Rhododendron Species Botanical Garden

Wonderful place to spend an hour or two, wandering under a canopy of large evergreen trees. The multitude of rhododendron varieties are astounding - from all around the world. Best to visit mid-March thru mid-May to see the full spectrum of colors, but any time of year provides a nice getaway from reality. It's only $45 for an annual individual membership, which is a steal - allowing you to return again and again as the seasons change.

These are amazing gardens. We loved the great variety of rhododendrons and azaleas. The park is easy access from the freeway and once you enter, it feels like you stepped into a well groomed garden far away. This is a hidden gem and I recommend it for any visitors wishing to escape some of the more touristy places while visiting Seattle. Parking is free and prices are $10 per person with discounts for seniors and military.

A unique garden experience unlike any other, this outdoor adventure is more than 2 acres long! Highly recommended if nature compells you or your family, visited once but will visit again in the future to see new hosting of seasons!

Beautiful gardens! Tons of plants and flowers to look at. The walk is absolutely beautiful and we had a great time!

Beautiful place to walk and see nature. Not a hard walk, there are so many types of Rhododendron plants. Plants mainly bloom in April i believe, but I enjoy the peace and quiet here. Parking is plentiful and workers are kind.

Great place to see nature and how beautiful it is. There is a great variety of Bonsai Trees that are amazing for their care and age.

One of the best gardens around. The temperate/sub-tropical conservatory is fantastic. The grounds are superb. Their plant sales area is excellent with many plants you can only buy there. Also right next door is the bonsai museum. An annual membership here is worth it.

Friendly staff, nice walking trails, plants blooming over multiple seasons. Credit cards only. Nice little gift shop, plants for sale, and a public restroom, and free parking. The trails are a little difficult to follow at times but there are a lot of loops so you can't get too lost. Hundreds of plants bloom during different seasons so usually there will be plants in bloom most of the year. Also has an encloses greenhouse with some tropical plants. Lots of birds and bees flying around. You get a lot ofnoisee from the nearby freeways. Overall, it was a great place to visit and takes around one to two hours to fully explore.

- so many Rhododendrons, ferns, and other plants- It's my first time here even though I've lived in WA state for almost 20 years. This garden is quite far from me, and it's hard to visit when your husband isn't into plants. I came here with my friend on Friday morning and it's not crowded at all, I've seen many 7 groups of visitors when I left around 1pm. The garden is huge with tons of Rhododendrons, azaleas, and ferns. Most of the Rhododendrons bloomed already, but a small portion is going to bloom in the next week or two. There is also a sales area where you can get quite a few diff types of Rhododendrons home. I've enjoyed my time here and will try to visit again in the near future... Plus there are so many nice Korean restaurants within 5 min drive here. Ps. I also love how they labeled a lot of their plants, or you can use the picture search function on Google to help you identify the plants.

General admission is $10. My group of 5 had a great time walking through the paths. There wasn't much blooming, but lovely and peaceful nonetheless. There was also an area dedicated to bonsais next to the actual garden that was an entrance-by-donation basis. Parking was plentiful when we went on a Tuesday morning.

Looking for a free experience not too far from urban living? This place offers a sanctuary of nature, place to cool off in the heat and serenity from urban noise I didn't know about this secret gem until my date introduced me... great date experience!

Beautiful, best time to go is mid-spring. The garden needs better directional signage

I had been to the Bonsai Museum in late summer 2020 when there was an exhibit about the Japanese American Incarceration. I knew it was way past rhododendron season so we didn't attempt to go next door and it was a hot day. My cousin and I had talked about going and we finally paid a visit on Sunday Memorial Day weekend. Almost a little late for rhododendrons but we were able to capture some. Also, the garden is large we spent three and a half hours walking around snapping photos. There is more to see than just rhododendrons lots of other flowers in bloom and a green house. They did a beautiful job laying it out and one of our favorite areas to tumble upon was the Meadow. We knee the blur poppies were in bloom so we were in search of the and they we're worth it. The Handkerchief Tree was another favorite of ours as well. The $8 entry was well worth the price for the amount of town we spent on the property. I feel like many people don't know about this hidden gem of a space would definitely return hopefully a little earlier during rhody season though glad we went when we did we may not have seen the blue poppies! We were alo sucky not to get hit with rain in Federal Way as we heard it was pouring in Seattle. Just a few of the photos captured.

