Therapeutic Gardens
“A therapeutic garden is designed for use as a component of a treatment, rehabilitation, or vocational program. A garden can be described as being therapeutic in nature when it has been designed to meet the needs of a specific user or population. It is designed to accommodate participant’s goals and to facilitate people-plant interactions.” (AHTA, 2021). Contemplative landscapes is a newer term that recognizes attributes that contribute to improved mood, emotional regulation, etc. (Olsweki et al., 2022). This study provided neuro-psychophysiological evidence of benefits from passive exposure to a therapeutic garden for the mental health of individuals with clinically concerning depressive disorders.
> Key Organizations
American Horticultural Therapy Association
American Society of Landscape Architects (ASLA) Professional Practice (forums for health challenges/populations)
American Society of Landscape Architects (ASLA) Professional Practice (forums for health challenges/populations)
> Books, journals & E-publications on therapeutic gardens
Carman, J. (2006). Therapeutic gardens, chapter in Complementary and alternative medicine for older adults: A guide to holistic approaches to healthy aging.
Chalfont, G. (2007). Design for nature in dementia care. Jessica Kingsley Publishers.
Rodiek, S. & Schwarz, B. (Eds). (2007). Outdoor environments for people with dementia. The Haworth Press, Inc.
Winterbottom, D. & Wagenfeld, A. (2015). Therapeutic gardens: Design for healing spaces. Timber Press.
Chalfont, G. (2007). Design for nature in dementia care. Jessica Kingsley Publishers.
Rodiek, S. & Schwarz, B. (Eds). (2007). Outdoor environments for people with dementia. The Haworth Press, Inc.
Winterbottom, D. & Wagenfeld, A. (2015). Therapeutic gardens: Design for healing spaces. Timber Press.
> RESEARCH & ARTICLES ON THERAPEUTIC GARDENS
Recently published selected research & articles:
Allahyar, M. & Kazemi, F. (2021). Landscape preferences of a children’s hospital by children and therapists. Urban Forestry & Greening, 58. doi.org/10.1016/j.ufug.2021.126984
American Horticultural Therapy Association. (2021). Definitions and positions.
Ameli, R., Skeath, P., Abraham, P.A., Panahi, S., Kazman, J.B., Foote, F., Deuster, P.A., Ahmad, N. & Berger, A. (2021). A nature-based health intervention at a military healthcare center randomized, controlled, cross-over study. Peer Journal, 9, e10519.
Arslan, M., Kalaylioglu, Z. & Ekren, E. (2018). Use of medicinal and aromatic plants in therapeutic gardens. Ind J Pharmaceut Educ Res., 52, S151–4. 10.5530/ijper.52.4s.92.
Bell, SL, Foley R, Houghton, F, Maddrell, & Williams, AM. (2018). From therapeutic landscapes to healthy spaces, places and practices: A scoping review. Soc Sci Med., 196, 123–30. doi: 10.1016/j.socscimed.2017.11.035
Bumgarner, N. & Chance, L.G. (2021). The role of public gardens in human well-being. ISHS Acta Horticulturae 1330: XV International People Plant Symposium and II International Symposium on Horticultural Therapies: the Role of Horticulture in Human Well-being and Social Development
Burt, V. (2021). Healing gardens as transformational spaces. ISHS Acta Horticulturae 1330: XV International People Plant Symposium and II International Symposium on Horticultural Therapies: the Role of Horticulture in Human Well-being and Social Development
Chapman, N., Hazen, T. & Noell-Waggoner, E. (2005). Encouraging development and use of gardens by caregivers of people with dementia. Alzheimer’s Care Quarterly, 6(4).
Cooper Marcus, C. (2008). For burn patients, a place to heal. Landscape Architecture, 98(4), 78-89.
Cordoza, M., Ulrich, R.S., Manulik, B.J., Gardiner, S.K., Fitzpatrick, P.S., Hazen, T.M., Mirka, A. & Perkins, R.S. (2018). Impact of nurses taking daily work breaks in a hospital garden on burnout. American Journal Critical Care, 27(6), 508-512. doi: 10.4037/ajcc2018131
Davis, B.E. (2011). Rooftop hospital gardens for physical therapy: A post-occupancy evaluation. HERD: Health Environments Research & Design Journal, 4(3), 14-43. doi: 10.1177/193758671100400303
Detweiler, M.B, Sharma, T., Detweiler, J.G., Murphy, P.F., Lane, S., Carman, J., Chudhary, A.S., Halling, M.H. & Kim, K.Y. (2012). What is the evidence to support the use of therapeutic gardens for the elderly? Psychiatry Investigation, 9(2), 100-110. doi: 10.4306/pi.2012.9.2.100
Fleming, L. & Figueirdo, M. (2016). Healing gardens for cancer populations. In Therapeutic Horticulture a Practitioner’s Perspective. Smashwords.
