The garden was founded in 1984 by Horticulture faculty members Robert Lyons, Robert McDuffie and Richard Johnson. Many people over the years have contributed to the garden: students, faculty, staff, community volunteers, nursery and greenhouse growers, landscapers, and so many more. Many garden components and structures have been designed and built by Horticulture faculty and students. The current garden covers 5.8 acres.
The garden was renamed the Hahn Horticulture Garden in November 2004 in honor of Peggy L. Hahn, in thanks for the generous gift and bequest for expansion from T. Marshall and Peggy Hahn. Peggy Lee Hahn was First Lady of Virginia Tech from 1962 to 1974 as her husband, Dr. T. Marshall Hahn, Jr., served as President. The Hahn's generosity over the years has had a significant impact on the garden - from the construction of the Peggy Lee Hahn Pavilion (2006) to the Hahn Meadow Garden (2008), as well as in other ways too numerous to list.
The garden features hundreds of species of woody and herbaceous plants from around the world, showcased in various features: a multi-acre shade garden, “hot” perennial border, spectrum mixed border, xeriphytic garden, two water features including the Jane Andrews Memorial Stream Garden, Pavilion tent lawn and folly, meadow garden, and the Peggy Lee Hahn Garden Pavilion.