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Juniper Level Botanic Garden ​

Home of Plant Delights Nursery and one of the largest and most diverse plant collections in the world.

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Our mission

Collect, study, preserve, propagate and share plants for a better world

The mission of Juniper Level Botanic Garden is to promote botanical diversity by assembling the largest collection possible of growable, winter/summer hardy ornamental plants for our region and display them in an aesthetic, sustainably-maintained, healthy garden setting. This philosophy includes obtaining plants from all over the world with a strong emphasis on North American native plants. Plants are obtained through plant exploration, plant breeding, as well as exchange and purchase from other botanic gardens and horticultural experts.

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A special place​

Juniper Level Botanic Garden is an 10-acre educational, research, and display garden filled with more than 27,000 taxa of plants, including native perennials, exotic plants, rare delights, and an array of incredible and unusual specimen trees and shrubs you won’t see anywhere else in the world.

The garden was designed using the philosophy of “drifts of one” to house and showcase a diverse collection of ornamental plants in an aesthetic and relaxed setting. Juniper Level Botanic Garden has evolved into one of the largest ex-situ plant collections in the world. The garden is designed for year-round interest with peak season from late April through mid-October.

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40

Years since established

27

Thousand different taxa

Become a JLBG garden member

As a garden member you will be helping to support the much-needed increase in staffing and maintenance of the collection and garden as we work towards the public garden transition. You are also increasing our ability to reach and educate the growing numbers of visitors in our rapidly expanding community.

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Our History​

JLBG was established in 1986 when Raleigh native Tony Avent and his wife Michelle purchased a 2.2 acre abandoned sandy loam tobacco field in the community of Juniper in Southern Wake County (central North Carolina). 

The garden name originated from “junipers” which used to grow along nearby Juniper Branch. These plants were Chamaecyparis thyoides. The southern term “Level” is used for the flat areas between creeks, hence the community name, Juniper Level.

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Timeline

1986​

Breaking ground

Tony and Michelle purchase a home on 2.2 acres, garden construction begins on the Founders Garden. Plant Delights Nursery is established.

1996​

First expansion

The Avents purchase 5.25 acres of adjoining property. This new section becomes Michelle’s Garden.

2001

Second expansion

The Avents purchase another 11 acres of adjacent property for expanded production, research, plant trials, evaluations and woody plant collections.

2008

Third expansion

The Avents purchase 3.66 acres from the estate of the late Eddy Souto. Half of the property is devoted to field production, while the other half becomes the full sun Souto Garden.

2014

Yde Horse Farm purchase

Two acres of the property are dedicated to visitor accommodations, while the remaining four become Avents new home and Anita’s Garden. This brings the size of JLBG to 28 acres.

2017

Crevice garden construction

The 300 feet long habitat for ultra dryland, alkaline-loving plants, is made of nearly 200 tons of recycled concrete and takes 3 years to complete.

Open Garden and Nursery Days

We are open to the public four times a year, two weekends each season.

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Open Garden and Nursery Days

We are open to the public four times a year, two weekends each.

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Beautiful place to escape to. They have Open Nursery Garden Days for free visits. There’s a variety of plants/flowers and two waterfalls. It’s an artistic place to take pictures and enjoy Mothers Nature Beauty.
LANIE MAE​Gardener
We come every year in spring and sometimes again in fall. It is one of our top favorite gardens in the country. It has plants that no one else does.
DAVID and ROBERTA CHOPKO​Tri-State Hosta Society, Hosta and Fern collectors
I’ve been coming here since last year. I come every time it is open because it is seasonal, and it is good to see the different kinds of plants for each specific season. Right now, spring is quite in bloom, but I look forward to coming in summer because of the summer plants. It is extraordinary!
RAM KRISHNAN​Gardener
Beautifully kept and breathtaking plants! Everyone on staff was so kind and helpful throughout our visit. Came for the open garden weekend, but will be back (probably regularly) to grow my home collection of greenery as well!
ALEXIS​Local guide

Educational resources​

Expand your gardening knowledge by reading our plant articles, watching gardening videos and signing up for classes and events.

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The Latest from
The Blog

Our daily garden blog offers a peak into the array of exciting horticultural happenings at JLBG, that most folks aren’t around to see. Occasionally, we share some important news from the industry of even hop up on the soapbox when we feel the need warrants.

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Ceratozamia hildae

The Tex/Mex Cycad Circle

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Back in 1979, a unique new cycad was named, from an original collection, made, years earlier, in Northern Mexico. As it would turn out, the new cycad, published by Louisiana…

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Fortunearia sinensis

A Famous Botanical Imposter

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If you’ve noticed our parking lot plant of the Asian native small tree, Sinowilsonia henryi, during a visit to JLBG, we have just discovered that it’s an imposter. Named to…

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Magnolila grandiflora 'Noel'

A Stable of Instability

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Since the late J.C. Raulston was alive, various variegated foliage forms of our native Magnolia grandiflora have been passed around the local high end collectors market. While I found them…

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Reineckea carnea NA40046J

Crop Circle Reineckia

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Looking amazing in the JLBG garden now, is a US National Arboretum accession of the evergreen, Reineckea carnea NA40046J. For those who don’t know the genus, it’s a poorer sister…

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Selaginella (Bryodesma) wrightii 'Brackettville'

Wright’s Spikemoss

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We’ve got a thing for botanical oddities….plants that only a mother could love, and the spikemosses certainly fit that bill. We currently grow 19 different winter hardy species, which include…

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Cyperus alternifolius

African Papyrus

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Looking great in our marginal wetland garden this month (November) is the African papyrus, Cyperus alternifolius….an African/Madagascar/Arabian peninsula native. This popular houseplant is also winter hardy outdoors if winter temperatures…

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