Hauck Botanic Garden Map

A paper copy of the map above is available in the CGC lobby during business hours. You can explore our featured gardens and the plants they contain in greater detail online:

Meet the Garden

Hauck Botanic Garden was established a century ago as the private horticultural collection of Cornelius J. Hauck, a Cincinnati philanthropist who wanted to encourage urban greenspaces in America’s increasingly polluted cities. Hauck’s property was nicknamed “Sooty Acres” for the surrounding heavy industry that coated it in soot and ash—conditions that inspired him to create a living laboratory, testing plants’ abilities to withstand urban conditions.

Hauck gifted a piece of his estate to the Civic Garden Center (CGC) in 1951 and the rest to Cincinnati Parks after his death in 1967. Today, the garden is a free public park and an ArbNet Accredited Arboretum that honors Hauck’s legacy with its heritage collection of rare and exotic ornamentals alongside an ever-growing showcase of Ohio native plants.

The noteworthy specimens of Hauck Botanic Garden range from rare native Lady’s Slipper Orchids to a 75-year-old hybrid Lea’s Oak. Groves of Eastern Redbud welcome spring, abundant summer wildflowers buzz with pollinators, and in fall, the park glows with autumnal hues. A parking lot rain garden highlights the resilience of native grasses, and a food forest provides native fruits to human and wildlife visitors. The gardens continue to evolve as generations of volunteers and horticulturists leave their mark as they care for this historic space. 

Today, Hauck Botanic Garden serves as an outdoor classroom for students and local residents as well as an important urban greenspace for community members and wildlife alike. The diverse plant collections are maintained by the CGC, with a commitment to environmental and social responsibility and to building community through gardening, education and conservation.

Be a Part of This Historic Space!

Hauck Botanic Garden is a public park open year round from dawn to dusk, so you’re always welcome to visit on your own. If you’d like to go deeper, here are some ways to get involved.

  • Check out our calendar: We welcome people of all ages to our Hauck Botanic Garden home for classes, tours, events and more.

  • Volunteer with us: We rely on volunteers to keep Hauck looking its best. All are welcome—no experience needed!

  • Support our work: Your financial support helps us maintain a thriving urban greenspace for all. Donate today!