Leu Gardens. 1920 N Forest Ave, Orlando, Florida
Leu Gardens
Open daily 9 a.m. – 5 p.m. (closed Christmas)
This post was originally shared on July 5, 2018. I have updated it with current information. Photos were taken over several seasons.
The next time you visit Central Florida and the Orlando area, take a day to visit beautiful Leu Gardens. The gardens are an amazing 50-acre botanical oasis minutes from Downtown Orlando. Each garden is designed specifically to further the mission: inspire visitors to appreciate and understand plants. The garden and historical home were donated to the City of Orlando in 1961 by Mr. Harry P. Leu and his wife, Mary Jane. Admission is a reasonable $15 for adults, $10 for children 4 – 17, and free for children 3 and under. You can purchase admission tickets online. The following first Mondays will be Free Admission days at Leu Gardens: July 4, 2022 – August 1, 2022 – September 5, 2022 – October 3, 2022.
Membership in the garden comes with wonderful privileges like free admission to the garden, discount admission to all ticketed special events, free admission to movie nights, complimentary guest passes, discounts on all purchases in the gift shop, classes, and garden shop, and reciprocal privileges or discounts to American Horticultural Society partners which includes over 300 gardens. A senior membership is $45 while an individual membership is $50. $75 family membership includes 2 adults and all minor children. There are special events throughout the year, periodic plant sales, and lots of plant classes.
The Garden is divided into different types of collections of plants. For example, the Arid Collection includes a wide variety of plants that are drought tolerant. Many come from areas that are seasonally dry or from desert regions. The Azalea Collection contains approximately 50 different varieties and species of azaleas. Azaleas begin flowering in late winter (Jan/Feb) and are at their peak usually towards the end of February into early March.
There is a tour of the historic Leu home included in admission. The Leu House Museum is a restored 19th century home listed on the National Register of Historic Places. Four families owned the property before it opened to the public. Harry P. Leu and his wife, Mary Jane, purchased the property in 1936. Mr. Leu owned a very successful industrial supply company. The Leus traveled extensively and brought back plants and seeds for their garden. The beautiful gardens bear witness to the legacy Mr. Leu left to the City of Orlando. Tour the first floor of the Leu House Museum which is open Tuesdays-Sundays from 10:00 a.m. – 1:00 p.m., closed Mondays, the entire month of July and December 25.
The Camelia Collection began with the varieties of Camellia japonica and Camellia sasanqua originally planted by Mr. Leu. Today, more than 2000 plants and 230+ cultivars are displayed throughout the gardens. This collection ranks among the largest in the United States and is one of the largest documented collections in the Southeast. Camelias bloom during the winter: November, December, January, and February.
There are walkways, benches, and swings throughout the garden.
The butterfly garden is a fan favorite and contains a wide variety of annuals, perennials, shrubs and trees that are attractive to butterflies and moths. Some of the plants are nectar plants; others are larval plants that caterpillars eat. Many of these plants also attract hummingbirds and night-flying moths..
The garden is around Lake Rowan and there are so many beautiful views.
Let’s visit the rose garden which blooms in May, June, July, and August. Mary Jane’s Rose Garden is named after Mrs. Leu. She planted her first roses by the lake, and in 1944, a small rose garden was developed on the site where the current garden is located. Over 215 varieties and 650 roses are displayed in this garden. All are suited for Central Florida growing conditions.
I like the fountain in the rose garden. Water features are such a wonderful addition to a garden.
During the summer, there are crepe myrtle trees, hibiscus, all kinds of tropical & temperate flowers, and frangipani (plumeria).
Be sure to visit Leu Garden on your next visit to Orlando.
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Beautiful!
What a treasure!
That’s beautiful.
These gardens look great. If I was going to Orlando I would skip Disney World to go see these gardens.
If you do, I know your photos will be amazing. Have a wonderful weekend, Alan.
The gardens look beautiful. What a wonderful way to spend a day!
The first photo is my favorite.
Oh, I wish I had known about this on our last visit to Orlando. Our in-laws were with us to see our son perform at WDW with the high school marching band, and since they are avid gardeners as well, they would have really enjoyed this. Thanks for sharing all of these spectacular photos!
Thanks for the sweet comment. Just keep Leu Garden in mind if you’re ever back in Orlando area.
Hi Carol, Whenever I travel the first place I go to is that town or city’s botanical garden. Would love to see this one. Your photos are tops and I’ll pin. Visiting you at TFT, where I shared Summer Means Time for Reading.
Thanks for visiting Nancy. I agree that a garden is one of my first stops. It feeds the soul.
