One more place to enjoy near Brookings in South Dakota
McCrory Gardens is a botanical treasure tucked into the campus of South Dakota State University in Brookings. Spanning 70 acres of formal display gardens, arboretum collections, and restored native prairie, the gardens serve as both a living laboratory for horticulture students and a beloved public attraction for visitors from across the region. Named after Professor Samuel McCrory, who led the university’s horticulture department for decades, the gardens showcase plants that thrive in the challenging northern climate of the Great Plains.
The roots of McCrory Gardens trace back to the late 1930s when the horticulture department began planting trees and shrubs for teaching purposes. Professor Samuel McCrory joined the faculty in 1947 and dedicated the next several decades to expanding the collection into a comprehensive arboretum and botanical garden. His vision transformed a modest teaching plot into a nationally recognized horticultural destination. The gardens officially adopted the McCrory name in 1965 and later earned recognition as an official arboretum and an All-America Selections Display Garden.
The formal display gardens contain more than 1,000 annual and perennial plant varieties arranged in themed beds that change with the seasons. From bright tulip displays in spring to vibrant summer annuals and the rich golds of autumn grasses, the gardens offer a constantly shifting palette of color. The trial garden areas test new plant introductions, giving visitors a preview of varieties that may appear in garden centers in future years.
The arboretum features hundreds of labeled trees and shrubs suited for northern climates, including oaks, maples, crabapples, and lilacs. Visitors can explore the conifer collection, which demonstrates how various evergreens perform in the harsh South Dakota winters. The rain garden and native plant areas highlight sustainable landscaping practices that homeowners can adapt for their own yards.
Visitors can stroll along paved pathways that wind through the themed garden rooms, making the gardens accessible for guests of all mobility levels. Self-guided tour brochures are available at the Education and Visitor Center, and the gardens host seasonal events including Garden Discovery Festivals for families and the popular Garden Glow winter light display. The Education and Visitor Center also features a gift shop with garden-related merchandise and a rental space for weddings and community gatherings.
The South Dakota State University campus surrounding the gardens offers additional walking and cycling paths for those wishing to extend their outdoor experience. The prairie restoration area demonstrates how native grasslands looked before European settlement, with big bluestem, coneflowers, and other indigenous species providing habitat for butterflies and songbirds. Birdwatchers often spot goldfinches, cedar waxwings, and red-winged blackbirds among the plantings.
The gardens reach peak bloom from late May through September, when the formal beds burst with color. June offers pleasant temperatures with early summer perennials at their freshest. Autumn transforms the gardens into a tapestry of gold, orange, and red foliage, particularly spectacular from late September through mid-October. The Garden Glow holiday light display runs from late November through December, drawing visitors for an entirely different seasonal experience.