Mission
Our mission is to inspire an appreciation for the beauty and value of native plants and a commitment to protect the habitats that sustain them.
Tickets & Tours
Mt. Cuba Center’s gardens and trails are open for general admission from 10 am to 6 pm Tuesday-Sunday from April 1 through June 30, 2026; and Wednesday-Sunday from July 1 through November 22, 2026 (closing at 4 pm in November).
Adults: $20
Children 6-17: $10
Children 5 & Under: Free
Members: Free. Become a member today!
To see a list of discounted admission and library pass programs, click here.
Buy Tickets
Welcome Walks
Guided walks are offered at 11 am and 2 pm daily when the gardens are open. Each walk brings Mt. Cuba Center’s mission of inspiring an appreciation for the beauty and value of native plants to life. This introductory tour is perfect for those who wish to learn more about our garden’s history, native plants, and conservation tips you can apply at home.
One hour, $5 per person in addition to garden admission. Free for members. Advance reservation encouraged.
History of Mt. Cuba Center Tour
This 1-hour tour covers the 90-year transformation of Mt. Cuba Center’s landscape from its beginning as a private country estate to a public botanical garden. Learn about the many people, ideas, and ecologically inspired vision that have contributed to the design and evolutions of our gardens over time. Tours are offered from 10:30 am to 11:30 am select Saturdays in fall 2026.
One hour, $5 in addition to admission to the gardens; free for members.
Health & Well-being Tour
Explore the gardens and discuss the value of nature as it relates to health and well-being in this 1-hour tour. Learn about the evolutionary and environmental phenomena behind concepts like forest bathing, mindfulness, stress recovery, and the biophilia hypothesis. Discover how elements of landscape design shape our emotional and behavioral experiences in nature. Tours are offered from 10:30 am to 11:30 am select Saturdays in fall 2026.
One hour, $5 in addition to admission to the gardens; free for members.
Gardening for Ecological Resilience Tours
Take an in-depth look at the gardens and discover how to apply sustainable gardening practices. Learn about environmental topics such as climate change, systems thinking, and consciously sourcing native plants for your region. This tour expands on concepts covered in the introductory Welcome Walk and is a good choice for well-established gardeners.
Tours are two hours in length and include walking over rolling terrain and mulched paths. Tickets include admission, so pack a picnic lunch to enjoy in the gardens after your tour has ended.
Gardening for Ecological Resilience Tours are offered from 10:30 am to 12:30 pm twice monthly on Saturdays starting April 4, 2026.
This tour can be added on to your general admission ticket for $7. Free for members. Advance reservation strongly encouraged.
Accessible Welcome Walks
These tours bring Mt. Cuba Center’s mission of inspiring an appreciation for the beauty and value of native plants to life. This introductory experience is perfect for those who wish to learn more about our garden’s history, native plants, and conservation tips you can apply at home, while having easy access to the beautiful pathways and gardens. Please note that this tour is given on foot. Golf cart transportation is available to take guests to the accessible pathways for walking.
Accessible Welcome Walks are available upon request with at least 7 days’ notice. Please call 302-239-4244 for questions and scheduling. This tour can be added to your general admission ticket for $5. Free for members.
Option 1: This route is about a half mile. It prioritizes flat, paved paths except for one winding sloped path (meets ADA regulations for slope) at the beginning of the tour from the parking lot to the Copeland House. Option 1 also includes optional instances of short, mulched paths and stairs. This tour prioritizes seating opportunities along the route.
Option 2: This route is 0.35 miles long. It includes only flat, paved or brick paths and prioritizes seating opportunities along the route.
“I plan to plant and integrate native plants, before I hesitated due to it seeming overwhelming.”
“Our guide was delightful, full of knowledge, open to all questions, and went exactly at our pace.”
“I will think twice before I plant – think about how it will affect our ecosystem.”