Explore The Botanical Gardens In Los Angeles: 17 Best Sites

Even though Los Angeles is a large urban center, there are plenty of green spots to be found. In Los Angeles and the neighboring areas, there are numerous botanical gardens and floral fields, big and small. These vibrant green spaces feature plants native to California as well as those imported from across the world. These are our 17 preferred botanical gardens in Los Angeles, ranging from well-known floral destinations to smaller community-run gardens. Check it out!

Huntington Botanical Gardens

Address: 1151 Oxford Rd, San Marino

When visiting Los Angeles, you must definitely visit the Huntington Library, Art Museum, and Botanical Gardens. More than 15,000 plants total, separated into 16 themed gardens, are available for visiting. These include plants native to the state, plants associated with Shakespeare, bonsai, and even a sizable collection of succulents and cacti, one of the biggest in the world.

It is one of Los Angeles’ most well-known gardens, drawing more than 800,000 visitors annually from all over the world to its several themed gardens. The Japanese Garden, Lily Ponds, Desert Garden, Children’s Garden, and Jungle Garden are among the most well-known gardens. Thanks to the beautiful drum bridge, captivating bonsai court, and Japanese House, the Japanese Garden at Huntington Botanical Gardens receives the most photos out of all the gardens.

There are some additional activities that you may do at the Huntington Botanical Gardens when you are there, though the gardens should take up the majority of your time because they require all day to thoroughly enjoy. You can check out illustrated manuscripts and art collections after you go to the Huntington Library building as a few of these activities.

Los Angeles Zoo and Botanical Gardens

Address: 5333 Zoo Dr

The zoo includes 15 separate collections with over 800 distinct species of plants since becoming a registered botanical garden in 2003, allowing you to experience the flora and wildlife as they would look in nature.  The collection of plants is sorted by natural place and then matched with other zoo regions such as North and South America and Africa. It also acts as a plant rescue center, where unlawfully imported plants, like the cycad collection at the main zoo, are transported after being confiscated by the authorities.

James Irvine Japanese Garden

Address: 244 San Pedro St

The Japanese American Cultural and Community Center is directly adjacent to a lovely garden. The James Irvine Japanese Garden opened in 1980 and won the National Landscape Award the following year.  The garden is a peaceful environment with a stream that flows from a waterfall in the top garden to a placid pond below. The stream has been renovated to reuse stream water, and the illuminations along the walkway are now solar-powered, thanks to an eco-friendly approach. 

Descanso Gardens

Address: 1418 Descanso Dr, La Cañada Flintridge

The Descanso Gardens are situated in La Caada and include an astonishing 150 acres. There are nine botanical garden sets, a miniature railroad, a home museum, a gallery of art, a gift store, and even a cafe. You will then be able to visit the grounds and explore the lovely flora and wildlife of the Descanso grounds after paying your $15 tickets online (unless you have become a member). The highlighted Camellia bushes group is one of the largest in North America and has served as a part of Descanso Gardens for ages. If roses are more your thing, this California rose garden contains over 3,000 of them, each more beautiful than the last.

The Ancient Garden is a recent addition to the gardens, where you will find cycad plants that have remained nearly untouched since prehistoric times; a collection of over 180 species of 60 types. As you wander through these ancient-looking plants, you will be transported back in time.

Getty Villa/ Getty Museum

Address: 17985 E Pacific Coast Hwy, Pacific Palisades

The Central Garden, developed by artist Robert Irwin, is located in the center of the Getty Center and features a tree-lined promenade, a natural ravine, and exquisite bougainvillea arbors.  To alter the sounds of the running water, rocks, and stones of varied sizes were put in the stream bed. 

The Getty Villa, meanwhile, has four distinct gardens: the Inner Peristyle, which features multiple bronze monuments, the Herb Garden, the East Garden, which has sycamore and laurel trees as well as a pair of sculptural fountains, and the Outer Peristyle, which is the biggest of all four gardens and features plants utilized by the ancient Romans, such as myrtle, bay boxwood, laurel,  and ivy that surround the 220-foot-long reflecting pool.