Fleming, L. (2020). Therapeutic garden tips for home gardeners. National Garden Bureau.
Galbo, S.C. (n.d.). ‘All my hurts my garden spade can heal’: Horticultural therapy, present & future. Lit Med Magazine.
Gerlach-Spriggs, N. & Healy, V. J. (2019). Rehabilitation and Gardens. SiteLINES: A Journal of Place, 15(1), 15-19.
Green, J. (2017). Empathize and then design [for people living with dementia]. The Dirt.
Hazen, T. (2007). Therapeutic garden characteristics. American Horticultural Therapy Association.
Hebert, B.B. (2003). Design guidelines of a therapeutic garden for autistic children. Master of Landscape Architecture Thesis for Louisiana State University and Agricultural and Mechanical College.
Helphand, K. (2019). Prescribing the outdoors: A model hospital garden. SiteLINES: A Journal Place, 15(1), 10-12.
Henderson-Wilson, C., Shaw, A. & Weerasuriya, R. (2022). Perceived benefits of accessing a children’s sensory garden in a healthcare setting. Aust Health Rev., 46(5), 573-576. doi: 10.1071/AH22123
Jiang, S., Stalock, K. & Kaljevic, S. (2018). Opportunities and barriers to using hospital gardens: Comparative post occupancy evaluations of healthcare landscape environments. Journal of Therapeutic Horticulture, 28(2), 23-56.
Lindemuth, A.L. (2007). Designing therapeutic environments for inmates and prison staff in theUnited States: Precedents and contemporary applications. Journal of Mediterranean Ecology, 8, 87-97.
Mei, L., Liu, K. & Zhu, B-W. (2022). Enhancing the health and well-being of people with chronic diseases: Assessment and sustainable development planning for therapeutic landscapes after urban expansion. Journal of Healthcare Engineering 2021. https://doi.org/10.1155/2021/2828141
Munts, P. (2007). Healing goes beyond medicine: Gardens give patients bonus benefits. SpokesmanReview.com.
Murroni, V., Cavalli, R., Basso, A., Borella, E., Meneghetti, C., Melendugno, A. & Pazzaglia, F. (2021). Effectiveness of therapeutic gardens for people with dementia: A systematic review. International Journal Environ Res Public Health, 18(18), 9595. doi: 10.3390/ijerph1818959
Olszewska-Guizzo, A., Fogel, A., Escoffier, N., Sia, A., Nakazawa, K, Kumagai, A., Dan, I. & Ho, R. (2022). Therapeutic garden with contemplative features induces desirable changes in mood and brain activity in depressed adults. Frontiers in Psychiatry. https://doi.org/10.3389/fpsyt.2022.757056
Paraskevopoulou, A.T., Papadopoulou, A., Kantartzis, A. & Papadopoulou, A. (2020). Perceptions of hospital patients and staff, a tool to inform the design of healing gardens. ISHS Acta Horticulturae 1279: XXX International Horticultural Congress IHC2018: Vll Conference on Landscape and Urban Horticulture, lV Conference on Turfgrass Management and Science for Sports Fields and ll Symposium on Mechanization, Precision Horticulture, and Robotics.
Sadler, C.K. (2007). Design guidelines for effective hospice gardens using Japanese garden principles. Master of Landscape Architecture Thesis, SUNY College of Environmental Science and Forestry.
Ulrich, R.S. & Serene Perkins, R. (2017). The impact of a hospital garden on pregnant women and their partners. The Journal of Perinatal & Neonatal Nursing, 31(2), 186–87. doi:10.1097/JPN.000000000000024
Ulrich, R.S., Cordoza, M., Gardiner, S.K., Manulik, B., Fitzpatrick, P.S., Hazen, T.M. & Perkins, R.S. (2020). ICU patient family stress recovery during breaks in a hospital garden an indoor environments. HERD: Health Environments Research & Design Journal, 13(2), 83-102. doi: 10.1097/JPN.0000000000000247.
Uwajeh, P. C., Iyendo, T. O. & Polay, M. (2019). Therapeutic gardens as a design approach for optimising the healing environment of patients with Alzheimer's disease and other dementias: A narrative review. Explore, 15(5), 352-362.
