Pubic gardens or parks. NYC is home to two very large and very good botanical gardens.

The BG was the 1st on my list. Haven't been there in ages minus a few years back when I took the lil ones for the cherry blossom festival

Take a look at the ACS list of Reference Gardens. We just added the Frelinghuysen Arboretum in NJ as well. Rememer that most of what you see planted in these gardens will be species trees (those that occur in the wild and generally get very large). If you want to see mature cultivars (miniatures or dwarfs) you would do better visiting private gardens, and there is one stunning one on Long Island (the owner is not only a member of the ACS but is a past president of the American Rhododendron Society. There are many other mature private gardens in the area that are open to visits by members of the ACS, and it's only $40 to join. Here is a link to the private garden:

https://conifersociety.org/conifers/learn/form-and-foliage/fall-on-fire-a-trip-through-bruce-fellers-garden-on-long-island/

And here is a link to the Reference Gardens:

https://conifersociety.org/conifers/reference-gardens/list-of-acs-reference-gardens/

No reason to travel half way to Canada to see conifers in the NJ/NYC Metro Area. I can suggest the following in no particular order:

1.) Bronx Botanical Garden

2.) Brooklyn Botanical Garden

3.) Planting Field's Arboretum (in Oyster Bay, Nassau, NY)

4.) New Jersey Botanical Garden (Ringwood, NJ)

5.) Frelinghuysen Arboretum (Morris Country, NJ)

6.) Wave Hill (Bronx, NY)

P.S., Keep in mind, many New York sites require proof of Covid shots.

Thanks sofar. Sara, that link was perfect. Im about 45 min away.

Margarita, or anyone familiar with the list, which sounds like 6 excellent options, which one takes the cake ;)

I have never been to Wave Hill or the Morristown Arboretum but do know that the collections includes conifers. I've been to the Brooklyn and Bronx gardens dozens and dozens of times, but was not really into conifers at the time so might not have even noticed them (my bad). New Jersey Botanical is a great garden but expect to walk a lot and the labeling is awful unfortunately, but there are large specimens. We really enjoyed Planting Fields in Nassau. I fell in love with the mature Cedars of Lebanon.

Broken Arrow Nursery in CT comes up often when such is asked about in that area.

https://www.brokenarrownursery.com/

tj

And a search for them in the Conifer Forum

https://www.gardenweb.com/discussions/conif/query/broken-arrow/nqrw

alan , I think you should buy the 3gal. plant

Thru your own looking , you have proven 'Verdoni is a rare plant

Every plant has it's own personality , and will grow into it

remember , these are mutations ,,,embrace it

ron

The main question is whether you want to see cultivars or species trees. Some botanical gardens don't have collections of cultivars (although I was just at the Chicago Botanic and their collection of dwarf cultivars is first-rate). Cultivars don't fit with the mission of most bot gardens, which is preservation and research. Private gardens will likely afford you the best opportunity to see mature cultivars (dwarf and miniature conifers, generally more suited to home gardens due to size,)