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Categories: Botanical Gardens, Nurseries & Gardening [Edit]
200 Centennial Drive #5045"This is our go to place for plants, trees, and garden supplies. We've redone the landscaping in our front yard all courtesy of Evergreen.…" read more »
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I thought I knew plants until I went to this place.
It was a bit overwhelming and they made it not seem so.
They had so many drought resistant plants that I give this place a high five. The brazilian monkey tree was a first for me. I had heard of them but never seen before. This place will broaden your horizans and make you say " Yes ".
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I made it to the Botanical Gardens by accident this past summer, when I'd actually been intending to go to the Rose Garden. I somehow wrote the address down incorrectly and ended up coming here and spent the whole time trying to figure out why there was a lot of grass and ponds and not a lot of roses. Came home and figured out I'd gone to the wrong garden. D'oh!
Fortunately, I still had a nice time walking around and picnicking at the Botanical Gardens. They have a wide variety of plants, the quintessential Japanese Garden, a greenhouse, and yes, a rose garden. The gardens also are free to students (but parking is NOT, boo - unless you have a handicapped placard!). I was pleasantly surprised at how large it was, considering it's on campus. I wouldn't say these are the absolute best botanical gardens I've ever seen, but they are very, very nice.
We came here to check out the amphitheater and the botanical garden conference area.
Margie the coordinator was really nice to show us around without a prior appointment.
I am not sure if the conference area will fit 90-100 guests. It was more suitable for 70 guests. Awkward seating area and I did not see a kitchen area.
Parking owned by UC and there is a fee for parking -- even on a Sunday! $1.50/1 hour.
This is up on a hill, near the UCB stadium. Walking is possible but try to drive.
As you continue along the hill upward, you will reach Tilden Park area. Many couples hold the wedding reception at the Brazilian Room. We only looked from afar since there was private event that day. It looks like your own private estate.
Tilden Park - A definite place to go to if you enjoy riding a bike, running or even BBQing, renting out their facilities.
Lovely garden with wonderful plant collections. Great sections on food and medicinal herbs. The California native plant section is my favorite native plant garden. They have a huge selection of mature plants so that you can get an idea of what that little 4" salvia in a pot will look like when it has a been in the ground for a few years. Large garden and a great place to hike. Walking distance to the Lawrence Hall of Science, which has an outstanding view of the bay area from their parking lot, as well as being a great science museum.
ACHOOO.
my allergies cant take it!
this was nice, but UC santa cruz's gardens are better and have a more exciting variety of crazy and unusual plants.
i like the layout (divided regionally, they even have Australasia!!! wait, what?) and the carnivorous plant house. some of those things could have eaten my entire head. the japanese pond is also a must to check out - i saw a snake and a newt in there! no turtle though :( there are plenty of rest stops and benches at scenic, shady spots, and it is clearly labeled well enough that you dont really need to reference your map much.
maybe i would go if i were a cal student and i got the free student admission, but i still prefer the santa cruz arboretum.
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Hard to believe that few Berkeley students ever bother going to this botanical garden behind the stadium. Every step one takes one comes face to face with a completely different and unique plant.
Consider the carnivorous plants sanctuary. I have never seen that many venus flytraps and pitcher plants in one location. Some of the pitcher plants had traps larger than my hand. Those guys must catch some really big insects.
The Chinese herbal garden helpfully lists the Chinese name of the plant, the scientific name and what the plant is good for.
The cacti garden features cacti in all shapes and sizes - some as big as houses, some that resemble cucumbers, still others tall and reedlike.
Lastly, if you happen to be there at the right time, you might be able to sniff out old Trudy, the corpse flower.
At $7 for adults, the botanical garden is a deal. For students, it is free, and that's a steal.
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A sunny day is well spent here roving through the plants of the world. This 34 acre park is subdivided into continents featuring an incredible diversity of species, some even over a century old! Highlights include the Japanese pond, tropical greenhouse, arid garden, paths through the Australian shrubbery, Brazilian Monkey trees and Chinese medicinal herbs.
They also have wacko plants like sensitive trees, venus fly traps and the largest flowering structure in the world slated to bloom soon: http://botanicalgarden... --- get thee there, and get there quickly!
