Andalusia Is The Only Partner Garden In Nation: Phun Philly Phacts

Editor's Note —This is a weekly feature that explores fun unknown facts about Philadelphia and its suburbs.

BENSALEM TOWNSHIP, PA —It's one of the Philadelphia region's hidden gems.

Yet, Andalusia Historic House, Gardens & Arboretum is on the map worldwide. It's one of nine partner gardens worldwide and the only one in the United States.

The garden —situated on the banks of the Delaware River — was chosen by the prestigious Royal Horticultural Society.

Founded in 1804, the RHS is the UK’s leading gardening charity. Public gardens can apply to become an RHS Partner Garden, and RHS approves only a select few through a rigorous yearlong process.

The criteria include showcasing “horticultural excellence,” with high standards in design, planting, and maintenance.

Only nine new Partner Gardens were chosen for 2024. There are now 220 RHS Partner Gardens internationally.

“This is a well-deserved honor for a garden that has been beloved for decades by people from many states,” said Jane G. Pepper, recent RHS vice president, chair of the board of Longwood Gardens, and a member of Andalusia’s Horticultural Committee. “Being part of the RHS will inevitably bring gardeners from the UK and beyond to enjoy everything at Andalusia from the drama of the river and the big trees to the perennial and rose gardens.”

Established more than 225 years ago on a scenic 50-acre property overlooking the Delaware River, the site is a natural paradise of preserved native woodlands and spectacular gardens, as well as a museum with an exceptional collection of paintings, sculptures, decorative art, and rare books and manuscripts.

Andalusia’s historic house, built in 1797, was designated a National Historic Landmark in 1966 and is considered one of the finest examples of Greek Rival architecture in the United States.

It is surrounded by gardens designed by Lady Arabella Lennox-Boyd and an arboretum with a curated collection of more than 1,000 trees representing over 250 different species.

The garden is open to the public on Mondays, Tuesdays, Fridays and select Saturdays.

Admission to the gardens is $15. Visitors can also choose to tour the historic house for an additional $15. Tickets can be purchased at andalusiapa.org.

As a Partner Garden, Andalusia agrees to let RHS members tour the gardens for free on any open Mondays, Tuesdays, and Fridays. There are currently more than 600,000 RHS members.

“Being a RHS Partner Garden is a great recognition of Andalusia’s exceptional historic gardens, their dramatic expansion in recent years, and our gardeners’ hard work to keep them beautiful and thriving,” Andalusia Executive Director John Vick said.

Related Stories

There Was Once An A's Museum In Hatboro: Phun Philly Phacts

Apollo Astronauts Were Trained In Bucks County: Phun Philly Phacts

'The Bristol Stomp' Romped As New Dance Craze: Phun Philly Phacts