Exposition Park Rose Garden

Address: 701 State Dr

An underground rose garden with over 20,000 roses in peak bloom is located in the urban Exposition Park and is formed in an oval around a central fountain.  The rose garden, which was completed in 1871, was nearly transformed into a parking structure, but it has since been placed on the National Register of Historic Places. The garden is a favorite location for weddings and picture shoots. 

Local tip: Plan your trip after March 15. Every year from New Year’s Day to mid-March, the garden is off-limits to visitors for regular upkeep.

South Coast Botanical Gardens

Address: 26300 Crenshaw Blvd, Palos Verdes Estates

The South Coast Botanical Gardens, in contrast to the lush trees and flowers, concentrates on drought-resistant species. The South Bay Botanical Gardens, nestled in the Palos Verdes Peninsula, is about 10 miles south of Los Angeles International Airport and is well worth making the trip. This Los Angeles botanical garden, dubbed “The Jewel of the Peninsula,” features 2,500 plants in its collection. Discover California native plant species; they not only look great and don’t require much watering, but they also provide habitat and food for insects, birds, butterflies, and other species.

If you’re feeling fanciful, or if you would like your kids to discover something especially fascinating for them, the Children’s Garden and Children’s Discovery Gardens are definitely a must-see. This section of the botanical garden is themed around nursery rhymes, with each plant picked to complement the energy and mood of the stories. There is even a magical playhouse near the doorway to this themed garden, which adds to the pleasure!

As an extra benefit, there are certain hours allocated to dog walks, during which you will be able to take your dogs together with you to appreciate the splendor of the garden with your closest companions by your side.

Robinson Gardens

Address: 1008 Elden Way, Beverly Hills

The gardens were a portion of Virginia Robinson’s former home on the first luxurious estate in Beverly Hills, which was constructed in 1911 (anyone who remembers Robinson’s department store?). She is that. In addition to its 5 gardens, which include the Rose Garden, the Kitchen/Herb Garden, the Italian Renaissance Terrace Garden, the Formal Mall Garden, and the Tropical Palm Garden, which reportedly contains the biggest grove of King Palms in the continental U.S., it is included on the National Register of Historic Places and accessible to visitors by appointment.

S. Mark Taper Life Science Botanical Garden

Address: 2700 Pierce Ln, Woodland Hills

On the Pierce College campus, you may discover the S. Mark Taper Life Science Botanical Garden. The two-acre botanical garden “acts as a living laboratory with a wide range of creatures and plant life.” The 2,500-square-foot pond with turtles is many people’s favorite part. You can also find a wide range of shrubs, flowers, and plants when strolling through the garden, such as coastal redwoods, a mother-of-pearl plant, a kangaroo paw, and a Wollemi pine (formerly believed to be extinct). Remember to have a look at the “Evolution Walk,” a “concrete pathway marked every 6 inches with fossil pictures that symbolize one million years of history in the evolutionary process.”

Los Angeles County Arboretum

Address: 301 N Baldwin Ave, Arcadia

The Los Angeles County Arboretum, with its 127 acres of gorgeous landscapes, is an environment where you can discover calm and relaxation while walking around it. This botanical garden, which is also a historical monument, is located in the heart of what was once Rancho Santa Anita in Arcadia. There is plenty to do here. The Peacocks will greet you when you approach the gardens, and although they are generally gentle, it is better not to spend time with them too much since they may feel threatened.

The themed gardens comprise the Water Conservation Garden, which features a display of Mediterranean plants that originate from the world, and the Rainbow Serpent Garden, which features a serpent-shaped path influenced by the Aborigines’ Australian creation myth. The serpentine route gives the impression of a snake creeping among Australian vegetation, which is a rather uncommon sight in Los Angeles.

Among the numerous other gardens is the Aquatic Gardens, which contains the Meyberg Waterfall, a stunning addition to the Garden located at the Tallac Knoll’s crest. There are additionally a few historic buildings to see while you are there, such as the Queen Anne Cottage, the Coach Barn, and numerous others. This is a fantastic approach to learning about the state’s cultural heritage.