The landscapes, though only gently manicured, are just gorgeous, and there's many a hidden trail to get lost on or sunny glen to bask in. Make sure to pause and take in the panoramic views of the city stretching from the Bay to Golden Gate Bridges. It's no wonder many a wedding takes place on the idyllic grounds.
An absolute East Bay must.
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The UC Botanical Garden is simply amazing. It is a real treasure and anyone who hasn't been there yet really ought to visit - you won't be disappointed by the plant collection or the spectacular views overlooking the Bay Area. The collections are very well-organized based on the region in which the plants are found.
My husband and I loved it so much that we recently had our wedding in the garden's Mather Redwood Grove. It was such a perfect setting for a small/medium wedding. The grove is a truly magical place. Margie, the rental coordinator, was extremely helpful and patient with us as we planned the ceremony and reception.
Overall, a great place - whether for a weekend stroll through the plant collection or for a wedding ceremony.
I was super impressed by this garden. 35 acres of plant life that is subdivided into regions of the world - Asia, Mediterranean, Eastern North America, South America, Mexico/Central America, Africa, and Australasia. It also has a rose garden, Chinese herb garden, plants from around California, and aquatic and carnivorous plants. The carnivorous plants section were my fave even though the exhibit was a bit small. Great place to take visitors on a beautiful day!
$7 entrance fee but UC Berkeley students are free.
There's a parking lot with a small fee.
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Just spent a lovely day here for our 14th anniversary. Meandered around - loving the first greenhouse with cacti and other succulents and the rose section and the panoramic views of the Bay and the hothouse with orchids and friends and the huge cacti outdoors and the cute newts in the pond. e hung out for a long time on a bench partially in the shade where I read my wife Topdog/Underdog, the fantastic play by Suzan-Lori Parks. Well worth the $7 admission though it points out what a great deal that Strybing Arboretum in Golden Gate Park is.
Bring some water and a lunch and make a day of it. I also really enjoyed taking photos here.
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Fantastic place for a lovely relaxed walk, especially if you enjoy unusual plants. Time your visit appropriately to ensure that your favorites are blooming. There are shady spots and benches.
I enjoyed this place more than Filoli which is smaller and has more of a man-made, manicured feel and is crowded with people that are impossible to avoid.
Parking is about 125 yards away from the entrance. Bring your own water, sunblock, and hat. There is a vending machine for beverages but it was sold out when I went.
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We came here for a wedding. Even though it was raining cats and dogs during the day, I have to say the gardens were really nice. We even got free parking courtesy of the wedding party.
UCB had signs along the path for us to find the wedding area (a little house in the garden). I think we ended up in the house instead of the great outdoors because it was raining hard.
We did enjoy the ceremony here. After that they even served us lunch courtesy of the International House Catering. I have to say that that lunch was the best buffet I ever had! Better than anything you can find in Las Vegas! Whodathought?
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This place is so amazing, it is one of the most beautiful botanical gardens we have up this way. There are so many varieties of rare and unusual plants, common plants and everything in between and it is all so meticulously tended to that you feel whisked away while in the grounds. There are different regions with appropriate plants to each area. Although I am a succulent/cacti girl myself, there is nothing to miss or skip here!
Their garden of roses has a magnificent view of the bay on the clear day with a bench perfectly positioned for a mid-day snack or lunch spot.
My hubby and I have come here for years on special occasions and it is just such a wonderfully beautiful and potentially romantic spot to stop and smell the flowers, enjoy the scenery and each other.
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A few minutes into my visit to UCB Botanical Garden, I sincerely, truly, and with all of my heart wanted to quit my job and apply for a job there, move up to the hills behind UCB and spend my days peacefully tending the sparkling brooks and still mossy pools, pruning the creeping vines in the silent greenhouses, savoring the intense quiet of the ampitheatre shaded by redwoods.
Incidentally, I also bought a sweet Botanical Garden t-shirt, which I am wearing right now. When I return to Berkeley soon, one of the first items on my agenda will be to visit this sanctuary. And probably buy another t-shirt.
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I'm a nut for gardens ..
