University of California Botanical Garden

I regret that I only allocated 2 hours to tour these gardens. I could have spent all day here! It's absolutely beautiful! If you go, I recommend that you wear good shoes because there's a lot of walking and some of it is a hike uphill. I definitely got more than my 10,000 steps for the day.

The UC Botanical Garden is a hidden gem. It's like traveling the world in a day, with plants grouped by continent. It’s incredibly peaceful and not crowded. Give yourself at least two hours to really soak it all in; one hour just flies by!

UC-Berkeley Botanical Garden is hard to find but worth the journey. Their 34 acres of hillside plantings are arranged with representative species from 9 regions around the world, plus several "Special Collections" and a handful of glasshouses AND a redwood grove accessible from the parking lot. There are some steep grades along the walking paths, and the directional signage takes some concentration to follow, but the wander will reveal LOTS of beautiful & unusual specimens you're unlikely to see anywhere else. The staff is very friendly, the gift shop is small but thoughtfully stocked, and the $4.50 for public parking is reasonable considering the remoteness of the facility & relatively small number of spaces. My wife & I used a reciprocal garden membership card for free entry (gift shop discount, too), but the standard admission prices (with a few discounted categories) are also competitive with other gardens we've visited around the country. It was definitely worth a roundtrip from our Livermore, CA lodging spot, and we would return.

Started in the Mather Redwood garden. Felt small and the trails were disorganized. Moved on to the California garden which was my least favorite. Varieties were presented on the side of eroding hills. Need more plants of one variety to improve the presentation. Poorly designed. The use of one switchback path would help the experience. The random paths leave you feeling unsure if you have seen everything. Spectacular rose garden in the far back, randomly placed. My favorite was the Asia garden and Desert of America.

It's a humongous garden. You need a few hours to cover the entire garden. Some of the plants were a little dry because of summer heat but overall you can tell a lot of effort has been put into labeling all the plants/trees and grouping thr plants of each region of the world in one spot. I'd definitely go again and spend more time there.

So pretty! I went to a wedding here and it was gorgeous. The redwoods are great and it’s right by the university. We saw multiple banana slugs during the wedding. Great place for a walk, even better for a beautiful wedding with the amphitheater and tall trees.

Beautiful day to enjoy a walk, stroll, hike through the botanical gardens. So many different environments to walk through. We got a membership so we can keep coming back to enjoy at our leisure. I love that you can learn and enjoy the beauty of nature.

There is a wide variety of plant species from different countries. The carnivorous plants especially caught my attention and left a strong impression on me. It’s a wonderful place to take a walk in nature, relax, and discover different types of plants and trees..

Absolutely beautiful. There are thousands of plants, flowers & trees to see. 34acres, so wear comfortable shoes. It's nice to explore on your own but I'd suggest a tour. The redwood feature is separate and a must see. You can spend 2-4 hrs taking everything in. We're definitely returning in the spring! #GoSee

We came to the UC BG with our family. The trip here was designed for our grandchildren and this was a great spot to walk around with everyone for a while. It is a short ride from their home (and where we were staying) and there was plenty of parking [for a very nominal fee.] You enter through the main gates and immediately see the splendor of all the beautiful plants, flowers and trees. We were here in November so plants were at a minimum and did not venture into the greenhouses around. The trails they have set up are wonderful. For people who cannot climb steps there are plenty of places to walk and also plenty of benches around to relax around the nature. There was also a large field to relax in. The trails were set up by regions and the displays were perfect. I am looking forward to a return trip and as a photographer I look forward to all the great photo opportunities.

Omg!! What a great experience. It was so many plants/flowers and wooded areas that just blew my mind. I absolutely can't wait to go back because it was areas that we rushed past due to only paying for 2hr parking. Please don't be like me, give yourself enough time just to sit and take everything in. Then you also want to give time for the Redwood trees located in the parking lot. I'm still thinking about everything I saw. The fee for Adults is 18.00 then my UC Berkeley freshman was free! Also if you have another student from any school bring proof so they can get in discounted for 12.00

My friend (geochemist) and I (geophysicist) visited the Botanical Garden at the University of California, Berkeley in approximately 2017/2018 for one of its plant sales. She was really interested in getting a few plants for where she was living and was asking around and I was up for the event. We arrived a few minutes before the sale started, meaning we were there for the doors to open. As we were students, same Ph.D. department, our admission fee was zero dollars. I had expressed concern over my abilities to take care of a plant if I got one and she informed me that it was like a three-ingredient recipe - plant, water, and soil. Once the doors opened, we were off to see what we could find. Offerings were varied and she got a few items she put in a small cardboard box. In an indoor plants section, I found a few smaller items. Once of the succulents caught my eye, a South African variety with part of its named spelled Lokii. Since I had previously lived in South Africa and was 1/4 Old Norse and before (ancestors from north of modern day Bergen, Norway), I decided to purchase the plant. The botanical garden worker/volunteer in the section was friendly. Somewhere between me picking up the succulent, carrying it in its small square plastic container in my two hands, and finishing payment, someone informed me that the soil I would need for the succulent would need to be purchased elsewhere. We were fortunate to arrive and finish shopping when we did as the check-out/payment line was starting to get longer as we stood in line. The parking lot was crowded both on arrival and departure. While taking care of the succulent, I had a few questions come to mind that I was thinking about returning to the botanical garden to ask. However, I got the soil and/or watering wrong and the plant had died within a few weeks and before I could return to the garden.