Self-Realization Fellowship Lake Shrine

Address: 17190 Sunset Blvd, Pacific Palisades

At this location, only a few blocks from the shore, take in the lush vegetation and fauna as well as the tranquil atmosphere. Two waterfalls, fern grottos, flowerbeds, fountains, and lily ponds are among its features. The golden lotus archway that frames the Mahatma Gandhi World Peace Memorial, an open-air shrine where a genuine 1,000-year-old Chinese stone coffin carries a part of Gandhi’s remains, is one of the monument’s more stunning elements. Also noteworthy is the fact that Lake Santa Ynez (seen below) is the only naturally spring-fed lake located inside the boundaries of Los Angeles.

Japanese Gardens

Address: 1418 Descanso Dr, La Cañada Flintridge

Japanese gardens are well-known for their iconic stone, water, and plant compositions. The garden’s fundamental structure is stone, water is thought to be the life-giving power, and plants offer the finishing touch of changing hues corresponding to the season.

There are several Japanese-style botanical gardens in Los Angeles, with The Japanese Garden in Van Nuys considered one of the most beautiful. This hidden treasure is easy to drive by because it may go overlooked if you are unaware of its location, but if you do come, you will be greeted with 6 1/2 acres of property that have three gardens in one.

One of the free botanical gardens in LA is the Japanese Gardens, which were created by physician Koichi Kawana. A superior Chisen or “wet-strolling” garden with a waterfall, lakes, and streams is also accessible, as well as a dry Zen meditation garden, a three-Buddha stone arrangement, and other outdoor spaces. When you get to the end of this route, within the Shoin Building, you’ll find an actual tatami-mat tea house chamber and tea garden. Throughout this path, there are also stone lanterns crafted by Japanese artisans.

Manhattan Beach Botanical Garden

Address: 1237 N Peck Ave, Manhattan Beach

All of the plants on display at this public garden are drought resilient because it is focused on water-wise plants. They have seven instructional signs for self-guided tours, a poppy hillside, a meditation garden, and a wildflower meadow. It also serves as a recognized animal habitat because chemical-free gardening techniques are used there. Their wildflower beds are renowned to attract birds and butterflies, so keep an eye out.

Greystone Mansion

Address: 905 Loma Vista Dr, Beverly Hills

The Greystone home was built by oil tycoon Edward L. Doheny as a Tudor Revival home with traditional English grounds. The City of Beverly Hills now owns it and maintains it as a free public space where anyone can take a walk around the gorgeous gardens. A central Italian Renaissance fountain, a walkway filled with cypress trees, and blooms in bloom throughout the year are among the features. Unless there is a shooting or special occasion, the park facilities are accessible to the public every day. 

Mildred E. Mathias Botanical Garden

Address: 707 Tiverton Dr

The Mildred E. Mathias Botanical Garden is a tranquil oasis in the heart of Westwood. The 7.5-acre “garden, open classroom, and academic facility” features a “diverse variety of plants originating from all over the world.” You’ll see a Desert Garden area, a Southern California native portion, Subtropical Woodlands, Western Australia indigenous, and more as you stroll through the Garden. The Garden is welcome to visit, although it stays closed on University Holidays, so plan ahead.

Arlington Garden

Address: 275 Arlington Dr, Pasadena

Arlington Garden is described as a “three-acre garden on Caltrans-owned land.” This is the only public garden in Pasadena. This drought-tolerant garden “honors Southern California’s Mediterranean climate.” You will enjoy the views and smells of Citrus Grove, Pine Forest, Olive Allee, and others during your stroll around the garden. Take the time to stop by the Wishing Tree! The Garden is free for visitors and is accessible seven days a week from 8:00 a.m. to 6:00 p.m.

Wrigley Memorial and Botanic Garden

Address: 1400 Avalon Cyn Rd, Avalon

Catalina Island is home to the Wrigley Memorial and Botanic Garden. The Memorial is dedicated to William Wrigley Jr. Families can take in a beautiful view of Avalon Bay as well as plants from all over the world thanks to “Santa Catalina Island’s temperate marine climate.” The Garden is 37.85 acres in size and has numerous unique plants on the threatened species list. Except for Thanksgiving and Christmas, the Garden can be visited daily.

Conclusion

Botanical gardens appear like hidden germs inside a big Los Angeles city. They are not only perfect destinations for nature lovers but also for all city citizens (and families) with their wide ranges of plant collections, excellent sceneries as well as fresh environment. Immerse yourself in the pleasant and thrilling world of flora on your next trip!

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