29 Botanical Gardens to Explore in California

Alice Keck Park Memorial Gardens is a stunning park spanning a square block in downtown Santa Barbara. There are 75 different tree and plant species and you can enjoy walking paths, picnic areas, and a picturesque Gazebo. The park also has a koi pond where you’ll find visitors feeding resident ducks.

This is a small botanical garden specializing in cactus and succulents. It is located on the campus of Stanford University.

Berkeley's Historic Rose Garden is a regional destination with its 1,500 rose bushes and 250 varieties of roses, along with breathtaking views. The Rose Garden is situated in a residential area of the Berkeley Hills between the Cragmont and La Loma Park neighborhoods, occupying most of the block between Eunice Street and Bayview Place along the west side of Euclid Avenue.

Casa del Herrero is a home and gardens located in Montecito near Santa Barbara, California. It was designed by George Washington Smith, and is considered one of the finest examples of Spanish Colonial Revival architecture. It is listed on the National Register of Historic Places, and made a National Historic Landmark on January 16, 2009.

The Conejo Valley Botanic Garden is 33-acres of natural terrain encircled by the city of Thousand Oaks. From the the sweeping vistas at the peak of the Garden through fifteen unique, hillside specialty gardens, and onto the hiking trail along the riparian steam. It consists of a vast variety of endemic plants, water-conserving plants, oak trees, and indigenous wildlife.

The Conservatory of Flowers is a botanical garden of rare and unusual tropical plants located in Golden Gate Park. The oldest existing wood-and-glass conservatory in North America, the Conservatory of Flowers houses nearly 2,000 species.

Descanso Gardens is a 150-acre botanical garden located in La Cañada Flintridge. It features a wide area, mostly forested, with artificial streams, ponds, and lawns. Descanso Gardens has a wide collection of fruit trees, including orange, peach, pear, pomegranate, crabapple, fruits of the genus prunus, grapes, and passionfruit.

This is the former home and garden of Elizabeth Gamble. The house is in a colonial style and the garden retains an Arts and Crafts character. The original garden design was by Alan Reid. It is filled with flowers. Magnificent magnolias and a wonderful collection of hellebores. It is an oasis of beauty and tranquility, providing a community resource for horticultural education, inspiration, and enjoyment.

26-acre (11 ha) botanical garden with a collection of plants from around the world. It is the largest botanical garden in Orange County, with a collection of over 4,000 plants. The Arboretum saves species that are extinct or near extinction and serves as a learning place for agricultural history.

A beautiful botanical garden located in Thousand Oaks, California, situated directly across Thousand Oaks Boulevard from Thousand Oaks Civic Arts Plaza. It is home to a French garden and waterfall, an English rose garden, an Italian grapevine garden and a Japanese garden with koi ponds and a pagoda. The park is used for walking and picnicking, and guided tours of the gardens are available.

This is a horticulture themed amusement park located in Gilroy. The 536-acre theme park is owned by the city of Gilroy and operated by Cedar Fair; it features over 40 rides and attractions and is known for its Circus Trees, created by Axel Erlandson. It is one of the iconic attraction in this area.

Hayward Japanese Gardens is really Asian style, quiet and peaceful, very interesting area for a peaceful time. The land was designated as a future park site in 1962, with HARD beginning the acquisition process in 1972. It follows Japanese garden design principles, using California native stone and plants. No stains were used on the wood constructions. Nails and fasteners are recessed, and all wood was notched, and aged, to simulate the appearance of a traditional Japanese garden.

The Japanese Friendship Garden is located in Balboa Park and represents the friendship between San Diego and its sister city in Yokohama, Japan. It binds the two cultures to create a unique experience for visitors from all over the world; over 240,000 people from across the United States and the world visit the garden annually. The garden is well-known for its unique placement, sukiya-style buildings, koi ponds, and landscape exhibits.

This is a walled section of Kelley Park in San Jose, California, United States. Dedicated in October 1965, it is patterned after Japan's famous Korakuen Garden in Okayama. It is a living symbol of the “Sister City” relationship between Okayama, Japan and San Jose. It serves as a popular setting for the perfect place for weddings and celebrations, but it best serves San Jose residents as a place to sit and reflect on the beauty and power of nature.

This is the oldest public Japanese garden in the United States located inside Golden Gate Park in San Francisco. Originally built as part of a sprawling World's Fair, the California Midwinter International Exposition of 1894. Though many of its attractions are still a part of the garden today, there have been changes throughout the history of the garden that have shaped it into what it is today. This complex of many paths,, and a teahouse features plants and trees arranged in a Japanese style.

The Charles C. Jensen Botanical Gardens are botanical gardens located at 8520 Fair Oaks Boulevard, Carmichael, California. They are open during the daylight hours without charge.The gardens exhibit a variety of flora including camellias, dogwoods, azaleas, and rhododendrons.

Kimberly Crest House & Gardens is a 6-¼ acre estate in Redlands, CA featuring a Victorian Chateau and Italian Renaissance styled gardens.The property is a registered California Historical Landmark and is listed on the National Register of Historic Places.The three-story Victorian mansion was designed in the Châteauesque style by Oliver Perry Dennis and Lyman Farwell. The gardens that surround Kimberly Crest are exquisite examples of the Italian style.

The Los Angeles County Arboretum and Botanic Garden, 127 acres, is an arboretum, botanical garden, and historical site nestled into hills near the San Gabriel Mountains in Arcadia. It offers activities including concerts, nature and gardening classes, and a horticultural library that continues to attract visitors year after year. Also explore peaceful and unique paths or sit and relax by the Mayberg waterfall, fountains, ponds or themed gardens either on foot or by tram.

Lotusland is a globally renowned 37-acre estate and botanic garden situated in the foothills of Montecito, California.Theme gardens include the blue garden, theatre garden, and a Japanese garden. Other classic features are a topiary garden, horticultural clock, Neptune fountain, parterre and hedged allées.

This massive Rose Garden hosts over 1500 varieties of roses and sits across from the Santa Barbara Mission and is beautiful for a wedding ceremony. Additionally, the collection hosts beds with ancient varieties, such as Gallicas, Albas, and Damasks in various states of health. Other roses maintained within the garden include Old Garden Roses, Hybrid Perpetuals originally cultivated during the 1800s.