The Airlie Gardens on Airlie Road expertly combines an air of formality with the rugged and rustic, historic flair with innovation and renewal, the breezy Airlie Gardens boasts a whopping 100,000 azaleas, as well as formal gardens, trails for wildlife walks, sculpture gardens, and more than 10 acres of freshwater lakes. Walk alongside the cool-rushing water of Bradley Creek and give a nod to the antique azaleas (planted in the early 1900s) at this ever-changing, living mural of color at any time of year.
After celebrating more than a century of gardens by the sea, Airlie continues to amaze visitors with its breathtaking combination of formal gardens, wildlife, historic structures, walking trails, sculptures, views of Bradley Creek, 10-acres of freshwater lakes, and the grandeur of the 462-year-old Airlie Oak. The Gardens are known for a collection of over 100,000 azaleas and countless camellia cultivars, which bloom throughout the winter and early spring. Displays around the Airlie Oak, Pergola Garden, and other areas bloom with continuous color year-round, as the displays are changed seasonally.
The mission of Airlie Gardens is to be a historic public garden with cultural and environmental education for the residents and visitors of New Hanover County.