[ie--see my reviews of Blake house, Marston House]
No I didn't get married here
[ie-- see my review of Berkeley Rose Garden]
But I believe that this garden is like paradise. I trained as a docent here in 1975 or so. Every morning thru the late autumn & winter months, I'd make my way up here & walk thru the gardens to the meeting rooms by the greenhouse; and the FRAGRANCES..wow... whenever I catch a whiff of sage or a native plant, it takes me right back to that wonderful time & place. So we learned the different areas of the garden at that time... and were trained in how to take school groups, college age & adults visitors on guided tours. There was the Indian trail, tropical, natives, etc, etc... I loved them all.
I worked a few plant sales too... much smaller affairs in those days. And every week we had to do volunteer time in the small sales shop-- a small shack by the 'carnivorous plant house", across the path from where it is now. But it was all good fun.
I know the place has changed a lot over the years-- there's actually parking now, and an official entry. i still enjoy just wandering... thru the redwoods, across the meadows, the herb garden, over the beautiful wrought iron bridge. It's like an Eden that you can pretend is your backyard.
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What a great place! I particularly love the succulents and carnivorous plants, but there's something for every plant lover, and it's one of the best places for a quick sneak-away from the hassles of city life.
This is a great botanical garden. They keep their plants very pure and the plants come from all over the world. I've come here a few times on Cal Days when the admission is free, and also during a few biology courses. It's always so interesting to me to see all these beautiful and unique plants from all over the world, as well as the carnivorous plants. This place is HUGE as well, I haven't even covered the majority of the garden yet. Visiting here is highly recommended.
The Berkeley Botanical Garden is a true Bay Area gem. The garden is home to thousands of species of plants from around the world, which are scattered throughout the whole area. I particularly admired the greenhouse containing a huge variety of different cactus...., really cool. The whole area is beautifully landscaped which made walking through the garden even more enjoyable. I was surprised by the size of the place, it is actually quite big, being a garden and all.
Of all the many species of plants, The "Mike JORDan" of them all is the Corpse Flower. The stench the flower emits when it "opens" is similar to that of a decompossing animal, hence the name. Unfortunately, on my visit, the flower had already closed, thus i was unable to catch a whiff of what a decomposing body smells like. (soooo disappointed....)
I'd definitely come again, and I believe they have free admission on the first or last thursday of each month. Plants.... definitely cool.
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WOW! There's a very impressive collection here. Take time to stop and smell the flowers at the Garden of Old Roses. The Crops of the World section has some lesser known food crops growing. There's something new at every corner here.
There are three greenhouses to visit as well -- the Tropical House, the Arid House, and the Orchid/Fern//Carnivorous Plant House. All of these were very impressive.
Don't miss the Cycads -- these are sometimes mistaken for Palms, but are not related at all.
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The gardens are beautiful on a nice day and they have an amazing assortment of plants from all over the world to look at and admire. they even have a small section of carnivorous plants for those of you who are into that kind of thing :-p.
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I was married last weekend at the Redwood Grove. I can't imagine a better mini-oasis amid the city. The Brazilian Room is lovely, but we already knew we wanted to have our reception down near the Berkeley campus.
The location is a little bit tricky, but we distributed self-tested directions far and wide and no one appeared to show up mid-ceremony.
There's not much more I can say about it - if you're considering it as a wedding venue, go visit it and you'll see. If you're having a non-religious wedding, this is the perfect place to get married, as it has a distinctly sacred feel.
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I got married here a few months ago - the wedding was held in the redwood grove, and we had the reception across the way in an old greenhouse that has been somewhat unstylishly converted into a conference center.
Keep in mind that if you're cooking food on-site, your caterer is going to need to bring their own kitchen equipment - there's no stove, and the sinks are awkwardly located. Most caterers are used to cooking outside, or dealing with otherwise non-optimal kitchens, and mine certainly didn't seem to have a problem with it.
This place has a reputation as an inexpensive and nice wedding venue - but there are some weird costs - like the fact that you need to buy parking passes for your guests from UC Berkeley (and which is annoying, because you then also need a way to distribute said parking passes to those guests.) The wedding coordinator, Margie, is very nice and hands-off and straightforward about explaining the fee structure and the venue. She didn't seem especially paranoid that we were out to make her life difficult, or to do any damage to the place, which was nice, and no doubt a benefit of renting a non-historic structure.
