Botanical gardens offer a living museum filled with exciting and important plant collections. Native plants in botanic gardens feature regional flora and are often displayed as “plant communities” (groups of plants) much like they would grow in a naturally occurring ecosystem. Cultivars are identified in each display or grouping of plants. Interpretive panels are often posted to learn brief, but first rate information about the plants and plant communities while strolling through the gardens.
Most botanic gardens feature classes, workshops, lectures, art exhibits, and sponsor field courses and trips. Many of the botanic gardens in California are closely associated with and supportive of CNPS. Garden membership often provides unlimited admission, plant sale previews, and discounts. Finally, you will be sure to find plant sales fully stocked with native plants!
Leading Collections of California Native Plants
California Botanic Garden | Claremont
The largest botanic garden devoted to California native plants is California Botanic Garden. Take a walk through these showy penstemon (Penstemon spectabilis).
Regional Parks Botanic Garden | Berkeley
East Bay Regional Parks Botanic Garden located in the beautiful Wildcat Canyon of the Tilden Regional Park is dedicated entirely to native plants. Here we see the striking douglas iris (Iris douglasiana).
Santa Barbara Botanic Garden
The Santa Ynez Mountains are the backdrop to Santa Barbara Botanic Garden’s meadow of California poppies (Eschscholzia californica) and yarrow (Achillea millefolium). You can explore CA plant diversity throughout the garden.
University of California Botanical Garden at Berkeley
Explore a major collection of worldwide and CA native plants at the UC Botanical Garden at Berkeley. Walk above the Garden of Old Roses to see this amazing view of the San Francisco Bay.
More Gardens with Native Plant Collections
Natural History Museum Nature Gardens | Los Angeles
Forrest Deaner Native Plant Botanic Garden | Benicia
Living Desert Zoo & Gardens | Palm Desert
Manhattan Beach Botanic Garden
San Luis Obispo Botanic Garden
San Francisco Botanical Garden at Strybing Arboretum
University of California Davis Arboretum
University of California Riverside Botanic Gardens
