university of california riverside botanic gardens

2travelaqui

I love walking thru these gardens and seeing what is in bloom and also finding a spot to sit for a few minutes to just enjoy.

prettylilly

Miles of trails meander through native California plantings, plus species from Australia and South Africa. My favorite part of the garden is the Cactus Garden, just to the left of the entrance. Plants people will appreciate that specimens are (usually) carefully labeled. The spring and fall garden sales are amazing events. This is a beautiful, quiet, and under-used community amenity-- probably because it is hidden away at the edge of the UC Riverside campus.

islandstylenumber1

Just go! Great hiking trail - not too strenuous with multiple options/paths. The rose garden is breathtaking when in bloom. The butterfly garden's beautiful -- look for the small wooden sculptures in the shape of desert animals. Nice quiet outdoor place to take kids!

LAtoEverywhere

This botanical garden is located at the far end of the campus. There is parking right next to it for 25 cents per hour. There is a restroom once you enter. There is a donation box requesting $5. It is worth it. This was a lot nicer than other gardens we paid more for. On the LEFT is the best area in my opinion, there were succulents and cactus on the sloped levels and they were all beautiful and interesting. We walked around the other areas too but the succulent area was my favorite. We only spend 1.25 hours so didn't see it all because we were headed to the Mission Inn for a tour. We could have easily spent longer. Don't miss this,

lashv

This is a great place to walk and reflect. There is a turtle pond and plenty of learning possibilities about different plants. They need more bench seating in tranquil spots.

TravelerMR

We love visiting botanic gardens and this one had some interesting plants and buildings, like the bio-dome. There are tiny signs indicating what the various plants are, but interestingly enough, no signs to get you to the highlighted places on their map. It's small and hard to get lost in, but would have liked a sign. The "nominal" parking fee is truly nominal - 25 cents/hour, however, there is no change given. So bring 1-2 quarters. One hour is probably enough time and no one would need more than 2 hours (in my opinion).

Chuck8700

Located on the UCR campus. They have a small parking lot, which is crowded on many days. They have a large selection of plants, flowers and trees. It is a pleasant and calm area to visit. Great for photography.

silando2001

I never expected such a beautiful garden. This botanical garden rivals anything I've seen in SF or LA. If you have time, this is a must see.

StagerNana

Really enjoyed the diverse gardens showcasing the desert plants. There were a few items not identified, but overall a beautiful place to wander around for an hour or so.

mwood103

The UC-California at Riverside botanical garden is a gem in the world of desert and dry habitat plants. The garden has very nice compressed walking paths (nearly 4 miles of switchbacks).. much of it shade covered by drought-tolerant trees, and a range of beds that cover many dry habitats from around the world (California, Mexico, South Africa, Australia, Madagascar, etc.). The plants are very healthy and robust, wtih excellent signage, and - at least this June- there were many in flower. If you are botanical garden affionado, do not miss this one... especially good early morning when it is still cool, or if you can arrange to be there in the evening. Many events at UC-R have banquest there, if you are going to one of these be sure to allocate time for a walk.

onikkio

go check it out! great place for photos ! beautiful garden area !!!! and not to mention it's FREE ! ! ! ! ! ! !

DrMitch

Surprised to find this very pleasant and shaded area on the campus. Trails meander into the adjoining low hills. Much of it is shaded in this semi-arid region. If you are on campus you should check it out. Only qualm is the timed parking by UCR.

marilyn1955

Lots of flowers, herbs, trees, and well marked plants. There are areas with shade, and plenty of privacy. A lovely setting for a calm restful afternoon.

aprilibro

The Botanical Gardens are delightfully peaceful. There is parking close by, and nice walking trails. Plants are grouped based upon origin or climate. The overall feel is less formal, and a nice place for a relaxed afternoon. They do have a very good plant sale in April and October, a website, and the Friends of the UCR Botanical Gardens group is very active.

ginastera

A quiet, beautiful, colorful place. Great for photography, for a walk, for sharing with kids. But hot in summer, as someone else said. While you're at UCR during your non-summer visit, plan to check out the many other events of interest - music, dance, theater, lots of interesting lectures...