After all the fees were added up, renting here costs roughly the same amount as the Mill Valley Outdoor Art Club, but with the added bonus of not having to worry about parking, and the other added bonus of not having noise restrictions. The venue is isolated enough that it really isn't an issue.
Highly recommended.
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One of my five million Filipino aunties got married here last year. It was the first time I'd ever heard of the UC Berkeley Botanical Garden, and finding it was quite a challenge. But sitting in the Redwood Grove, listening to acoustic guitar and watching my aunt and new uncle get married was so uber-cool. For a split second, I forgot we were just minutes away from cars, buildings, a bustling city. I was in a forest in the middle of nowhere.
The reception was held at a hall in the Botanical Garden, and when I cut out during the part where my aunt tried to get me to dance with all the old Filipino ladies, I walked around a bit and got to see some of the amazing flora on display. The carnivorous plants are especially awesome. Such a peaceful and spectacular place to get lost in for a day - especially if you're not the type to go on trail hikes or venture into the California wilderness (like me!).
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HIKE THE NATURE TRAIL! WOW! Many different types of vegetation. No entrance fee. Very relaxing and great photo ops. I came at the end of the day and enjoyed it thoroughly.
This is a world-class arboretum. Not as flamboyant as the SF Botanical Garden, it's more of a museum for rare plants. If you're visiting from out of town with kids, see the SFBG first, but go here if you're a plant fanatic. The vistas are beautiful and the paths are low-traffic (unlike SFBG). They are, however, fairly hilly in spots and can be quite a hike! Bring water & food, as they don't have much in the way of refreshments. Plan on spending half a day. Come in May to see the incredible Puya berteroniana plants in bloom.
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Went here for a friends wedding on a beautiful October Sunday afternoon. The botanical gardens are perched atop a hill with beautiful views of San Francisco and the bay.
There are plenty of little paths setup to browse around the varying foliage. The garden is setup so that plants are organized by region. As you are walking around you'll see sections labeled 'Asia' or 'Africa', which I guess means that as you walk through these areas you'll be automagically transported to the right continent :P
Our friends had their wedding in front of the sun dial and the bride and groom entered through an arch way which was just absolutely beautiful in the evening sun.
My only caveat is that to make sure to plan a trip for a clear day in the Bay Area, especially if you only plan to visit this place once. It would be a shame to come here and have the San Francisco downtown view marred by evil fog.
Wow, as a photographer, I am always looking for new places to go for pictures. This place is awesome, especially for the nature, macro photographer like me!
Yesterday, July 1st, I was looking for something to do today on a day off, and saw a commercial for the botanical gardens in Golden gate park SF, where they were having a butterfly expo. It mentioned on the site about their corpse flower, which I never heard of before. I started researching this flower and low and behold, it turned out the corpse flower at the UC botanical garden had just flowered late Monday June 30Th, and would probably be closed sometime on the 2ND...
I was so excited, and upon arrival to the gardens around 11am, I went strait for the tropical house to see this wonderful LARGE flower, in what would probably be the last hours of it being open. This flower is very rare for a number of reasons that I learned from a wonderful worker, and I think like the head botanist at the garden Paul lichte I think his name was.
after spending substantial amount of time in the heat of the hot house and a wonderful chat with Paul, about the corpse and the miracle berry, I left to explore the rest of the gardens as I found out that there was another plant blooming that is probably more rare to see then the corpse, and that would be the agave cactus.
These gardens are incredible, very maze-y in the lay-out, which is cool, as it allows people like me to just get lost and enjoy what is around.
At the end of the day, as I was about to leave, I saw Paul again near the front, and he was holding a very small corpse plant, he did say that they were going to be selling them soon. we chatted more about the incredible flower, I think I want to buy one now, and maybe in 8-20 years I can stink out the neighborhood!