What a beautiful place! After visiting Soos Garden in Auburn, we drove to this garden. We roamed for quite awhile. It was August, hummingbirds were flying about, tons of gorgeous ferns, flowers and well maintained trails made it delightful to get lost in. Being a photographer, my camera got its work out. Will be back in 2024 for sure. The ladies in the gift shop were friendly and helpful. Its truly a beautiful garden to walk around. We met a older couple visiting from England, and we kept running into them (I think we both kept doing some loops, not quite sure where we were, and refusing to look at the map), they were so awesome to chat with. It was a great day!

Living up to its name, this botanical garden is overflowing with bountiful species of rhododendrons. The garden spans 22-acres with paths branching out in all directions leading to different highlights such as the Rutherford Conservatory, Gazebo, Big-Leaf Rhododendron Garden, and Blue Poppy Meadow. Trails are primarily dirt and gravel with occasional inclines, which can be slightly difficult for accessibility. The hour-long visit was enjoyable even in the early afternoon heat in the 80s. There are a lack of signs so it can be a bit confusing to navigate. The Meadow is an open field where people were having picnics. Next to the Visitor Center has the Plant Sales Area selling many of the plants seen throughout the place, with some in clearance for 50% off. Behind the conservatory had a food truck with tables and chairs. Adult admission costs $8. The garden is also connected to the Pacific Bonsai Museum that is definitely worth checking out. Across the street down the road has two parking lots. We parked at Lot B at 11 AM on a Saturday, which was almost filled when leaving near 1 PM.

I'm disabled and they only provide three parking spaced at the entrance and no other parking except for a lot some 600 feet away and a bit of an elevated walk. Drove 40 miles to discovered they could not accommodate my disability. Can't give it more than one star because I was unable to enter the grounds. If you have a disability I recommend you not visit this garden.

Snag 15 plants here. I love the selections and small pots available. Hope to come back again in fall to see what's left.

Beautiful flowers and well maintained trails. A place to bring family and friends to unwind in nature. The only negative the sounds of the freeway but there's lots of parking and plants on sale. The bonsai garden is unique and leaves you in awe. Lots of buds still to bloom so will visit again soon

Absolutely lovely garden!! This place has been on my bookmarks for awhile, but I've always questioned if I really want to pay $8/per person when I can find very similar things all over the sound. The answer is yes, that price is definitely worth it! I've been watching their FB for weeks and decided that now is a great time to go. There's a ton of colour all over the place with plenty of plants that are budding and will likely be displaying their colours in a few short weeks. As you may have guessed by the name, this place has a lot of rhodies from all around the world. They also have a bunch of unique trees and other types of shrubbery. They also have a plant sales area that has a lot of really lovely options and it makes me wish that I weren't a serial plant killer. The paths all well maintained and there's plenty to see here, definitely worth the trip & the money. If you're looking for the flowers I'd say go now/within the next few weeks.

This is a very lovely northwest styled garden. As gardens go, it's a little out of fashion as rhododendrons are, but it's very beautiful. There's a lot to love here and garden nerds like me can geek out on the sheer variety of species present. It's also a very nice place for family photographs and many people were taking advantage of that fact. There are some challenges in the garden, however. I have a feeling it's a Covid related problem though: There are a lot of very weedy areas in this garden. Buttercups abound in places, they're not native, they're invasive and they quickly take over damp places. Hopefully there's a cadre of volunteers that can tackle that enormous job now that Covid is diminishing. I really enjoyed their nursery as they have a diverse selection of rhodies that are not usually found in other nurseries. It's a lovely garden to wander through for an hour or two.

It was a great day full of beautiful flowers today. I highly recommend this place to enjoy the nature.

I buy all of my rhododendrons here. They are beautiful, well cared for and an amazing selection! And I am supporting a good cause!