Allahyar, M. & Kazemi, F. (2021). Landscape preferences of a children’s hospital by children and therapists. Urban Forestry & Greening, 58. doi.org/10.1016/j.ufug.2021.126984
American Horticultural Therapy Association. (2021). Definitions and positions.
Ameli, R., Skeath, P., Abraham, P.A., Panahi, S., Kazman, J.B., Foote, F., Deuster, P.A., Ahmad, N. & Berger, A. (2021). A nature-based health intervention at a military healthcare center randomized, controlled, cross-over study. Peer Journal, 9, e10519.
Arslan, M., Kalaylioglu, Z. & Ekren, E. (2018). Use of medicinal and aromatic plants in therapeutic gardens. Ind J Pharmaceut Educ Res., 52, S151–4. 10.5530/ijper.52.4s.92.
Bell, SL, Foley R, Houghton, F, Maddrell, & Williams, AM. (2018). From therapeutic landscapes to healthy spaces, places and practices: A scoping review. Soc Sci Med., 196, 123–30. doi: 10.1016/j.socscimed.2017.11.035
Bumgarner, N. & Chance, L.G. (2021). The role of public gardens in human well-being. ISHS Acta Horticulturae 1330: XV International People Plant Symposium and II International Symposium on Horticultural Therapies: the Role of Horticulture in Human Well-being and Social Development
Burt, V. (2021). Healing gardens as transformational spaces. ISHS Acta Horticulturae 1330: XV International People Plant Symposium and II International Symposium on Horticultural Therapies: the Role of Horticulture in Human Well-being and Social Development
Chapman, N., Hazen, T. & Noell-Waggoner, E. (2005). Encouraging development and use of gardens by caregivers of people with dementia. Alzheimer’s Care Quarterly, 6(4).
Cooper Marcus, C. (2008). For burn patients, a place to heal. Landscape Architecture, 98(4), 78-89.
Cordoza, M., Ulrich, R.S., Manulik, B.J., Gardiner, S.K., Fitzpatrick, P.S., Hazen, T.M., Mirka, A. & Perkins, R.S. (2018). Impact of nurses taking daily work breaks in a hospital garden on burnout. American Journal Critical Care, 27(6), 508-512. doi: 10.4037/ajcc2018131
Davis, B.E. (2011). Rooftop hospital gardens for physical therapy: A post-occupancy evaluation. HERD: Health Environments Research & Design Journal, 4(3), 14-43. doi: 10.1177/193758671100400303
Detweiler, M.B, Sharma, T., Detweiler, J.G., Murphy, P.F., Lane, S., Carman, J., Chudhary, A.S., Halling, M.H. & Kim, K.Y. (2012). What is the evidence to support the use of therapeutic gardens for the elderly? Psychiatry Investigation, 9(2), 100-110. doi: 10.4306/pi.2012.9.2.100
Fleming, L. & Figueirdo, M. (2016). Healing gardens for cancer populations. In Therapeutic Horticulture a Practitioner’s Perspective. Smashwords.
Fleming, L. (2020). Therapeutic garden tips for home gardeners. National Garden Bureau.
Galbo, S.C. (n.d.). ‘All my hurts my garden spade can heal’: Horticultural therapy, present & future. Lit Med Magazine.
Gerlach-Spriggs, N. & Healy, V. J. (2019). Rehabilitation and Gardens. SiteLINES: A Journal of Place, 15(1), 15-19.
Green, J. (2017). Empathize and then design [for people living with dementia]. The Dirt.
Hazen, T. (2007). Therapeutic garden characteristics. American Horticultural Therapy Association.
Hebert, B.B. (2003). Design guidelines of a therapeutic garden for autistic children. Master of Landscape Architecture Thesis for Louisiana State University and Agricultural and Mechanical College.
Helphand, K. (2019). Prescribing the outdoors: A model hospital garden. SiteLINES: A Journal Place, 15(1), 10-12.
Henderson-Wilson, C., Shaw, A. & Weerasuriya, R. (2022). Perceived benefits of accessing a children’s sensory garden in a healthcare setting. Aust Health Rev., 46(5), 573-576. doi: 10.1071/AH22123
Jiang, S., Stalock, K. & Kaljevic, S. (2018). Opportunities and barriers to using hospital gardens: Comparative post occupancy evaluations of healthcare landscape environments. Journal of Therapeutic Horticulture, 28(2), 23-56.
Lindemuth, A.L. (2007). Designing therapeutic environments for inmates and prison staff in theUnited States: Precedents and contemporary applications. Journal of Mediterranean Ecology, 8, 87-97.
