The National Herb Garden

The National Herb Garden, a popular feature on the grounds of the U.S. National Arboretum (USNA) in Washington, D.C., began as a special gift to the people of the United States from the Herb Society of America. Headquartered in Kirtland, Ohio, the society spent 15 years working with the U.S. government and raising matching funds to ensure its completion.
The garden was dedicated in May 1980. Recently, the arboretum embarked on a 6-month celebration of the 25th anniversary of its opening. Says horticulturist Jim Adams, the National Herb Garden’s curator, “We’re very excited. We’ve scheduled many special lectures and demonstrations to help our visitors understand the central role that herbs have played in societies for many centuries.”
Planned by landscape architect Tom Wirth—who was then with Sasaki Associates of Watertown, Massachusetts—this is the largest designed herb garden in North America and includes annual, perennial, and woody herbal plants. Its 2.5 acres are divided into three main sections, one of which is subdivided into 10 specialty gardens. Plants are labeled, and interpretive signs help visitors understand the collection in the context of the herbs’ history and use. A major USNA renovation a few years ago now gives full accessibility to the herb garden via broad paths and gentle inclines.