California
Here is a list of our top ten gardens in California with descriptions and ratings. Enjoy!
Arboretum at the University of California, Santa Cruz
1156 High Street, Santa Cruz, CA 95064 (831) 427-2998
Four Stars
200 acres
Formed in 1976, gardens include plants representing Australia, California, South Africa, New Zealand.
types of garden plantings: Native, Aroma garden, cacti, conifers, eucalyptus grove, Laurasian forest, primitive flowering plants, rare fruits,
Hummingbird trail
Garden Tours. Self Guided Tours. Docent Led Tours. Parking available, Free. Restrooms onsite. Memberships available.
Handicapped accessibility. Adult Education programs. Children’s programs, Library. Picnic tables.
Visitor center. Gift Shop. Plants for sale (spring and fall sales). Indoor/Outdoor. Year-round visits. Trails. Maps available.
1418 Descanso Drive La Cañada Flintridge, CA 91011 (818) 949-4200
Four Stars
150 acres
Woodlands and chapparral. Boddy House and Gallery. Camellia Forest. Lilac Garden. Under the Oaks Theater. Japanese Garden.
Sundial Garden. California Garden. International Rosarium. Iris Garden. Mulberry Pond. * Bird Observation Station
Mansion Tours. Garden Tours. Self Guided Tours. Docent Led Tours. Tram Tours. Parking available, Free. Restrooms onsite.
Memberships available. Handicapped accessibility. Adult Education programs. Children’s programs. Festivals. Musical events.
Visitor center. Boddy House and Gallery. Bird Observation Station. Gift Shop. Café. Picnic areas. Enchanted Railroad.
Indoor/Outdoor. Year-round visits. Trails. Maps available.
86 Cañada Road, Woodside, California 94062 (650) 364-8300
Five Stars
654 acres
36,000 square foot Georgian country house and spectacular 16-acre English Renaissance garden.
Gardens( some planted in the early 1900’s) include a bonsai collection, camellias, magnolias, native species, olive orchard,
plane tree allee, a Gentleman’s orchard of heirloom fruit bearing plants (649 trees and 141 hybrid table grape varieties).
Mansion Tours. Garden Tours. Self Guided Tours. Docent Led Tours(various types). Parking available, Free. Restrooms onsite.
Memberships available. Handicapped accessibility. Adult Education programs. Children’s programs. Summer concerts. Flower shows.
Visitor center. Art Gallery. Gift Shop. Café. Plants for sale. Indoor/Outdoor. Year-round visits. Trails. Maps available, also online.
695 Ashley Road, Santa Barbara, CA 93108 (805) 969-9990
Three Stars
37 acres
Various owners over the last 100 years have planted the gardens. Most notable changes created by Ganna Walska.
Gardens include: Aloe. Australia. blue. butterfly. cactus. cycad. fern. Japanese. orchard. parterre. succulent.
topiary. tropical. water garden.
Garden Tours. Self Guided Tours for members only. Docent Led Tours. Parking available, Restrooms onsite. Memberships available.
Handicapped accessibility. Adult Education programs. Children’s programs. Visitor center. Gift Shop. Theatre. Plants for sale.
Outdoor. Year-round visits. Maps available, online.
1151 Oxford Road, San Marino, CA 91108 (626) 405-2100
Four Stars
120 acres
Gardens include some 15,000 types of plants. Various types of gardens include: Australian, Chinese. Japanese, Shakespeare.
Camellia. Children’s. Desert. Herb. Jungle. Lily ponds. Palm. Rose. Sub-tropical.
Mansion Tours. Garden Tours. Self Guided Tours. Docent Led Tours. Parking available. Restrooms onsite.
Memberships available. Handicapped accessibility, wheelchairs available. Adult Education programs. Children’s programs
Visitor center. Library. Art Gallery. Conservatory. Gift Shop. Café. Restaurant. Plants for sale. Indoor/Outdoor. Year-round visits. Trails. Maps available
301 North Baldwin Avenue, Arcadia, CA, 91007 (626) 821-3239
Three Stars
127 acres
Garden includes 5 sections; Africa, Americas. Asia. Australia. Historic Circle.
Garden Tours. Self Guided Tours. Docent Led Tours. Tram Tours. Parking available, Free. Restrooms onsite. Memberships available. Handicapped accessibility. Adult Education programs. Children’s programs
Visitor center. Gift Shop. Greenhouse. Library. Plants for sale. Art. Concerts. Lectures. Indoor/Outdoor. Year-round visits. Trails. Maps available
Mendocino Coast Botanical Garden
18220 North Highway One Fort Bragg, CA 95437 (707) 964-4352
Three Stars
Acres
Garden displays tender species rhododendrons. perennial garden with bulbs,flowers, grasses. camellias. heaths and heathers.
Areas include coastal prairie. Monterey cypress. bishop pine. shore pine. display gardens.