Mei, L., Liu, K. & Zhu, B-W. (2022). Enhancing the health and well-being of people with chronic diseases: Assessment and sustainable development planning for therapeutic landscapes after urban expansion. Journal of Healthcare Engineering 2021. https://doi.org/10.1155/2021/2828141
Munts, P. (2007). Healing goes beyond medicine: Gardens give patients bonus benefits. SpokesmanReview.com.
Murroni, V., Cavalli, R., Basso, A., Borella, E., Meneghetti, C., Melendugno, A. & Pazzaglia, F. (2021). Effectiveness of therapeutic gardens for people with dementia: A systematic review. International Journal Environ Res Public Health, 18(18), 9595. doi: 10.3390/ijerph1818959
Olszewska-Guizzo, A., Fogel, A., Escoffier, N., Sia, A., Nakazawa, K, Kumagai, A., Dan, I. & Ho, R. (2022). Therapeutic garden with contemplative features induces desirable changes in mood and brain activity in depressed adults. Frontiers in Psychiatry. https://doi.org/10.3389/fpsyt.2022.757056
Paraskevopoulou, A.T., Papadopoulou, A., Kantartzis, A. & Papadopoulou, A. (2020). Perceptions of hospital patients and staff, a tool to inform the design of healing gardens. ISHS Acta Horticulturae 1279: XXX International Horticultural Congress IHC2018: Vll Conference on Landscape and Urban Horticulture, lV Conference on Turfgrass Management and Science for Sports Fields and ll Symposium on Mechanization, Precision Horticulture, and Robotics.
Sadler, C.K. (2007). Design guidelines for effective hospice gardens using Japanese garden principles. Master of Landscape Architecture Thesis, SUNY College of Environmental Science and Forestry.
Ulrich, R.S. & Serene Perkins, R. (2017). The impact of a hospital garden on pregnant women and their partners. The Journal of Perinatal & Neonatal Nursing, 31(2), 186–87. doi:10.1097/JPN.000000000000024
Ulrich, R.S., Cordoza, M., Gardiner, S.K., Manulik, B., Fitzpatrick, P.S., Hazen, T.M. & Perkins, R.S. (2020). ICU patient family stress recovery during breaks in a hospital garden an indoor environments. HERD: Health Environments Research & Design Journal, 13(2), 83-102. doi: 10.1097/JPN.0000000000000247.
Uwajeh, P. C., Iyendo, T. O. & Polay, M. (2019). Therapeutic gardens as a design approach for optimising the healing environment of patients with Alzheimer's disease and other dementias: A narrative review. Explore, 15(5), 352-362.
> Examples of therapeutic garden
Anarchy Zone at the Ithaca Children's Garden.
Anne & Robert Lurie Children’s Hospital Crown Sky garden in Chicago, Il.
Baltimore Washington Medical Center’s healing garden in Glen Burnie MD is viewed from the infusion area.
Banner Gateway Medical Center, Phoenix AR women’s garden is designed for community healing.
Henry Ford West Bloomfield Hospital uses its large greenhouse for therapeutic and community outreach programs.
Insight Garden Program uses innovative programming in vocational gardening and landscaping skills training for people in prison to reconnect with self, community, and the natural world.
Legacy Emanuel Children’s Garden, Portland Oregon is a 9,000 sq. ft garden for pediatric patients & families with play areas, quiet spaces & is used for therapeutic programming.
Olsen Family Garden, St. Lois Children’s Hospital, Missouri - the 18th floor garden in the hospital is used for therapeutic & restorative purposes.
Oregon State Hospital mental health facility uses a greenhouse as part of its therapeutic vocational program for patients.
Palo Alta VA Medical Center’s 800 bed facility addresses polytrauma patients undergoing rehabilitation in its gardens which were specifically designed using evidence-based guidelines.
Siriraj Hospice Center Garden in Bangyai, Nonthaburi, Thailand: This landscape is organized into zones related to the five Buddha elements, each corresponding to a direction: wind (north), water (east), earth (south), fire (west), and space (center). In each zone, space and material aligns with the associated element.
The Green Road project for military members uses therapeutic space for healing, incorporating research, self-guided strategies and connections to nature.
Virtua Camden Hospital Meditation Garden was designed for therapeutic programs for children with horticultural therapy, meditation & therapeutic garden, it is integrated into health care services at this healthcare setting.
Therapy Garden at Merwick was developed for use by physical, occupational, speech & horticultural therapists, with walking paths, therapy care, raised planters & other accessible features.
The Els Center of Excellence Sensory Garden, Jupiter FL, was designed to offer varying levels of sensory experiences while minimizing sensory overload for people with autism.
