Fall Scene at Chanticleer

Tropicals In Terrace Gardens

Chanticleer Garden is an estate and botanical gardens, that bills itself as a “pleasure garden”. Chanticleer is “a garden for ideas”. The property is located at 786 Church Road in Wayne Pennsylvania, approximately 30 minutes of Philadelphia. Chanticleer celebrated its 100 year centennial in 2013 as the Rosengarten estate and 20th year as a public garden. The entrance gate is crested with carved stone roosters (chanticleers in French). The house and grounds have been listed on the National Register of Historic Places since 1984.

Chanticleer is a destination garden to enjoy, learn, and relax. Gather lots of ideas to take home to your property. The garden has evolved greatly since the death of the owner in 1990. As the home of the Rosengartens, Chanticleer is green and beautiful with impressive trees and lawns. Most of the floral and garden development you see today has occurred since 1990, designed by Chanticleer staff and consultants.

Seven horticulturists are assigned to the seven areas of the garden; they design, plant, and maintain their garden area. The Teacup Garden and Chanticleer Terraces feature seasonal plants and bold-textured tropical and subtropical plants. The latter areas change greatly from year to year. In the fall non-hardy plants are dug up and overwintered in greenhouses and basements.

The Tennis Court, Ruin, Gravel Garden, and Pond Garden focus on hardy perennials. The Tennis Court is a floral and foliar delight. The Ruin is a folly, built on the foundation of Adolph Rosengarten, Jr.’s home. It is meant to look as if the house fell into disrepair. The Gravel Garden is hot and dry, a touch of the Mediterranean in Pennsylvania. The Pond area is nothing short of a floral masterpiece.

Asian Woods and Bell’s Woodland are shady areas that feature native plants of eastern Asia and eastern North America. The cut flower and vegetable gardens produce flowers for arrangements and food for the restaurant and staff tables. Surplus goes to a local shelter.

Chanticleer gardeners will answer your questions about our 5,000+ plants. Plant lists and photographs are posted in on-site handmade mailboxes. The information is also available online.

The Chanticleer Foundation owns 47 acres, 35 of which are now open to the public. The main walking path is just under a mile long. Relax, read, sketch, converse, meditate. Picnic tables, benches and Adirondack chairs are spotted around the property for leisure and to catch views of plants and wildlife.

Chanticleer is open Wednesday through Sunday, April through October, from 10 a.m.to 5 p.m. Admission fee: $10 (2014). Plan a minimum 2-3 hour visit.

Woodland Respite