Discover Tryon Palace – Commission House Garden

For one of the most quietly evocative gardens on the Tryon Palace grounds, the Commission House Garden is a real treasure. Set just across the street from the main Tryon Palace entrance in downtown New Bern, NC in Craven County, this charming late Victorian-style garden captures the spirit of the quintessential 19th-century “Southern” home garden — a landscape that feels both wonderfully familiar and surprisingly historic once you learn the stories behind its most “old-fashioned” plants. Be sure to check out the YouTube video and pictures below to get a feel for the garden before you go — or to relive the visit after.

A Late Victorian-Style “Southern” Garden

The Commission House Garden was designed to capture the distinctive aesthetic of the late Victorian-era Southern garden — a landscape style that became deeply identified with North Carolina and the broader South in the second half of the 19th century. The garden’s design features lush perennial and shrub beds, with carefully chosen plantings arranged to feel both abundant and intentional — a hallmark of the romantic, layered look that defined Southern gardens of the period.

The result is a space that feels deeply familiar to anyone who has spent time in the older Southern neighborhoods of New Bern or other historic NC communities — the kind of garden where each turn reveals a different texture, a different bloom, and a different shade of green.

The Story Behind “Old-Fashioned” Plants

One of the most fascinating layers of the Commission House Garden is the history hidden in its plantings. Today, plants like magnolias, camellias, azaleas, and gardenias are so deeply identified with Southern gardens that they feel like they’ve always been here. But many of these “old-fashioned” plants are actually exotic imports that were introduced to the South during the latter half of the 1800s — brought in by collectors, nurserymen, and homeowners drawn to the dramatic foliage and stunning blooms of plants from East Asia and other regions.

The Commission House Garden tells that story through its plantings. What looks like a classic Southern garden today is actually a beautifully curated snapshot of the late-19th-century moment when the South’s iconic plant palette was still taking shape.

A Picturesque Backdrop

In addition to its beauty and historical depth, the Commission House Garden is one of the most photogenic spots on the Tryon Palace grounds. With its blooming shrubs, layered beds, and old-fashioned charm, the garden serves as a picturesque backdrop for events including weddings, special celebrations, and seasonal photo opportunities. The garden’s location across the street from the main Tryon Palace entrance makes it easy to add to a longer day exploring the broader complex.

Good to Know

Style: Late Victorian-style garden, evocative of the 19th-century “Southern” home garden
Featured plants: Magnolias, camellias, azaleas, gardenias — many of which were exotic imports introduced to the South in the latter half of the 1800s
Design: Lush perennial and shrub beds arranged in romantic, layered Victorian-era style
Location on the grounds: Across the street from the main Tryon Palace entrance
Best for: Garden enthusiasts, history lovers, photographers, and event guests
Pair with: Our magnificent gardens guide and the list of gardens for a fuller look at the broader Tryon Palace garden complex
Located on the Tryon Palace grounds in downtown New Bern, NC

A Tryon Palace Highlight

The Commission House Garden is the kind of stop that rewards visitors who care about the layered stories behind a well-designed historic landscape. The Victorian-era aesthetic, the romantic perennial and shrub beds, the fascinating history of the “old-fashioned” plants that turn out to be exotic 19th-century imports, and the gentle charm of the setting just across from the Palace entrance all add up to one of the most quietly evocative gardens you can visit on the Tryon Palace grounds. Whether you’re a serious garden enthusiast, a history-lover with an eye for botanical detail, or just looking for a beautiful pause during a day at the Palace, this is one of the most rewarding stops you can make in Craven County.