Growth is at the heart of Duke Gardens, and we are delighted to share stories of our continued growth in the following publications and media highlights.
Duke Gardens Publications
Growing 2023 &
Annual Report
Growing Magazine + Annual Report (2019 - 2022)
Annual Report (2012 - 2018)
Flora Magazine (2009 - 2018)
Duke Gardens consistently ranks as a top attraction in North Carolina. In 2024, Durham Magazine awarded us favorite place for family outings, and IndyWeek Best of the Triangle named us Best Garden or Arboretum.
Duke Gardens is also a past multi-year winner of “best place to take visitors from out of town,” “best place to chill,” “best place to stop and smell the flowers” and “best place for a blind date.”
Explore more awards and media highlights below ›
Awards & Media Highlights
2024
- Paul Jones, curator of the Culberson Asiatic Arboretum, named one of five Duke Chron15 Pioneers.
- Finding What They Don’t Like: Gardening in Deer Territory, Izel Native Plants
- ‘Ambassador’ Allium: A Towering Beauty for the Early Summer Garden, Fine Gardening magazine
- Durham Magazine award: Favorite Family Friendly Outings
- IndyWeek Best of the Triangle – Best Garden or Arboretum. Also past multi-year winner of “best place to take visitors from out of town,” “best place to chill,” “best place to stop and smell the flowers” and “best place for a blind date.”
2023
- 36 Hours in Durham, by The New York Times.
- Paul Jones, founding curator of the Culberson Asiatic Arboretum, named Duke Blue Devil of the Week.
- Blomquist Garden & H Lot pocket prairie featured in Managing Native Plant Landscapes manual by New Hope Audubon Society.
2022
- “Transplanting Hedgerows to the American Garden,” Growing Greener podcast with curator Annabel Renwick.
- “Hedgerows are an English Tradition that Could Benefit the Contemporary American Garden,” Berkshire Eagle.
- “Scenes of Spring at Duke Gardens,” in Walter Magazine.
2021
- Voted “finest public garden in North Carolina” in Carolina Country magazine’s Carolina’s Finest awards.
- Featured in Fine Gardening magazine.
2020
- Featured in “The Best Botanical Gardens in America” by theactivetimes.com.
- No.1 in “The 11 Best Things to Do in North Carolina” on wheninyourstate.com.
- Travelers’ Choice Award from TripAdvisor. Also included in the TripAdvisor.com Hall of Fame, and consistently ranked as Durham’s No.1 attraction.
2018
- Included in Fodor’s article “Stunning Botanical Gardens You Won’t Believe Are Free”
- Durham Golden Leaf People’s Choice Award for the Piedmont Prairie Classroom in the Blomquist Garden of Native Plants
- Named one of five N.C. must-visit gardens in Trips to Discover.
2017
- No. 4 in USA Today poll of 10 top North Carolina attractions
2016
- Charlotte Brody Discovery Garden won an annual award from the N.C. Chapter of the American Society of Landscape Architects
- UNC-TV featured our Japanese Tea Gatherings in a feature titled “One Moment, One Meeting.”
2015
- Charlotte Brody Discovery Garden chosen for Landscape Architecture Foundation’s Case Study Investigation (CSI) Award
- Gothic gates kiosk honored with Durham’s Golden Leaf Award for Neighborhood Garden & Landscape
- Inclusion in Esquire magazine’s “What Makes a Good Summer” roundup (August issue)
2014
- Green Star Grand Award from the Professional Grounds Management Society
2013
- Horticulture Magazine Award for Garden Excellence from the American Public Gardens Association
- Named one of the top 10 public gardens in the U.S. by tripadvisor.com
- Duke Presidential Award for Paul D. Jones, curator of the Culberson Asiatic Arboretum
- Duke Sustainability Outstanding Leadership in Waste Reduction Award for Jason Holmes, curator of the Doris Duke Center Gardens
1999
- Recognized as a national landmark for outstanding landscape architecture by the American Society of Landscape Architects
1990
- Merit Award from the American Society of Landscape Architects for design improvements to the Culberson Asiatic Arboretum
Questions about press and publications?
Please contact us at 919-730-3144 or lauren.smith.hong@duke.edu.