Louisiana is full of French-inspired gardens that feel straight out of a storybook. Elegant fountains, neatly trimmed hedges, and vibrant blooms create a sense of timeless beauty.
Wandering through these gardens is like stepping into a world where history and nature meet. Each one offers a peaceful escape and a glimpse of the state’s rich cultural roots.
1. Longue Vue House and Gardens
Hidden in New Orleans, this eight-acre paradise showcases classical French design with Southern flair. The meticulously maintained parterres and symmetrical layouts transport visitors straight to Versailles.
Louisiana’s gem features a Spanish Court, Discovery Garden, and Wild Garden among its themed spaces. Seasonal blooms ensure something magnificent awaits year-round.
2. Rip Van Winkle Gardens
Nestled on Jefferson Island, these 25-acre gardens blend French formality with semi-tropical plants. Peacocks wander freely among ancient live oaks draped with Spanish moss, creating a dreamlike atmosphere.
The gardens surround the Joseph Jefferson Mansion, offering stunning views of Lake Peigneur. Louisiana’s history comes alive through the carefully preserved Victorian elements mixed with French garden principles.
3. Biedenharn Museum and Gardens
Monroe’s hidden treasure features a formal garden reminiscent of classic French design. Marble fountains and statuary create focal points amid geometric flower beds and manicured hedges.
The Bible Museum next door adds cultural depth to your Louisiana garden adventure. Seasonal plantings ensure the garden remains vibrant throughout the year with camellias, azaleas, and roses.
4. New Orleans Botanical Garden
Located in City Park, this garden showcases French formal design alongside Art Deco elements. The Conservatory of the Two Sisters houses tropical plants while outdoor spaces feature classical European layouts.
Louisiana’s most visited garden boasts the Pelican Greenhouse, which supports plant conservation efforts. The Parterre Garden especially highlights French influence with its geometric patterns and clipped hedges.
5. Jungle Gardens
Avery Island’s 170-acre botanical wonder combines French garden elements with exotic flair. Bird City within the gardens hosts thousands of snowy egrets among bamboo groves and century-old camellias.
The Buddha statue, brought from Burma in 1936, sits peacefully in Louisiana’s most surprising garden. Semi-tropical plants thrive alongside formal European-inspired sections, creating a unique Franco-Asian fusion.
6. Afton Villa Gardens
Once surrounding a magnificent Gothic mansion near St. Francisville, these gardens maintain their French-inspired glory despite the villa’s destruction by fire. Formal parterres and a majestic oak alley welcome visitors.
Louisiana’s most romantic garden features a terraced landscape descending from the former home’s ruins. Daffodils carpet the grounds in spring while ancient azaleas create walls of color throughout.
7. Houmas House Gardens
Nicknamed the “Crown Jewel of Louisiana’s River Road,” these gardens surround an antebellum mansion with classic French influences. Fountains and reflecting pools create tranquil moments amid vibrant flowerbeds and ancient oaks.
The gardens feature intimate garden rooms and grand allées reminiscent of French estates. Louisiana’s plantation history blends with European garden design principles in this magnificent 38-acre property.
8. R.W. Norton Art Gallery Gardens
Shreveport’s 40-acre masterpiece features one of America’s largest collections of American Camellia Society varieties. The formal gardens echo French design with symmetrical layouts and carefully planned vistas.
Azalea Valley explodes with color each spring, drawing visitors from across Louisiana. Meandering pathways lead through themed garden rooms, including a stunning rose garden with traditional French parterre elements.
9. Zemurray Gardens
Hammond’s historic treasure features 25 acres of formal gardens inspired by French design principles. Camellia collections rival any in Louisiana, with hundreds of varieties creating winter color.
Magnificent live oaks frame garden rooms filled with azaleas and native Louisiana plants. Once the private estate of banana magnate Samuel Zemurray, the gardens now belong to Southeastern Louisiana University.
10. The Gardens of the American Rose Center
America’s largest park dedicated to roses incorporates French formal design throughout its 118 acres near Shreveport. The Formal Rose Garden features geometric beds reminiscent of classic European layouts.
Louisiana’s climate nurtures over 20,000 rosebushes representing historic and modern varieties. The Great Garden, with its symmetrical design and central fountain, particularly showcases French influence in this world-class collection.
11. Burden Museum & Gardens
Baton Rouge’s 440-acre green space combines French garden principles with agricultural research. The Rose Garden showcases formal design with symmetrical beds arranged around a central fountain.
Louisiana’s rural heritage comes alive at the Rural Life Museum within the gardens. The Children’s Garden and All-America Selections Display Garden incorporate traditional European design elements in contemporary settings.
12. Windrush Gardens
Created by Steele Burden, these gardens showcase intimate garden rooms inspired by French and English designs. Located in Baton Rouge, the formal parterre garden features geometric patterns with carefully clipped hedges.
Louisiana native plants mix with European garden traditions throughout this tranquil space. The garden’s mature trees create shaded retreats while formal elements provide structure to this historic landscape.
13. Chretien Point Plantation Gardens
Less known but equally magnificent, these gardens near Sunset feature traditional French parterre design. The antebellum mansion’s surrounding landscape echoes European formal traditions adapted to Louisiana’s climate.
Ancient oaks frame garden rooms where seasonal blooms create year-round interest. The plantation’s colorful history includes tales of buried treasure, making this Louisiana garden exploration both culturally and botanically rewarding.