Rodys, Rodys everywhere... so many that this is one of the largest collections of Rhododendron species in the world! There are about a thousand different types of Rhododendrons found in the world and you won't have to travel across North America, Asia, Europe and even Australia to see them, because there are over seven hundred different species right here! The most beautiful and largest number of Rhododendrons come from Asia and you will be amazed at how many they have! The Rhododendrons are planted in accordance with the geographic origin of each species so you will have a better idea of what species are found together and notice some of the similarities of those from the same region and the differences as well. If you didn't know it, Rhododendrons are found in a wide variety of shapes and sizes. Some can grow higher than one hundred feet and some look like a type of ground cover. You will see leaves smaller than an inch to longer than three feet. We generally picture the typical Pacific Northwest leaf but the shape also varies widely. Colors are found in brilliant shades of red, purple, magenta, pink, yellow, white, orange and even a type of blue. There are also mixtures of colors and a wide range of hues. If you have never had the opportunity to visit this natural gem I'd totally recommend it. But do plan your visit when there are Rhododendrons is bloom. It is still a beautiful place in the off season but it is truly breathtaking in the spring. The history of this garden began in 1964 when a board member was trying to import Rhododendron cuttings into the United States from the United Kingdom. They were not able to import them directly due to import restrictions but they could import them into Canada and then into the United States. Where there's a will there's a way! The garden was first located in Eugene Oregon and then moved to Salem Oregon. It kept growing too large for its locations so finally in 1974, the Weyerhaeuser Company leased a permanent site of 24 acres for the gardens at no cost. (Thank you Weyerhaeuser!) The garden keeps expanding its collection and we are fortunate that they now have different Rhododendrons from Myanmar, Guangxi and Papua New Guinea. If you want to see the tropical varieties of Rhododendrons we are fortunate that the Rutherford Conservatory has tropical rhododendrons and orchids that you can appreciate year round. Besides the huge collection of Rhododendrons there are other things to see as well. There is a a field of beautiful blue poppies that is something you have to see to truly appreciate. We were fortunate to see them in bloom. There is also a magnolia grove and azalea collection as well. Our state flower here in Washington is the Pacific Rhododendron, (R. macrophyllum), which means a type of rose tree with large leaves. This type of Rhododendron grows in the wild from British Columbia into southern California. Its flowers are typically various shades of mauve, pink and white. Their hours are... 10 am - 4 pm /Tuesday - Sunday They are closed on Mondays as well as Thanksgiving, Christmas Eve & Christmas Day and New Years Day. Admission is $8.00 for General Admission and $5.00 for Seniors (65+) & Students with a school ID. Children under 12 years, active and retired military personnel and Weyerhaeuser employees can enter for free. This is a beautiful place and definitely worth a visit. You will not be disappointed.

We were lucky to have a sunny Saturday during this otherwise miserable late winter, and we made the drive to the old Weyerhauser campus (looks like a set for a Walking Dead episode) and the adjacent Rhododendron Species Botanical Garden. I'm very glad we did and I think we'll be back many times this spring. There were almost no cars in the lot, which made me worry that we'd come too early in the season for things to be in bloom, but NAY, in fact, they have such a wide variety of species that there are many blooming already, while many others are just beginning to bud. The little information handout that you're given for the self-guided tour of the Garden is updated over the course of the season to keep pace with who is currently in bloom. The tour took us about an hour and was easy outdoor walking with lots of stops to read from the info handout or the small placards near featured plants. There are, of course, rhododendrons galore, but also lots of other plants from the overstory (Douglas firs, among others) down to the understory, ranging from ferns to salal to blue poppies (which were just starting to pop up when we were there). The rhodys come from all over the world, including the Northwest, but most of the early bloomers seem to be from the Himalayan area. One neat feature is the Stumpery, a type of Victorian garden that is built around upturned tree stumps. When I first read that, I thought it sounded like a clear cut, but it was actually quite beautiful and wild. Another cool feature is the Rutherford Conservatory, a large greenhouse-like building in the center of the garden with lots of fascinating plants, many in full bloom and all close enough to get a good look at. Definitely worth repeat trips...they do plant sales too in case you spot a variety that you decide you just can't be without. Entry is just $8 per adult, and it's adjacent to the awesome Bonsai Museum.

