Oudolf Garden Detroit

Name

Oudolf Garden Detroit

Legal name

Friends of the Oudolf Garden, Inc.

Website

https://oudolfgardendetroit.org

Company type

Private

Founded year

2016

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

1–10 employees

Short description

Oudolf Garden Detroit is a volunteer-run 501(c)(3) nonprofit operating a free 3-acre naturalistic public garden on Belle Isle, designed by Piet Oudolf, serving Detroit residents and tourists with planting-style exhibits, guided tours, and educational presentations.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Public Garden Services

NAICS

Zoos and Botanical Gardens (71213), Landscape Architectural Services (541320)

SIC

Agricultural Services (700), Forestry (800)

akta.pro primary industry

Native & Pollinator Garden Design/Install (HSAIABAG)

akta.pro secondary industries

Garden Bed Installation & Planting (Annuals, Perennials, Shrubs) (HSAIAFAB), Native, Pollinator & Drought-Tolerant Garden Installations (HSAIAFAL), Seasonal Color, Planting & Horticultural Services (BPABADAL)

Keywords

• Public garden services
• Naturalistic garden design
• Volunteer garden stewardship
• Guided garden tours
• Native plant gardens

Headquarters

HQ city

Detroit

HQ country

United States

HQ region

North America

Offices2 records

Markets served

GTM type

B2C

Offering type

Services

Cost components

Personnel, Operations, Supply Chain, Marketing or Sales, Others

Revenue model

1. Donations to Garden Care: Tax-deductible donations for ongoing garden care, maintenance, plant purchases, education and community events. Donations go directly to 501(c)(3) nonprofit Friends of the Oudolf Garden.
2. Endowment Contributions: Long-term maintenance and care endowment held in partnership with Community Foundation for Southeast Michigan. Supports ongoing garden stewardship.

Pricing tiers

Go-to-market motion1 record

Distribution channels3 records

Marketing channels5 records

Core offering

Oudolf Garden Detroit is a free, 3-acre naturalistic public garden on Belle Isle in Detroit designed by Dutch garden designer Piet Oudolf, featuring four distinct areas (Main Garden, Rain Garden, Native Meadows, and Bird Border) with 98,144 plants across 264 varieties. The organization also offers guided group tours and multimedia presentations about the garden for community groups and organizations. All operations are managed by an all-volunteer Grounds Crew under the Friends of the Oudolf Garden 501(c)(3) nonprofit, supported by donations and an endowment.

Product overview

Oudolf Garden Detroit is a single unified offering—a naturalistic public garden on Belle Isle in Detroit—not a software platform. The garden comprises four distinct physical areas: the Main Garden (1.5 acres, 146 varieties), Rain Garden (0.25 acres), Native Meadows/Jean Wright Hudson Peace Meadows (1.25 acres), and Bird Border (0.035 acres), totaling approximately 3 acres with 98,144 plants across 264 varieties. Designed by Piet Oudolf, it is the only example in the United States of his three perennial planting styles. Related offerings include guided group tours (30-45 minutes, by appointment) and group presentations (45-50 minutes, virtual or in-person). The garden is free and open to the public daily from dawn to dusk.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Products and services

• Oudolf Garden Detroit A 3-acre naturalistic public garden on Detroit's Belle Isle designed by Dutch designer Piet Oudolf, featuring perennials, grasses, shrubs, and trees chosen for hardiness and ever-changing textures. The only example in the United States of Piet's three perennial planting styles (Block, Matrix, and Grouping).
• Main Garden The 1.5-acre central portion of Oudolf Garden Detroit featuring 15 main beds with steel edging, divided into three planting styles (Block, Matrix, and Grouping). Contains 79,833 plants including forbs, bulbs, grasses, sedges, trees, and shrubs across 146 varieties. ADA accessible.
• Rain Garden A 0.25-acre demonstration rain garden designed by Piet Oudolf, the first Rain Garden he has designed. It collects and filters stormwater from the street, bypassing the sewer system through an innovative stormwater inlet and trench drain. Contains 2,909 plants. Created with support from the Erb Family Foundation.
• Native Meadows (Jean Wright Hudson Peace Meadows) The 1.25-acre Jean Wright Hudson Peace Meadows featuring native shrubs, flowering plants, sedges, and rushes around the Nancy Brown Peace Carillon. Includes a wooden boardwalk in the east meadow funded by the Erb Family Foundation. Restored to replicate lakeplain prairie habitats of coastal southeast Michigan.
• Bird Border A 0.035-acre mixed species natural hedgerow featuring nine varieties of mostly-native small trees and shrubs selected for spring, summer, and fall fruit to provide food and shelter for birds along a major North American migration flyway. Underplanted with perennials to attract pollinators.
• Guided Group Tours Guided tours available by appointment Monday through Thursday for groups of 20 or more individuals. A typical guided tour takes 30-45 minutes, plus time for photos. A minimum donation of $5 per person is suggested.
• Group Presentations Virtual or in-person multimedia presentations about Oudolf Garden Detroit delivered by Grounds Crew members. Available to community groups, neighborhood garden clubs, and larger organizations. A typical presentation takes 45-50 minutes plus Q&A. Minimum donation of $5 per attendee is suggested.