After lunch at Tokyo Feng Ramen I headed up to the UC Botanical Garden. Natasha is coming tomoroow to pull weeds and I wanted to buy a Douglas iris for her to plant while she's here. I had a memory, obviously wrong, that they had disabled parking near the entrance so I pulled in in front of the ticket office. Mary came out and explained kindly why I couldn't park there, that it was a bus stop. Then she pushed the stoplight button, stopping traffic, and guided me into an acceptable short term space, suggesting I turn on my flashers. I walked over to the plant shop and as I walked up the stairs I was greeted by a gorgeous yellow fremontodendron that called out to me, capturing my attention. Mary went to check their iris stock and then called Charlie, who's the most knowledgeable about irises. Charlie came out and showed us where the irises were but when I asked for a purple one he said they couldn't be sure of the color until they bloomed and that would be next month. so I will call and save myself a trip. As a consolation prize I went out and picked up the fremontodendron, which was heavier than I expected. I brought it in and paid for it. The man behind the counter offered to carry it out to my car, an offer I gratefully accepted. When we got outside he turned me over to Mary so he could man the shop, which had customers. Mary loaded it in my car then stopped traffic again so I could get out and I was on my way.

Had a great time coming here on a beautiful weekend day! The garden is pretty big and the plants/trees are separated by region. I really enjoy the terrain, some of the pathways are flat and paved, others are hilly and up stairways, and some are dirt. Along with this, some areas are very cool and breezy and others are more open and warmer. It's just a very great place to walk around and get to experience the diverse plant/tree life on Earth. Plus, it's pretty big so it feels like you're there by yourself even though there are dozens of other people in the garden (only passed by other guests a few times) so it's a great place to relax and clear your mind. In terms of parking, there is ample parking at the lot across the street ($1.50/hr). I walked around the garden leisurely and was able to see everything in around 2.5 hours but there are a lot of benches and tables (and a grassy open area) so you could definitely stay for a lot longer. Definitely come here if you enjoy walks/nature/plants/trees!!!

Lovely experience. We just had 90 minutes and got a great feel of the area. Helpful staff. Beautiful views of bay and bridge.

My boyfriend took me here on a date a couple of months ago. It's a pretty large garden with plants and flowers from various countries/continents. They had a section that had palm trees from different regions that was interesting to see. I also liked the garden portion that had various Chinese herbs and different medicinal plants. They also have a tropical house that has a number of tropical flowers and plants. It's worth the visit. Make sure to wear comfortable shoes since some parts will have dirt paths and also slight inclines.

I would give it 10 stars if I could!! Beautiful, clean, huge garden with thousands of different plants, trees, and flowers. Great use of space- so much to see you can hours looking around. My boyfriend and I loved the African Garden, Japanese pond, and Chinese medical garden (so unique! haven't seen this in any other botanical garden) You can see newts swimming around. Perfect place for a date, family outing, or a solo stroll.

This is an amazing experience. The gardens are laid out by geographic regions. The map shows all the trails through the gardens. Plants are well marked. It's a nice size. Lots to see but easily done in an hour or two. They're are paved paths and dirt paths. The gardens are on a hillside so there are slopes on the paths. Beautiful and peaceful experience. Be sure to save a little time to walk through the Redwood Grove across the street.

Very nice park even in the winter. Staff is friendly and helpful. Loved the redwood grove. What a pleasant surprise. It was a little more noisy than I wanted with street and construction pollution.

Came to my first wedding here, the Redwood Grove (where the ceremony transpired) and the botanical garden (where the reception transpired) is gorgeous and well decorated. The grove truly transports you to the heart of nature in the Bay Area. The garden is very well tended to and the greenery is breathtaking. As far as the reception building went, it did have a bit of a scent to it and there was enough space out on the deck, by the open bar, and in the dining room to intermingle with other guests. The garden has a set limit on guests (75 if I remember correctly) and a list of predetermined caterers, which makes planning a tad easier but also more inflexible (which is either relieving or frustrating, depending on your perspective on the guidelines). Definitely try to cover up and/or wear bug spray if that's your concern! We got a few bites here and there, but it does come with the territory of visiting such a diverse garden on a hot summer day.

Hidden location within the outskirts of Cal's campus. The parking lot across the street is not free (must pay using the kiosk or app) that fills up when busy. There is a Bear Transit shuttle (Hill Line) that runs from the BART (https://pt.berkeley.edu/sites/default/files/hill_line_full_2017-18.pdf) that is another option if you have time to transit. The gardens are marvelous. Entry is free with a American Horticultural Society (SF Gardens of Golden Gate Park) membership with reciprocity. Many hidden benches to rest upon. There are hills to walk up. Trekking poles may be a good idea to bring, with your layers. Beautiful views of the Bay and clean restrooms are always handy dandy. Spend at least 2 hours of your time here. You will feel refreshed afterwards.

