UC Santa Cruz Arboretum & Botanic Garden - Santa Cruz, California

The UC Santa Cruz Arboretum & Botanic Garden is a must-visit destination for anyone interested in plants and nature. Located at Address: Arboretum Rd, Santa Cruz, CA 95064, United States, this arboretum and botanical garden is home to a diverse collection of plants from around the world.

The garden's specialties include rare and endangered plants from California and Australia, as well as a variety of other regions around the world. Visitors can explore the gardens at their own pace or take a guided tour to learn more about the plants and the garden's history. The garden also features a gift shop, making it a great place to find souvenirs and gifts.

The UC Santa Cruz Arboretum & Botanic Garden is not only a beautiful tourist attraction but also an accessible and inclusive space. The garden offers wheelchair-accessible parking and entrances, gender-neutral toilets, and picnic tables. It is also a LGBTQ+ friendly and transgender safe space, making it a welcoming environment for all visitors.

The garden is also a great place for families, with kid-friendly hikes and public toilets available. The garden has received many positive reviews from visitors, with a average opinion: 4.7/5 from 797 reviews on Google My Business.

One of the unique features of the UC Santa Cruz Arboretum & Botanic Garden is its focus on conservation and research. The garden is home to many rare and endangered plants, and it plays an important role in preserving these species for future generations. Visitors can learn about the garden's conservation efforts and see these rare plants up close.

The garden also offers a variety of educational programs and events, including workshops, classes, and lectures. These programs offer visitors the opportunity to learn more about plants and gardening, and to connect with other plant enthusiasts.

In addition, the garden offers a variety of on-site services, including garden tours, research opportunities, and volunteer programs. These services make the garden an even more valuable resource for the community.

Reviews of UC Santa Cruz Arboretum & Botanic Garden

Dan Gutierrez

5/5

Amazing place for a nice and beautiful walk. Even with a bulging disk I am able to enjoy a nice sunny day with my walking stick and get some exercise in. I've been 3 times and I still haven't been able to see the whole place. It's so beautiful and all the plants are labeled so I'm constantly stopping to take pics of interesting plants and bugs.

Anne Margaret White

5/5

Quiet, secluded spot to enjoy unusual plants. Have never been to a botanical garden with an ocean view. Great info on the plaques. Didn't understand the significance of the geographic regions highlighted until I saw the map showing that they are all the same distance from the equator as California. The Future Garden area is a great use of geodesic domes. The location and seclusion made it feel as if we had arrived in an alternate future. Loved the succulent and scent gardens and works have loved to see these as expanded areas. Learned a lot in the California welcome garden. Would love to have seen a return to parking and starting from that area. Fascinating stop!

Katrina Valuyeva

5/5

Lovely collection of cactus, Australian,
And South African plants and trees; the honeybees and hummingbirds were all over the flowers in mid October here.

Tily Chao

5/5

This is a peaceful and uncrowded park-like area for those who want to take a walk while checking out different plants. The arboretum is divided into different areas. Each area focuses on plants in that region, such as South Africa, California, New Zealand and Australia. It is very beautiful and well kept. There is a gift shop, too, where you can purchase some special plants. Highly recommend it for those who want to enjoy a walk in a natural and serene environment.

Jauni Hopesphire

5/5

I've come here ever since I was a small child. I love it here! So many beautiful plants. I love hearing all the birds. Sometimes you see little families of quail walking around. It's peaceful and beautiful and just a great place to take a walk, take some pictures, read, picnic, sketch, etc. Love it here! And they do a free community day once a month. Definitely worth checking out!

Annika T.

5/5

This Garden is worth a visit, especially on a nice and sunny day. The aromatic garden especially! Keep your eyes open for lizards, squirrels, and the occasional snake that can cross your path. The admission price for visitors is fair for the upkeep of the sprawling area.

Nancy Lee

4/5

Probably better in the spring but it was still fun to look around. We were disappointed the gift shop was closed when we were there but overall it was a good experience.

Nayo

5/5

What an incredible place to explore and appreciate the wonder of creation. Not enough time to walk the many acres, not enough money to buy all the plants in nursery. ? Smart enough to take pictures and enjoy for years to come. Definitely a wonderland to visit.