Wow, gorgeous images from the gardens. The flowers are all beautiful. Enjoy your day and weekend!
Thanks – you too Eileen!
The butterfly park is just for me.
Happy weekend!
Just simply WOW! You always share the most beautiful fotos from areas in your state and make me want to hop on a plane and come visit. Thanks so much for sharing and linking up with FFF Happy Saturday to you! ?
Thanks for the sweet comment. Hope your weekend is fabulous!
Oh my, what an enchanting place to visit Carol. Aside from the stunning flowers and landscape, I really like the little nooks and crannies with the swings and benches. It is truly a paradise.
It really is a beautiful place. Thanks for the visit Mary.
So excited to see this! I’ve been there and loved it.
Then you know how beautiful it is!
What a gorgeous garden. My favorite color of roses are peach. Not a big fan of red roses. Have a lovely week.
I love the smell of plumeria. Mmmmm. Thanks for a tour through the gardens. I realize I have been neglectful of the Mama’s azaleas. On the inspiration end, I think I want to plant a pole into the ground and thread pots of flowers in them. Hmmm. I’m going to go dream about that. Cheers, Carol.
Happy Day!
Beautiful garden, and what better place they could have chose, around a lake! I think I would spend most time in the butterflies garden! Many thanks for sharing this incredible place with All Seasons, Carol!
Have a delightful week! Jesh
Hope your week is beautiful!
My goodness, what a lovely place! The flowers are just fabulous!
I certainly enjoyed visiting with you at these beautiful gardens. All of the flowers were amazing. I would love to see the inside of the home. Thanks for sharing at Gardens Galore
thanks for the visit!
Beautiful. Thank you for sharing Leu Gardens and the lovely flowers and so much color.
thanks for the visit!
It looks gorgeous!Thanks for the virtual tour!
I’m glad you enjoyed it.
Beautiful gardens with such beautiful flowers! I really enjoyed the tour!
I’m so happy you enjoyed it.
The first pic of the rose is stunning. Leu Gardens are impressive.
Beautiful photos.
thanks Bonnie!
Fantastic, dear Carol! What a shame we didn’t know about Leu Gardens when we were in Orlando decades ago. I can smell the scent of the roses from here! 🙂
All the best and have a nice July Sunday,
Traude
https://rostrose.blogspot.com/2022/07/farbtupfer-und-weitere-juni-impressionen.html
…it was wonderful to visit when the roses were in bloom.
Gorgeous photos Carol. Thank you for sharing this beautiful garden.
What beautiful gardens. I would be in my glory walking around all of those plants. Lovely pics Carol. x
thanks Jayne – Happy Sunday!
I also enjoyed the fountain in the rose garden. I enjoyed the entire blog. I’m back Carol. I’ve been gone for a vacation at a cottage. Resting my batteries was just what I needed. See you.
Cruisin Paul
glad you got some rest – have a great week!
Bellos jardines. Te mando un beso.
These gardens look amazing and your photos are beautiful – especially the butterfly.
#MMBC
Carol,
WOW!!
Just simply stunning photos of so many beautiful things!! Thanks for sharing and thanks so much for dropping by!!
Happy July 4th!!
Hugs,
Deb
you are such a sweet person Miss Debbie – thanks for coming by on our nation’s birthday!
What beautiful photos! It’s been a while since I’ve been to Orlando, but it makes me want to go back soon.
What a fantastic place to visit. It sounds like a bargain price and looks like there’s plenty to see. I love the sound of the butterfly garden especially.
butterfly gardens are my favorites
Gorgeous photos! This looks like a grand place to visit and to appreciate the beauty nature has to offer.
Thanks for sharing at http://image-in-ing.blogspot.com/2022/07/happy-independence-day-usa.html
I enjoyed all your photos as always lovely blooms and colors
Have a bloomingtastic week ?
The gardens are beautiful, Carol. And your photos are incredible!
Looks like a lovely place to spend the day.
Happy Tuesday!
I’ve been there!
Beautiful garden. Wow.
Thank you for joining the Wordless Wednesday Blog Hop.
Have a fabulous Wordless Wednesday. ♥
Beautiful garden views.
My husband and I visited Leu Gardens in January of 2020 with one of my cousins (who has lived in Orlando for years) on the day we were leaving Orlando – we ran out of time. It’s magnificent. I’d love to go back one day. Orlando has so much to offer apart from the theme parks. Alana ramblinwitham
Wonderful garden pictures!
It’s a pleasure seeing all these beautiful views. Great captures!
Lovely flowers!
Must be a great place to visit.
What beautiful gardens!
Beautiful post ! The Rose collage took my breath away. Thanks for sharing with Garden Affair