Named customers3 records

Segments4 records

Ideal customer profiles3 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Feature3 records

Partnerships

Eleven partnerships are on record, tiered core, major and support.

• Piet OudolfcoreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 August 2021Internationally renowned Dutch garden designer who created master plan and planting designs. First time he designed both master plan and planting plans for a North American public garden. Visited garden for first time in August 2021.
• Friends of the Oudolf Garden, Inc.coreStrategic or Co-development Partner501(c)(3) nonprofit organization that manages the garden's day-to-day operations and stewardship. The garden and its nonprofit are closely integrated, with the nonprofit handling all operational management.
• Garden Club of MichiganmajorStrategic or Co-development PartnerFiscal sponsor during garden design phase. Sent 'love letter from Detroit' to Piet Oudolf that inspired the garden project. Patsy Gotfredson is member and Grounds Crew liaison.
• Belle Isle ConservancymajorStrategic or Co-development PartnerFiscal sponsor during construction phase. Manages Belle Isle as a Michigan State Park where the garden is located.
• InSite Design Studio, Inc.coreTechnology or IntegrationLandscape architects who worked with Piet Oudolf on the garden design. Provided technical expertise for Rain Garden and Native Meadows restoration.
• Roy DiblikcoreTechnology or IntegrationMidwest Nurseryman and Author. Horticulture consultant for the garden. Provided technical expertise for the Rain Garden partnership.
• Natural Community ServicessupportTechnology or IntegrationPartnered on Native Meadows restoration and invasive species control.
• Anglin CivilsupportTechnology or IntegrationEarth work and general contractor for garden construction.
• United LawnscapesupportTechnology or IntegrationLandscape contractor for garden construction.
• Environmental Consulting Technology, Inc.supportTechnology or IntegrationWetland delineation services for the project.
• MSU ExtensionsupportStrategic or Co-development PartnerOudolf Garden Detroit is an MSU Extension Master Gardener approved-project, providing educational legitimacy and volunteer training pathway.

Scale indicators6 records

Recent moves9 records

Expansion highlights4 records

Broad incumbents

• Longwood Gardens: A major U.S. public garden with curated perennial displays, horticultural innovation, and a large endowment model. Comparable as a destination botanical garden with strong brand and donor support.
• New York Botanical Garden: One of the largest and oldest public botanical gardens in the U.S. Comparable as a free/low-cost public botanical destination with extensive plant collections, educational programming, and major foundation support.
• Chicago Botanic Garden: A 385-acre public botanical garden in the Chicago region with naturalistic garden areas, horticultural programming, and stormwater/demonstration features. Comparable as a Midwestern free-admission public garden operator.
• Missouri Botanical Garden: A National Historic Landmark public botanical garden with deep horticultural research and education programs. Comparable as a free/low-cost public botanical garden with strong institutional and foundation backing.
• Morton Arboretum: A 1,700-acre tree-focused public garden near Chicago with strong research and conservation programming. Comparable as a Midwestern nonprofit public garden with an endowment, free/affordable access, and educational mission.
• United States Botanic Garden: A federally operated public botanical garden in Washington, D.C. Comparable as a free-admission public botanical institution emphasizing plant conservation, education, and curated landscape design.

Direct peers

• The High Line: New York elevated park whose plantings were designed by Piet Oudolf. Comparable as another signature Piet Oudolf public-space planting that draws millions of visitors and shares the 'New Perennial' naturalistic style.
• Lurie Garden: A 5-acre public garden in Chicago's Millennium Park designed by Piet Oudolf. It is the most directly comparable Oudolf-designed public garden in North America and shares the same naturalistic, perennial-driven aesthetic and free public access model.

Regional players

• Denver Botanic Gardens: A 24-acre public botanical garden in Denver with naturalistic and native plant gardens. Comparable as a free-admission public botanical garden emphasizing horticulture, conservation, and educational programming.
• Frederik Meijer Gardens & Sculpture Park: A 158-acre public garden and sculpture park in Grand Rapids, Michigan. Comparable as a Michigan-based botanical destination serving the same regional visitor base and combining naturalistic gardens with public programming.

Market position

Strengths4 records

Weaknesses4 records

Competitive moat3 records

Key risks5 records

Key highlights6 records

Customer concentration

• Facebookfacebook.com/oudolfgardendetroit
• Instagraminstagram.com/oudolfgardendetroit
• Xx.com/oudolfgardendet
• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/oudolfgardendetroit

Compliance1 record

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles5 records

Funding overview

Funding rounds

Investors

Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

M&A

Investments

M&A and investment is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

Frequently asked questions about Oudolf Garden Detroit