The North Carolina Botanical Garden found on Chapel Hill, North Carolina was initiated by Professor William Chambers Coker in 1903. He simply started planting shrubs and trees on the main campus of the University of North Carolina. Years passed and the plants grew. Soon enough in 1952, the University Board of Trustees decided to assign a 70-acre piece of land within the campus to be turned into a botanical garden. William Lanier Hunt contributed 103 acres more and more land was added from other sponsors years after that.

Today, the garden exists to advance, research and record local species of plants found in North Carolina. There are several collections of plant species, display gardens and other natural areas that make up the North Carolina Botanical Garden. It is open to visitors daily for free.