56 gardens in California checked against official websites: 37 botanical gardens, 9 display gardens, 8 arboretums. Most are listed in or near Santa Barbara, Berkeley, San Diego. 17 list free general entry and 20 charge admission; the rest are unrecorded or vary.
Admission and hours checked September 28, 2026. Prices may change.
Meditation gardens with koi ponds, quiet seating areas and ocean views, run by a religious organization. Open Tuesday to Sunday; closed on Mondays, some holidays and when it rains.
A 47-acre coastal botanical garden near Fort Bragg with more than four miles of trails leading to ocean bluffs. Admission is charged.
Closed for the summer; the garden says it reopens October 1, 2026 (official notice, checked September 28, 2026). The normal schedule and booking details on this page do not apply until the garden reopens.
An 18-acre public garden in Laguna Niguel with plants from Mediterranean-climate regions, including Australian, Chilean and South African gardens. Free entry.
Campus-wide arboretum at Palomar College in San Marcos with themed gardens and trails. Entry is free and a paid visitor parking permit is needed.
A dry garden in Walnut Creek with agaves, cacti, succulents and California native plants, plus a retail nursery. Open Wednesday to Sunday.
A 37-acre garden in Encinitas with 29 themed gardens, 4 miles of trails and a large bamboo collection. Open daily except Tuesdays; advance reservations are strongly recommended.
A large botanical garden in Golden Gate Park, open daily from 7:30 am. Entry is free in the early morning and on some other days; a ticket is needed at other times.
5.5-acre city rose garden in San Jose with more than 4,000 rose shrubs and picnic areas. Free to enter, with street parking; blooms run April to November.
A Mediterranean-climate botanical garden on the Central Coast near San Luis Obispo. The grounds are open during daylight hours and admission is bought online.
Volunteer society based in San Mateo Central Park that keeps a rose garden of over 150 roses, native plant beds and a plant nursery. The nursery is open on weekends.
A 78-acre garden of California native plants in Mission Canyon with about six miles of trails. Advance reservations are required.
A community botanic garden in RiverView Park, Buellton. Open every day from sunrise to sundown with free entry; dogs on leash are welcome.
A botanical garden with a research library in Corona del Mar. Open daily 10:30 am to 4 pm with paid admission and free parking; some areas are closed for construction.
A woodland garden of Asian and California native plants near Glen Ellen, with hiking trails and picnic areas. Open daily; check in at the Welcome Center first.
An 87-acre botanic garden on the Palos Verdes Peninsula. Open every day except Christmas; timed tickets are required, and parking is free.
A 15-acre desert art garden and visitor center at the former Annenberg estate in Rancho Mirage. Admission and parking are free; closed each summer.
A free six-acre public garden in Walnut Creek with a rose garden, children's garden, waterfall and shade garden. It closes for private events.
A seven-acre collection of themed gardens in Lakeside Park, Oakland, including bonsai, rhododendron, sensory and Japanese gardens. Entry is free.
Library, art museum and 130 acres of gardens in San Marino, California. Open Wednesday to Monday; adult tickets $29 to $34 and reservations needed on weekends.
A Japanese garden in Van Nuys, open Monday to Thursday and on the second Sunday of each month. Admission is $5 for adults; groups of 10 or more must call ahead.
A zoo and desert garden in Palm Desert with animal habitats and desert plant gardens. Admission is charged and hours differ by season.
An accredited arboretum with gardens around a historic adobe mill in San Marino. Gardens are open Tuesday to Sunday and closed Mondays.
A nearly six-acre demonstration garden in El Cajon with themed gardens and water-saving displays. Open Tuesday to Saturday with paid admission and free parking.
These are gardens we could check against their own official websites, not every garden in the area. “Free” refers to general garden entry, not parking, tours or special events. We do not show live opening status.
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