The Rhododendron Botanical Garden is located at the same place as the Bonsai Garden (it's to the left of the front entrance and Bonsai's on the right). It's $8 for regular admissions and $5 for seniors and students (w/ an ID). Many plants, mostly labeled, as well as a small pond and greenhouse. Great place to purchase small plants and tour around with family and friends. You have to take a short walk if you decide to park to get there. I saw various types of rhododendrons, ferns, and shrubs from different origins.

Been here twice now, once in March and then again in May. I'd recommend coming here in April between the time all the babies and bulbs start surfacing (in March) and the time when everything is flowered and over grown (in May). It's $8/person to get in. They give you a self guided tour map, which in my opinion is terrible. It's hard to follow, hardly provides you with any information, and is difficult to navigate. Both times, my fiancé and I just got lost navigating all the trails. There's no real science to it. The second time, we discovered small paths we didn't know about the first time. The freeway is literally right next to the area, so it can be loud and not as peaceful as you'd think. We tried sitting on benches to enjoy the setting, but the noise was just terrible. Of course, the purpose and best part were the flowers plants. As a plant lover and gardener, I do have to say they have a wonderful variety of species and flowers. The gift store has an area outside where you can buy plants from them. A little over priced, so I'd just wait till the off seasons when things get cheaper.

Went to the botanical gardens today paid eight dollars after viewing the sites which had no flouring rhododendrons which was disappointing but wrong time of year we went to go see the bonsai exhibit come to find out it's $10 donations so we had to pass on that kind of disappointing that it was a separate exhibit

It's not just rhododendrons, so don't be fooled. But of the rhodos they have, it's a marvelous collection. I was almost overwhelmed in trying to take the whole garden in. It's so well pathed and organized. They even have a green house in the middle with some smaller species and beautiful flowers. It's not a bad thing to get lost in here because you'll enjoy every minute of it. There are so many different species in this garden. I had to change the batteries on my camera 3 times from all the pictures I took. Just simply beautiful. All the colors are so vibrant and I keep saying it but just simply beautiful. The price is a modest $8 for such a beautiful garden. I went when they had a Groupon and it was well worth it. You might think you're going the wrong way once you drive around the Weyerhaeuser campus, but keep going and you'll find it. Free parking and very quiet so you can enjoy the experience. The gift shop is cute too. And you think that is all? NOOOOOO! There is an adjoining bonsai garden which is included in the price. These bonsais are marvelously crafted and many are quite large. Again there is such a variety in the species/styles of bonsai. Bring good shoes with a little bit of a slip resistant sole because the ground can be moist in areas, but this garden should not be missed! www.rhodygarden.org

With the current President, I haven't been feeling in a Federal Way - particularly with comments that the fire that almost burned down my house could have been prevented by raking the forest. I'm also not feeling in a rhododendron way. I appreciate that they have an impressive variety of the species but the bushes don't have high appeal like some of the non-rhododendron plants like the towering Himalayan giant lilies and delicate blue poppies. I'd return to the bonsai next door (see www.yelp.com/biz/pacific-bonsai-museum-federal-way), but not particularly interested in returning here. Being freeway close is convenient for driving but is not ideal for a garden due to the noise. Plenty of parking as it appears that the Weyerhauser headquarters is eerily vacant. Allow at least 45 minutes to visit.

Omg this place is beautiful! I could spend hours and hours here! Not to mention they have a lot of the plants that are showcased in their gardens for sale in their nursery. I will for sure be back!!

Weaving paths made for a peaceful and beautiful day. We were a few weeks late to see the full blooms but it was still amazing.

Definitely the prettiest place I've ever been. But there is a little lacking for visitors. There is no sign in the parking lot directing to the pedestrian path, which left some in the parking lot confused. Admission is affordable. But make sure you ask where to start your tour when purchasing, as no direction is given. It is easy to miss major parts of the garden. I highly recommend venturing down to the pond. It's gorgeous.

Loved coming here on Mother's Day. Many plants are blooming at this time of the year. Beautiful!