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I love this place. I first visited the Bot in 1991 or 1992 when I was in architecture school at Cal and we were supposed to design something sited at the Bot. I fell in love with the peaceful oasis of carefully managed greenery, divided into different regions. I remember strolling through with wonder in the California section, rife with all our native flora, to the stark, almost extraterrestrial area dotted with enormous cacti. Then you pass through the calm reflective pools and lakes that mark the Chinese and Japanese gardens and at some point you reach the hot houses where you breathe in the sweetly scented and moist air, perfumed by exotic plants from the tropics.
Some of my best memories from college happened here, and I still try to go at least once a year for a hike through the whole garden.
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I attended a friend's wedding here a couple weekends ago, and it was beautiful. They were married in the garden of old roses and everything was perfect. The couple had a super small wedding and the setting was intimate and charming (complete with vine covered archway that the bride entered through! HELLO! What bride doesn't want to do that?!)
Everything was made even sweeter by the fact that it was supposed to rain the whole day, and the day turned out to be perfect and sunny, clear enough that from the garden's vantage point you had a perfect view of the bay. Perfect.
For those looking for an intimate garden wedding setting, this is a beautiful choice.
holy crap- this place is awesome. it's huge. it's beautiful. the light is amazing at the right time of day if you want to take pictures. i got there a little late- all the "houses" close at 4, so if you want to see more orchids, dry stuff, wet stuff, redwoods, etc, you have to get there a little early, but i did save myself some cash- entrance was free when i got there. i would have given 5 stars, but i'm cheap. the garden really costs $7 and the parking costs at least $2, so $10 is not a cheap day, and i was only there for an hour. the hour was worth it for the $2 parking.
i was rolling in the ground getting wide angles of cactuses, squatting for excellent bokeh, and i even saw newts mating. yup, i did. i didn't take pictures of that though, because i don't have a fancy anti-reflection filter thingy yet. i'll be back soon.
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I've only been to the botanical garden once, for the annual plant sale. The grounds are exquisite, and I'm sure it is a superb venue for many different events; I'd like to make it out there for a more leisurely afternoon.
I'm giving it three stars because ALL of the plants I bought at the sale were infested with mealy bugs, spider mites, or both. I'm not sure how much control they have over this, but it seemed like something they could screen for before charging $10 a pop. (I obviously didn't know to screen for them, and the infestation was so minimal at the time of purchase that I didn't notice anything while casually eyeballing them.)
Anyway, I'm still battling the infestations as they resurge (spider mites love the hot dry weather) and spread to my other houseplants. It sucks! Be wary of what you buy here.
Amazing!
I've been here twice and loved it both times. The gardens are tucked away behind Cal's campus. It is a bit of an uphill walk but you can reach it via bus, as well.
Each bed is meticulously maintained. There are many benches available to just sit around and enjoy the scenery (as well as bird watch, if that's your thing). The sound of the creek can be heard rushing around as you walk around peacefully. The wide variety of foliage is beautiful.
Also, current UC Berkeley Students & LBNL employees are FREE!
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This is where the world told me that I was addicted to Yelp. Literally
So I'm taking the H bus up to the garden and already thinking of things to put in my review. As I get there, I note the different areas with plants grouped according to environment, the small trails that wind around creeks, hidden spots, greenhouses full of carnivorous plants, the serene atmosphere of the place as a whole (obviously manicured but still in touch with all its natural beauty).Then I was going to write some daft Emerson quote and be done with it.
I was going to Yelp the shit out of you, Botanical Garden, and you were going to like it.
Then mother nature kicked me in the crotch and I tripped over some roots from an old Oak tree and my ass tumbled into a creek.
I. totally. ate. shit.
Reality check 2007: you are in the real word you square, shut off and enjoy it. God, I really needed that. I turned my mind off, tuned some Brian Eno on and walked around until a class full of Botany students showed up. A great way to spend the day, if you ask me.... even if it does entail getting your ass handed to you by some foliage.
Tips: CAL students get in for free, and 80% of the time, the work study kid at the ticket office does not give a rat's ass and will let you in if you at least try to say you're a UCB student.
The "H" bus drops you off right in front. It departs 10 mins past every half hour m-f until 6:30 costs $1. (Say hi to Jojo for me, he's my Ghanaian home boy)
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Note: this rating is based on its capacity as a wedding venue.
