Get lost in the beauty of 5 LA Botanical Gardens – A Garden Lover’s Dream Come True
by Stefanie Michaels
One of the best things about living in a big city, is the diversity of things to do. One could get lost all day visiting unique spaces across town and LA’s Botanical Gardens, a place to immerse one’s self into beauty and tranquility.
Botanical gardens are beautiful places to unwind and take in nature. The botanic gardens listed below offer visitors a chance to see and learn about a wide variety of plant species from different parts of the world.
- The Los Angeles County Arboretum and Botanic Garden – The Los Angeles County Arboretum and Botanic Garden is a 127-acre botanical garden in Arcadia, California, USA. It was established in 1947 on the former site of the Santa Anita Nursery. The park features a diverse collection of plants from around the world, including a rare and extensive collection of camellias and unique and historical landscapes such as the recreation of a historic California ranch. Over the years, the garden has undergone several expansions and renovations to become the renowned botanical destination it is today, attracting visitors from all over the world to experience its beauty and learn about plants and horticulture.
- The Huntington Library, Art Museum, and Botanical Gardens – More than just a garden, this historical locale features over a dozen themed gardens, including a desert garden, a rose garden, and a Japanese garden, and has an extensive collection of rare and exotic plants. Art installations change seasonally.
- The South Coast Botanic Garden – This garden features 87 acres of gardens— a desert garden, a Mediterranean garden, and a subtropical fruit garden.
- The Rancho Santa Ana Botanic Garden – Dedicated to the study, conservation, and cultivation of California native plants, it is home to over 2,000 species of plants.
- The Theodore Payne Foundation for Wild Flowers and Native Plants – Located in Sun Valley, California, this space is dedicated to the preservation of California native plants. It offers classes, events, and has a collection of over 800 species of plants to learn about.
TIP: Can’t get to a garden near you? Check out how to grow your own.
A little History:
The first botanical garden in Los Angeles was the State Botanic Garden, established in 1876 by the California State Agricultural Society. It was located near today’s Pershing Square in downtown Los Angeles and was one of the first public gardens in Southern California.
The garden included a variety of plants, trees, and shrubs, a greenhouse, and a horticultural hall. Despite its popularity, the garden was eventually relocated, and its original site was developed for other uses.
The State Botanic Garden was relocated several times throughout the late 19th and early 20th centuries as Los Angeles grew, and the surrounding area was developed for other uses.
In 1947, the Los Angeles County Arboretum and Botanic Garden were established on the former site of the Santa Anita Nursery in Arcadia, California. The new garden was established to preserve and showcase the plants and horticultural heritage of California and the world.
These days, the Los Angeles County Arboretum and Botanic Garden serves as a botanical garden for the Los Angeles area and continues to offer a diverse collection of plants and educational opportunities to the public.
Did you know?
The state plant of California is the California Poppy (Eschscholzia California). The California Poppy is a small, orange, and yellow wildflower native to California and is well known for its bright, showy blooms that grow, especially in coastal areas and throughout hillsides of SoCal.
It was designated as the state flower in 1903 and symbolized the state’s natural beauty and diversity.
The California Poppy is often associated with the state’s abundant and colorful wildflower displays, which occur each spring and are a popular tourist attraction.
