garden: Renovated nursery garden featuring updated landscaping
Welcome Center and Danae Garden: A former barn turned into a public and event space with scenic landscaping
Butterfly Meadow: A colorful garden with 50 native plant species and a children’s outdoor classroom

Educational Programs

KBGA offers classes and workshops on topics like:

Landscape design
Health and wellness
The arts
Vegetable gardening

Center for Urban Agriculture: A 10-acre teaching space with five themed gardens:

Market Garden
Amphitheater Garden
Family Garden
Every Child Outdoors Youth Vegetable Garden
Terrace Garden

These gardens support nutrition education, agriculture training, and community outreach

Events and Rentals

Weddings and private parties hosted in beautifully landscaped outdoor spaces
Annual events celebrating horticulture, local culture, and seasonal blooms

History

Established on land purchased in 1780 by David Wessel Howell for a fruit orchard
Family-run farm expanded into a nursery business selling seeds, plants, and trees
In 2001, the Howell property became KBGA with an initial 16-acre purchase
2004 acquisition expanded the garden to its current 47 acres