Garden Tours. Self Guided Tours. Docent Led Tours. Parking available, Free. Restrooms onsite.
Memberships available. Handicapped accessibility, electric carts available. Adult Education programs. Children’s programs.
Art in the Gardens. Lectures. Visitor center. Library. Café. Picnic areas. Plants for sale. Outdoor. Year-round visits. Trails.
Maps available, also online.
230 Quail Gardens Drive, Encinitas CA 92024 (760) 436-3036
Three Stars
37 Acres
Herb garden. bamboo groves, desert gardens, rainforest, California native plants, Walled garden. Mediterranean climate landscapes, Undersea Succulent Garden , Landscaping for Fire Safety and a subtropical fruit garden. Hamilton Children’s Garden and Seeds of Wonder Children’s Garden. Plants collected for the garden included cork oaks, palms, cycads, aloes, cacti, hibiscus and unusual subtropical fruit bearing plants and trees. Garden Tours . Self Guided Tours . Docent Led Tours . Parking available. Restrooms onsite. Memberships available. Handicapped accessibility. Adult Education programs. Children’s programs. Gala’s. Trips. Visitor center. Library. Gift Shop. Coffee Cart. Picnic areas. Nursery. Plants for sale. Outdoor. Year-round visits.
Rancho Santa Ana Botanic Garden
1500 N. College Avenue, Claremont, CA 91711 (909) 625-8767
Three Stars
86 acres
80 year old garden; three distinct areas: Indian Hill Mesa, East Alluvial Gardens, and Plant Communities. Plants include Manzanitas,
spring wildflowers, perennials, Ceanothus, and other shrubs.
Garden Tours. Self Guided Tours. Docent Led Tours. Tram Tours. Parking available, Free. Restrooms onsite.
Memberships available. Handicapped accessibility. Adult Education programs. Children’s programs. Art. Festivals. Music.
Visitor center. Gift Shop. Herbarium. Library. Plant sales. Outdoor. Year-round visits. Trails. Maps available
San Francisco Botanical Garden
9th Avenue at Lincoln Way, San Francisco, CA 94122 (415) 661-1316
Three Stars
55 acres
Located in Golden Gate Park, the San Francisco Botanical Garden at Strybing Arboretum
5 Garden types; Cloud forest, meadow, mediterranean, specialty garden, temperate. Regions: California, Chile, East Asia,
New Zealand South America; garden styles; camellias, children’s garden, fragrance,primitive plants, Redwood trail, succulents
demonstration garden
Garden Tours. Self Guided Tours. Docent Led Tours. Parking nearby. Restrooms onsite. Memberships available.
Handicapped accessibility. Adult Education programs. Children’s programs
Visitor center. Library. BookStore. Café. Restaurant. Plant sales. Nursery. Indoor/Outdoor. Year-round visits. Trails.
Maps available, also online.
1212 Mission Canyon Road Santa Barbara, CA 93105 (805) 682-4726
Three Stars
78 acres
Founded in 1926, chaparral, desert, and prairie, with an emphasis on plants native to California.
North America. Discovery garden
Garden Tours. Self Guided Tours. Docent Led Tours. Parking available. Restrooms onsite. Memberships available.
Handicapped accessibility. Adult Education programs. Children’s programs.
Visitor center. Herbarium. Libary. Gift Shop. Store. Café. Restaurant. Plants for sale, retail nursery.
Indoor/Outdoor. Year-round visits. 5.5 miles of Trails.
26300 Crenshaw Boulevard Palos Verdes Peninsula, California 90274 (310) 544-1948
Three Stars
87 acres
Plantings started in 1961; gardens include a small lake, Mediterranean Garden, AARS Rose Garden, Water-Wise Garden, Garden of the Senses,
Cactus Garden, Children’s Garden, Fuchsia Garden, Dahlia Garden, Herb Garden, and Japanese Garden. 2500 species from Australia,
Mediterranean, Southern Africa
Parking available, Free. Restrooms onsite. Memberships available. Handicapped accessibility. Adult Education programs.
Children’s programs. Art. Music. Plant shows. Lectures.
Visitor center. Gift Shop. Snacks. Annual Plant sale. Indoor/Outdoor. Year-round visits. Trails. Maps available. online.
Valley Oak Cottage LaRue Road, UC Davis 95616 530 752-4880
Three Stars
100 acres
Since 1936 22,000 trees and plants: Mediterranean.
gardens represent different geographic areas, plant groups, or horticultural themes. Australian collection, Redwood grove.
Native plants. East Asian. Redbuds. Acacia grove. South American. conifers. Mediterranean. Oak Grove. white Flower garden.
Garden Tours. Self Guided Tours. Docent Led Tours. Parking available, Free. Restrooms onsite. Memberships available.
Handicapped accessibility. Adult Education programs. Children’s programs
Visitor center. Picnic areas. Plant sales. Indoor/Outdoor. Year-round visits. 3.5 miles of Trails.
Maps available, also online.