The Ebersole Holly Garden is a nationally recognized holly arboretum.
The gardens were established in 1980 as an educational project for students.
It hosts a certified arboretum and a dedicated trial garden for new plant varieties.
The wetlands area contains a complex drainage system designed to mitigate stormwater runoff from the campus.
The site includes a xeriscape garden demonstrating water-wise landscaping techniques.
The Sandhills Horticultural Gardens is a 32-acre botanical site integrated into the Sandhills Community College campus. The grounds feature a diverse collection of themed gardens including a formal Sir Walter Raleigh Garden, a conifer garden, and a native wetland ecosystem. Visitors can traverse the Ebersole Holly Garden, which holds one of the largest collections of hollies in the eastern United States. A boardwalk system extends through the wetlands, offering observation points for local aquatic and avian wildlife. The gardens serve as both a public recreational space and an outdoor laboratory for the college's landscape gardening students. Maintenance is supported in part by the Sandhills Horticultural Society. The layout is designed to demonstrate plant suitability for the specific climate conditions of the North Carolina Sandhills region.
The central fountain within the formal Sir Walter Raleigh Garden.
Wear comfortable walking shoes suitable for both paved paths and natural mulch trails.
Bring binoculars if you intend to spend time on the wetland boardwalk for bird watching.
Check the college calendar before visiting to ensure the grounds are not reserved for private events or academic field studies.
Do not attempt to traverse the wetland trails after heavy rainfall, as they may be muddy or temporarily inaccessible.
Open daily year-round, though some garden sections may occasionally close for maintenance or academic instruction.
Stay on designated paths to protect plant beds; do not pick flowers or disturb wildlife.