If your vision of a dream wedding is of one among endlessly tall redwoods soaring to the sky...
If you are enamoured with the outdoors and wish to flit like a wood nymph in the woodsy recesses of a shady grove...
If you wish your guests to sit in a rough-hewn rising amphitheatre surrounding a circular central floor where you - and your loved one - will exchange your vows...
If you wish to be married in a space that is sun filtering through the leaves and birds chirping and brooks babbling...
If you are on a budget...
This is the space for you.
Afterwards, I recommend you choose an alternate reception place... unless of course, you don't mind...
...the very small and very close , low-ceilinged greenhouse-like reception area
...the bare-bones austere walls upon which nothing can be attached
...the plastic folding chairs and matching tables
...the intense heat of the rooms with very poor circulation
...the lack of a kitchen
...having a nice and small, intimate ceremony with no more than 50? guests... (official capacity is at 70)
...dancing outside on the uncovered red-tiled patio
I'd like to give this place 4 stars just for the redwood grove and amphitheatre. The site coordinator is a wonderful, kind and pleasant woman who is exceptionally helpful. Unfortunately, the reception area (the Mirov Room & Terrace) is so sorely lacking in beauty and amenity...
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When I came during the summer, lots of the greenery was brown and dead. Or maybe "sleeping."
Even with everything dead, this place was pretty great. I'm a big nerd for cacti and native Californian plants, and they had plenty of both.
I was also a big fan of the carnivorous plants area. All the plants were beautifully displayed in their little humid glass houses. You can even buy a cute Venus flytrap in the gift shop to take home.
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I love this place. Its fun to get lost in the mazes of fresh flower and see the amazing view of the bay.
Check out the rose gardens and the Japanese gardens. They separate all the categories with certain destinations. Its fun to compare on region to another. I must warn you to prepare and put on your thinking caps before arriving because you can get lost. Getting lost is kinda fun though.. To each is their own. Right?
They do weddings and special events here too for a decent price. They have three different areas you can rent out and do receptions, ceremonies or anything you want. I must add they do have preferred vendors, insurance costs, and a standard fee per hour in which included set up and break down time.
If you rent out the room by the tropical house they will leave it open for you and your guest to explore. Pretty cool!
Keep up the hard work UC crew its paying off!
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I'm happy that I got forced to go here for one of my classes during freshman year... otherwise I would have never known about it.
Worth the trip if you have an appreciation for plants and ecology.
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As a garden to walk around it's great (5 stars). As a wedding venue, not so much (2 stars).
I was surprised to learn that East Bay Express readers had named the UC Botanical Gardens the best place to get married in the East Bay. Yeah, getting married outside is nice and all and there are plenty of flowers. However, the building for the reception is pretty much looks like a high school cafeteria with a greenhouse-like ceiling. There are many nice places to get married in Berkeley. Choose one of them.
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This CAN be an amazing opportunity to view plants from all over the world, but pick your season carefully. There are times when the garden is dormant or being reworked by volunteer gardeners. This takes time.
It is a gentle, good walk, tho', for out of towners, visitors, or relative.
My husband woke me up this morning and said that he would take me somewhere special today. Said special place turned out to be the UC Botanical Garden.
I thought it was a beautiful garden. $5.00/each got us a day of wandering in a rather magical place. So many beautiful plants (from all over the world, in fact), lots of benches throughout, and at certain vantage points in the Garden, you can catch glimpses of terrific bay area views. The garden is 35 acres or something wild like that, so wear your tennis shoes. Silly ol' me wore these cute sandals, which was not a good idea, it turned out. Pebbles kept on getting in between my toes! Otherwise, I had a dandy time. I'd definitely come back...maybe for a picnic next time (you can eat at the picnic tables and/or lawns).
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Neighborhood: North Berkeley Hills
Category: Botanical Gardens
Neighborhood: Downtown Berkeley
Category: Botanical Gardens
Neighborhood: North Berkeley
Category: Local Flavor
Neighborhood: Grand Lake
Category: Botanical Gardens
Berkeley, CA
Category: Venues & Event Spaces
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