State Botanical Garden of Georgia at UGA

The State Botanical Garden will be closed for Juneteenth National Independence Day on Friday, June 19, 2026.

Gladioli (Gladiolus spp.) are a great way to add vibrant color to both the garden and the tabletop. While they are often grown as cut flowers, they also bring striking interest to garden beds. Because their tall 3 to 5-foot flower spikes tend to flop, staking is recommended to keep them upright.

Native primarily to southern Africa, with a few species extending as far north as the Mediterranean, these heat-tolerant plants perform well in Georgia’s climate. Serious cultivation of gladiolus began in the 1800s, leading to the diverse range of colors and large blooms available today. There are both wild and cultivated gladioli currently blooming in the garden!

If you are looking to garden for a purpose, check out the State Botanical Garden of Georgia's Connect to Protect program and pollinator garden certification! The C2P program was created to inspire the establishment of gardens that are both beautiful and supportive of the life cycle of our native insects and food web.

The program provides resources and educational tools on incorporating native plants into landscapes, whether on a large or small scale. By planting and maintaining your garden in accordance with the program's ecological tenets, you can join the vast network of C2P-certified pollinator gardens across Georgia!

To learn more about the C2P program, visit https://t.uga.edu/5a5. Be sure to look at the Connect to Protect Garden Guide to help you get started.

Congratulations to one of our Learning by Leading students, Melanie Frick, on her recognition as a Udall Scholar!

This award is given for leadership, public service and commitment to environmental issues. Melanie has been part of the garden's Learning by Leading program since the fall of 2024 and has worked with several departments, including the children's garden, conservation and geographic information systems. Melanie now serves as an LxL co-leader, mentoring other students in the program.

For more information about Melanie and the Udall Scholar award, visit https://tinyurl.com/mjdxvjt2.

Our summer edition of Georgia Garden Magazine is out now! ☀️

Check out the digital edition to see what exciting events are coming up soon. If you want to receive a printed copy of Georgia Garden Magazine, become a Friend of the Garden! Our Friends receive the printed edition of the magazine in their mailboxes three times a year.

To view the magazine, visit https://tinyurl.com/bd7cnd69. For more information about Friends membership, visit https://tinyurl.com/3kw225n6.

Elderberry, Sambucus canadensis, is a wonderful native plant found throughout Georgia along damp roadside ditches, creeks and moist bottomlands. Reaching up to 12 feet tall in optimal environments and spreading readily by root suckers, they are excellent used as borders or in naturalized areas.

Their flowers have ornamental charm, with white cymes blooming from May through July, and their berries, which ripen in September and October, are good sources of nourishment for wildlife. If winter damage occurs, the damaged or dead stems may be cut back in the spring to a healthy bud or cut hard to the ground to rejuvenate the entire plant.

Our first Sunflower Series concert of the summer is less than two weeks away! 🌻

We kick off the series with The Broken String Band on June 16. This talented group of musicians breathes new life into the folk music tradition, blending old-time folk, bluegrass and country influences to create a sound that is uniquely their own.

Planning on coming to all of our concerts this summer? Make sure to purchase your season pass for a discount! 🎟️

For more information and to purchase tickets, visit https://tinyurl.com/nhn6dkyu.

Sunflower Concert Series - State Botanical Garden University of Georgia The Sunflower Concert Series at the State Botanical Garden of Georgia invites the community to enjoy live music amid the beauty of the garden. Held in the picturesque Flower Garden,...Read Story

Want an inside look at our horticulture greenhouses? 🌱

Check out this great feature on our Greenhouse Manager, Eli McKinney, from the UGA College of Agricultural and Environmental Sciences.

📰 : https://tinyurl.com/27usejb4

Congratulations to the winners of our 2026 Student Art Competition!

This year’s talented student artists captured the beauty, inspiration and connection found throughout the garden using a variety of artistic mediums.

🥇 1st Place: Sarah Xing, Pope High School, “Cacao Tree in the Garden”
🥈 2nd Place: Sochi Pham, Chamblee High School, “The Harmony”
🥉 3rd Place: Jenny Trinh, University of Georgia, “Somewhere You’ll Return”

Thank you to all of the students who shared their creativity and unique perspectives of the garden with us this year! To learn more about the winning artwork, visit https://tinyurl.com/4yaddj63.