Oh what a joyful "wilderness" of trees and giant shrubs and swampy areas and lovely walks. When lots of things are in spring bloom it's staggeringly beautiful but it's amazing in all seasons and an ace number one easy hike for all ages. Whether just soaking in the naturalistic structure of an international garden, or using the woodland gardens educatively, it's an experience of unequivocal perfection. There's additionally a bonsai museum right next door! Like two perfect dreams in one.

This is a beautiful gem of the Tacoma area. We must have spent about 2 hours wondering around the various paths. There were beautiful flowers, breathtaking ponds, and other secrets to discover. Friendly for all ages and fitness levels. Worth coming back again and again to see all that the garden has to offer. There is also the Bonsai Garden right outside the main entrance that was beautiful (and free!!).

There is so much to see here. I take my family here to walk around all the time. They love seeing the different plants and flowers growing during different time of the year. They also have a great membership and great deals with there plant sales! Truly a gift to have these gardens here in PNW. Also the Bosnia garden is free to walk through but the rest of the park is only a few bucks to get into. I recommend the membership, you won't be disappointed. One of the best gardens I've ever been too. Beautiful selection and very peaceful.

Great gardens 5 Star...BUT the ONE STAR is for IRG (new owner of Weyerhaeuser property) which hires a security guard who bypass white guys eating lunch in their big black truck and focuses in on a van of diverse youth volunteers to hassle until, for eating lunch, I step in... A white guy, and his attatude changes. Watch out for a good rousting if you're not a middle-aged white guy in the parking lot by security. But I want to make it clear, five stars for the garden.

Being here in the area for about a year and a half I feel like there is still so much to see! I finally made it to the Rhododendron Garden just a few weeks ago. I came back from a trip to Wyoming and Colorado when most of the Rhododendron's were past their prime in blooming but when we went here we still got to see some very nice Rhododendron blooms. Like any good botanical garden they have a host of other plants thst were in their blooming prime time which was very nice to see! There are trails that go all over the grounds and go in every direction but all eventually wind back to the main office where there are gifts and where you pay the entrance fee. There is a small, but interesting green house that contains many tropical plants inside which is also cool to see! Scattered amongst the plant life is glass art, many resembling plants and some looking like the Venus Flytrap from Little Shop of Horrors! There is a section near the front where you can buy plants as well as a bargain or clearance area where you can get some good prices and what looks like to me relatively healthy plants!

This is such an amazing cool place. Totally worth the admission because ous also not crowded. Lots of parking available. The bonsi section is unique and they look fake. Great day trip with the kids.

This one was a definitely a shocker for me! I expected to just be going to a small, cute park. but the place is HUGE! It has paths all over that leave you feeling submerged within PNW wilderness. It has plenty of benches that allow you to simply rest, breathe and enjoy the beautiful, and not to mention native, gardens. Makes sense that is has earned the title of the largest Rhododendron collection in the world. Not only does it have rhododendrons though, it has a multitude of gardens and conservatories to get lost in. The one thing that sort of draws away from the experience is the constant road noise from nearby I5, but that definitely does not ruin the experience.

Another hidden gem in the Northwest. This is one of the largest collections of rhodies in the world with species from around the world. In addition, there are other smaller gardens like the iris field, the pond, fern garden, conservatory and some very rare blue poppies. Of course, spring is the best time to visit, but there is always something blooming for most of the warmer months. Be sure to check in for your plant sale discount.

Nice place to visit and see all of our areas best greenery in the very best way possible. It's also nice because you can see the Weyerhauser building in all it's glory before things change. Bring the entire family and explore the trails and facilities of the Botanical garden.

Went for the blue poppy festival. Not a ton of blue poppies but the ones we saw were stunning. The walkable trails are lovely for all abilities and the bonsai displays are amazing. Wonderful place! We would love to go again!

What's not to love about this place! The rhododendrons are beautiful and the bonsai's are amazing! And very relaxing and beautiful day spent outside looking at beautiful specimens.

The Pacific Rim Bonsai Collection, next door to the entrance of the Rhododendron Species Foundation Garden, has the most marvelous collection I've ever seen. The RSF is best when there are rhodies in bloom, but there's lots of other beutiful plantings to see year round. Traipse down to the pond with the bamboo around it.

