Smithsonian Garden's mission is "to enrich the Smithsonian experience through exceptional gardens, horticultural exhibits, collections, and education."

An integral part of the Smithsonian Institution (SI), the Smithsonian Gardens creates and manages the Smithsonian’s outdoor gardens, interiorscapes, and horticulture-related collections and exhibits.  Established in 1972 to manage the museum grounds, Smithsonian Gardens extends the museums’ exhibits and learning environment in a public garden setting while shaping visitors’ overall experience of the Smithsonian. 

Grounds Management Operations

Grounds Management Operations is responsible for maintaining over 180 acres of grounds around the Smithsonian museums and other Smithsonian support centers in the Washington, D.C. area. Exhibition gardens surrounding the museums are designed to reflect the collections that are found inside.  Exhibition gardens at the Smithsonian include the Enid A. Haupt Garden, the Mary Livingston Ripley Garden, and the Butterfly Habitat Garden.

Greenhouse Nursery Operations

Greenhouse Nursery Operations manages twelve greenhouses that are located on the grounds of the Armed Forces Retirement Home in Washington, D.C. This unit grows and cares for all of the annual and perennial plants as well as the hanging baskets that are displayed in the gardens around the Smithsonian museums. Greenhouse staff also supply interior plants for more than seven hundred special events held throughout the Smithsonian Institution each year including exhibitions, lectures, formal dinners, and receptions.  Greenhouse Nursery Operations oversees several plant collections including an orchid collection with approximately 15,000 hybrids and species.

Horticulture Collections Management and Education

The Horticulture Collection Management and Education branch manages the artifact and garden documentation collections and develops educational programming for Smithsonian Gardens. The Horticultural Artifact Collection includes antique and contemporary garden furniture and ornaments, seed boxes and seed packets, advertising cards, posey holders, floral frames, and other items related to the florist trade. The garden documentation collection is managed under the auspices of the Archives of American Gardens. This branch also oversees the internship and fellowship programs sponsored by the Smithsonian Gardens.