Leu Gardens

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Last Updated: December 5, 2025

Leu Gardens is a 50-acre botanical garden located in Orlando, Florida.


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Summary

The garden has numerous attractions and is a popular destination for visitors. There are over 40 different plant collections, including camellias, palms, and roses. One of the highlights of the garden is the Butterfly Garden, which is home to over 50 species of butterflies.

Other notable attractions at Leu Gardens include the Idea Garden, which features a variety of landscaping techniques, and the Vegetable Garden, which showcases different types of vegetables and fruits. In addition, the garden has a collection of sculptures and a historic home, the Leu House Museum.

Leu Gardens is open year-round, but the best time to visit is during the fall and winter months when the weather is milder. Admission to the garden is free on the first Monday of every month and on certain holidays.

Some interesting facts about Leu Gardens include that it was originally owned by Harry P. Leu and his wife, Mary Jane Leu. The couple purchased the property in 1936 and developed it into a botanical garden. The garden is also home to several endangered plant species and serves as a research site for conservation efforts.

Overall, Leu Gardens is a beautiful and educational destination for visitors to Orlando, showcasing a diverse collection of plants, sculptures, and historic landmarks.

       

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Park & Land Designation Reference

National Park
Large protected natural areas managed by the federal government to preserve significant landscapes, ecosystems, and cultural resources; recreation is allowed but conservation is the priority.
State Park
Public natural or recreational areas managed by a state government, typically smaller than national parks and focused on regional natural features, recreation, and education.
Local Park
Community-level parks managed by cities or counties, emphasizing recreation, playgrounds, sports, and green space close to populated areas.
Wilderness Area
The highest level of land protection in the U.S.; designated areas where nature is left essentially untouched, with no roads, structures, or motorized access permitted.
National Recreation Area
Areas set aside primarily for outdoor recreation (boating, hiking, fishing), often around reservoirs, rivers, or scenic landscapes; may allow more development.
National Conservation Area (BLM)
BLM-managed areas with special ecological, cultural, or scientific value; more protection than typical BLM land but less strict than Wilderness Areas.
State Forest
State-managed forests focused on habitat, watershed, recreation, and sustainable timber harvest.
National Forest
Federally managed lands focused on multiple use—recreation, wildlife habitat, watershed protection, and resource extraction (like timber)—unlike the stricter protections of national parks.
Wilderness
A protected area set aside to conserve specific resources—such as wildlife, habitats, or scientific features—with regulations varying widely depending on the managing agency and purpose.
Bureau of Land Management (BLM) Land
Vast federal lands managed for mixed use—recreation, grazing, mining, conservation—with fewer restrictions than national parks or forests.
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