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Highlands Biological Station

The Botanical Gardens

The highest public native plant botanical garden in Eastern North America

Nestled at 4,118 feet in the Blue Ridge Mountains, the Highlands Botanical Gardens is both a refuge and a living showcase for the extraordinary botanical diversity of the Blue Ridge Escarpment and the surrounding Southern Appalachian region. Whether you're a casual visitor, a gardener, a student, or a researcher, the Gardens offer a unique and inspiring experience rooted in the rich natural heritage of this mountain landscape.

Established in 1962 by visionary botanists Ralph M. Sargent, Henry Wright, Henry R. Totten, and others, the Gardens have grown into a dynamic 12+ acre space. Hundreds of labeled vascular and non-vascular plants — ferns, mosses, wildflowers, shrubs, and trees — flourish in naturalistic woodland, riparian, and wetland habitats.

Specialty Demonstration Areas

Over time, the Gardens have expanded to include four satellite demonstration areas, each highlighting a distinct theme in Southern Appalachian botany and ecology.

Appalachian Ethnobotanical Garden

Explores the deep, traditional human relationships with native plants — from food and medicine to fiber and ceremony — honoring the Indigenous and Appalachian heritage of this landscape.

Moss Garden

A serene showcase of bryophyte diversity — mosses, liverworts, and hornworts — celebrating one of the most species-rich and overlooked plant groups in the Southern Appalachians.

Homeowner's Demonstration Garden

Offers practical inspiration for sustainable, native-plant landscaping that homeowners can adapt — featuring regionally appropriate plants that support pollinators and local wildlife.

Rock Outcrop Garden

Mimics the harsh, specialized conditions of granite rock balds — a rare and distinctive habitat type of the Southern Appalachians, home to unique flora found nowhere else in the world.

Gallery

A glimpse into the extraordinary plant life and seasonal beauty of the Highlands Botanical Gardens. Click any photo to enlarge.

Photo credit: Laura Gamble and HBS staff

A Legacy of Botanical Science

1962
Founded

Visionary botanists Ralph M. Sargent, Henry Wright, Henry R. Totten, and colleagues establish the Highlands Botanical Gardens with a mission to support research, conservation, and education focused on the extraordinary flora of the Blue Ridge Escarpment.

Today
Now

The Gardens have grown into a dynamic 12+ acre living collection — the highest public native plant botanical garden in Eastern North America — featuring hundreds of labeled species and four specialty demonstration areas that serve visitors, students, researchers, and gardeners from across the region.

The Gardens serve as a vital resource for scientific study, habitat restoration, and native plant conservation — while fostering a deeper public appreciation for the flora of the Southern Appalachians. Together, the curated spaces support HBS's broader mission of integrating research, education, and conservation in one of the world's most botanically rich mountain regions.