My daughter & I spent a Saturday afternoon trying to take in all that the "garden" had to offer but the task was too much for us. The garden was prolific with all types & species of plants & it was quite enjoyable for both of us. We will definitely be back in the summer months when the gardens have more flowers to enjoy.

I absolutely love the rhododendron garden. It is truly a beautiful, relaxing and magical place. There are a plethora of rhodies---as you would expect and Japanese maples and other shrubs that make you sigh. The gift shop is lovely and the assistance is great. The staff is very knowledgeable and will help you find the rhody or plant you are looking for. You can buy plants all year round, however, the spring and fall plant sales are excellent. If you are looking for a place that is a feast for the eyes and good for the soul, to be surrounded by folks that respect nature, this is the place for you.

The Rhododendron garden is quite a place. Nestled inside a woodland forest is this amazing oasis of Rhody plants. Who knew there were so many species of Rhododendrons?!? I didn't. This is truly a place to take kids, grandma, or just your pals. I visited n the spring and the colors!!! Oh the colors!!! It was amazing! I hear moms get in free for Mothers Day. I also visited in the fall and the fall colors were spectacular. I particularly loved the variety of maples and birch trees and they even have two dove trees on the property. A very unusual tree indeed. I shopped for plants in their pavillion area. Wow! Very hard to find native species and there were so many to choose from, well, lets just say, save your pennies because they are like potato chips! You can't just have one! Seriously, a very impressive nursery and their prices were seriously good. I paid over $50 for a double file viburnum plant at Swansons years ago and it was tiny. They had 5' tall ones for $30!!! Wish I had known!!! Their new conservatory was breathtaking. Tropical and filled with rare species and they had a water fall and huge bolders with plants growing on the tops of them! Just gorgeous! If you stand in there long enough, you can get misted!! Too cool! I imagine they have weddings there! What a beautiful place to get married in or have a party at. Seriously, go check it out. It's a piece of heaven right there in Federal Way!

This is one of the largest collections of rhododendrons in the world. It's amazing at any time of year, and is by no means strictly rhodies and azaleas. There are different garden areas seperated by well maintained paths; an alpine garden, a northwest native plant area, a meadow and a pond, a section that is just azaleas, etc. They sell nursery stock there, and have a gift shop with lovely but expensive books, art, and other pretty things. Admission is really inexpensive, and you really can't complain when you know your money goes to maintain this great garden. Maybe someday the bonsai collection will return, too :) They rent out the meadow for a wedding ceremony venue too! Edit: a very kind note on my review was added by a Rhody Garden Representative to say that the bonsai collection IS open! So you can enjoy that too, all for one very reasonable price :) Edit: the very kind note from a representative of the garden says the bonsai collection IS open! Definitely something to see if you're in town.

AWESOME rhodies! I went a year ago, alone, that sorta sucked, but not the garden, its gorgeous, take a friend, so u have pics of you in them instead of just the pretty flowers and grounds. I kept thinking, what a great place for a wedding, but you have to bring in everything. Or your could just take the pictures there, it would be unique.

Beautiful, peaceful colorful garden. It is quite difficult to find but worth the effort. The bonzwi garden next to this garden is also worth a visit. The bonsai garden is free of charge.

This is real gem of a place to visit. Rhododendron enthusiasts have collected hundreds of species of this genus of plant from around the world over a number of years and brought them to Federal Way and planted them in this garden. The gardens are beautiful with pathways and places to sit and other interesting planting add to the interest and the general beauty of the place. This is great place to see the variability of the rhododendron species. It's also a wonder place to stroll and enjoy the exquisite gardens at your leisure. There is modest entrance fee and the gardens are well worth the price. You can buy some specimens that have been propagated by the foundation if you like to take home for your own garden. Don't miss this jewel in the crown of the area, this exquisite example of long and hard work and dedication to an idea come to life and taken form. See it soon. Take the family. You'll be glad you did.

Great walk around a beautiful area. They have an amazing variety of rhododendrons. They also include many other plants and have something blooming from spring to fall. You can pay a nominal fee during spring and summer. No fee fall/winter. Or get passes for the year of different types that will allow you to take others. One of the places we take visiting family and friends.