Wilmot Botanical Gardens is an oasis on UF’s campus. Situated in the bustling health science center portion of campus, the garden and its greenhouse serve as a respite for patients and their caregivers at UF Health.
National Park Board of Singapore Therapeutic Gardens: In this edition of NParks you will learn about the therapeutic gardens that are woven into Singapore green outdoor gardens scientifically designed to meet physical, psychological and social needs.
Madonna Rehabilitation Hospital in Lincoln, Nebraska: Patients partake in gardening activities as part of their healing process.
The Healing Gardens at Siskin Hospital at Siskin Hospital for Physical Rehabilitation, Chattanooga, TN.
Anne & Robert Lurie Children’s Hospital Crown Sky garden in Chicago, Il.
Baltimore Washington Medical Center’s healing garden in Glen Burnie MD is viewed from the infusion area.
Banner Gateway Medical Center, Phoenix AR women’s garden is designed for community healing.
Henry Ford West Bloomfield Hospital uses its large greenhouse for therapeutic and community outreach programs.
Insight Garden Program uses innovative programming in vocational gardening and landscaping skills training for people in prison to reconnect with self, community, and the natural world.
Legacy Emanuel Children’s Garden, Portland Oregon is a 9,000 sq. ft garden for pediatric patients & families with play areas, quiet spaces & is used for therapeutic programming.
Olsen Family Garden, St. Lois Children’s Hospital, Missouri - the 18th floor garden in the hospital is used for therapeutic & restorative purposes.
Oregon State Hospital mental health facility uses a greenhouse as part of its therapeutic vocational program for patients.
Palo Alta VA Medical Center’s 800 bed facility addresses polytrauma patients undergoing rehabilitation in its gardens which were specifically designed using evidence-based guidelines.
Siriraj Hospice Center Garden in Bangyai, Nonthaburi, Thailand: This landscape is organized into zones related to the five Buddha elements, each corresponding to a direction: wind (north), water (east), earth (south), fire (west), and space (center). In each zone, space and material aligns with the associated element.
The Green Road project for military members uses therapeutic space for healing, incorporating research, self-guided strategies and connections to nature.
Virtua Camden Hospital Meditation Garden was designed for therapeutic programs for children with horticultural therapy, meditation & therapeutic garden, it is integrated into health care services at this healthcare setting.
Therapy Garden at Merwick was developed for use by physical, occupational, speech & horticultural therapists, with walking paths, therapy care, raised planters & other accessible features.
The Els Center of Excellence Sensory Garden, Jupiter FL, was designed to offer varying levels of sensory experiences while minimizing sensory overload for people with autism.
Wilmot Botanical Gardens is an oasis on UF’s campus. Situated in the bustling health science center portion of campus, the garden and its greenhouse serve as a respite for patients and their caregivers at UF Health.
National Park Board of Singapore Therapeutic Gardens: In this edition of NParks you will learn about the therapeutic gardens that are woven into Singapore green outdoor gardens scientifically designed to meet physical, psychological and social needs.
Madonna Rehabilitation Hospital in Lincoln, Nebraska: Patients partake in gardening activities as part of their healing process.
The Healing Gardens at Siskin Hospital at Siskin Hospital for Physical Rehabilitation, Chattanooga, TN.
> Videos, webinars & websites on therapeutic garden
Therapeutic gardens in North Carolina webpage lists several therapeutic gardens.
Legacy Therapy Garden in Portland Oregon.
Healthcare facilities: Healing gardens in healthcare webinar hosted by Boston Society of Architects/AIA (2021) has 3 experts talking about gardens at Brigham Young Hospital, Spaulding Rehab Hospital, & Boston Medical roof garden
Veterans Therapeutic Garden at Raymond G. Murphy Medical Center in Albuquerque, New Mexico includes allied health professionals & their services with a focus on challenges faced by veterans.
Legacy Therapy Garden in Portland Oregon.
Healthcare facilities: Healing gardens in healthcare webinar hosted by Boston Society of Architects/AIA (2021) has 3 experts talking about gardens at Brigham Young Hospital, Spaulding Rehab Hospital, & Boston Medical roof garden
Veterans Therapeutic Garden at Raymond G. Murphy Medical Center in Albuquerque, New Mexico includes allied health professionals & their services with a focus on challenges faced by veterans.
> Related organizations
Organizations that are population specific (i.e. American Cancer Society, Alzheimer’s Association, etc.)
Written & compiled by Lesley Fleming, Susan Morgan Nov 2021; revised in 2022 by Lesley Fleming, Siang Tham. Revised in 2023 by Leah Diehl, Lesley Fleming, Bree Stark.