Good place to cry your eyes out, talk about deep feelings, and picnic! If you're more of a botanist (I'm not) there are fun plants to really check out that are plain crazy looking! I love the Madagascar plants personally. During wet season there are NEWTS! They breed in the lake next to the Japanese section. There are also events and plant sales going on! EBT - $3 UC Berkeley student - Free

We arrived later in the day and didn't realize that the Botanical Gardens closed at 5pm and the Redwood Grove and Glass houses closed at 4pm. We paid the entrance fee of $18, which is free for UC Berkeley staff and students. No reservations were needed and since we arrived at 3pm, it was pretty mellow. The Redwood Grove is a separate entrance with a code and included in the price, but since we started at the Botanical Gardens, it was closed by the time we finished. The gardens are beautiful and the wide variety of plants, amazing. We were able to see many plants in bloom, including the blue Puya, which apparently takes 6-8 years to bloom. The medicinal garden was fun to walk and read through. Make sure to check out the carnivorous collection in the greenhouse. Some are sold near the gift shop as well. A climate controlled greenhouse with a variety of amazing cacti is also a must see. There are many places to sit and a grassy area that would be great for a picnic. Definitely a relaxing, educational, and beautiful garden that's worth the visit. A parking lot, along with an overflow lot is available. The pay station was out of order when we visited, so parking was free.

Great experience, lots of rare trees, plants, and other flowers. When you come here DO NOT WEAR YOUR NICE SHOES, there are lots of mud patches that may make you slip.

This gorgeous botanical garden is packed with an impressive diversity of plants from every continent except Antarctica. It was easy to navigate and the signage was quite good. I liked that there was a Chinese medicinal garden with descriptive uses of each plant, which is a unique feature I haven't seen at many other gardens. I spent about 1 hour appreciating the flora, but you could easily spend an additional hour if you really explore every little footpath. Only downside is that parking is not free.

Pretty garden with tons of stuff to see! I especially enjoyed the Redwood Grove across the street -- it was so serene and felt so isolated from the rest of the city. I also loved that the garden is tiered and has multiple "levels," which makes things a lot more interesting and feels more interactive than if you were to just walk down a paved path. You're encouraged to make a reservation online, although we were able to purchase tickets in person. Regular admission is $15, and seniors/students pay $12. Docking a star because the parking situation is a rough. The parking lot attendant was unnecessarily aggressive, yelling and making us to turn around even though there were empty spots in the lot. We had to head up the windy road to another set of parking lots and take a shuttle down to the garden, which leaves every 15 or 30 minutes, depending on the day. A good number of the greenhouses were also closed or blocked off to visitors.

This is a real treasure of botanical garden, I especially enjoyed the herbal and medicinal and traditional Chinese plants displayed in the garden the director was nice enough to show us around and tell us some of the family history for the garden

Flower Supply Established in 1890, this 34-acre botanical garden, located on the UC Berkeley campus, features one of the most disparate collections of trees, flowers, flora and fauna we've ever encountered. Initially, we were a little suspicious of this place charging $15/per to visit, but after just a few minutes, we realized it was worth every penny. The Good: *As mentioned above, with over 10,000 types of plants--many of which are rare and endangered--your mind will boggle at the sheer diversity. *Despite the sheer number of plants, it is actually quite an organized mess with all the plants being sorted by continent and/or country of origin. *Docents are very well-informed and friendly. *All the plants have signage that tells you the botanical name, scientific name and area of origin. There's also an indicator (red dot) if the plant is endangered or rare. *Be sure to visit the Mather Redwood Grove adjacent to the garden (you'll need a code to enter) and bring a lunch to enjoy amongst the redwoods! The Meh: *Road to get here is a bit hinky, but just go with it. *Unless you're a member, you MUST have a pre-purchased ticket with a specific time to enter. I'm guessing this is a Covid Policy holdover, which is slightly annoying. However, we had no issue buying tickets for an early weekend sojourn. *Speaking of The 'Rona®, if you're still a bit covid shy, I def recommend bringing a mask for when you're in the greenhouses. Warm, damp environments are viruses' best friends. *You have to pay for parking, as well as your ticket. They charge $1.50/hr, I believe, if memory serves. *There's a chance the Mather Redwoods could be closed if there's an event being held there. The Ugly: *For the most part, the walking paths around the garden are in rough shape. I highly recommend wearing sturdy walking shoes and def don't try and push a stroller around unless it's a beefy off-road type like a Bob® Ironman™. TLDR: Spectacular garden that's unlike any we've ever seen. It's definitely a must-see for nature and plant lovers alike.

Discovering the botanical garden was a happy accident that happened last spring. A friend was seeking some quality time in nature and invited me to come along. I found the redwood grove to be enchanting, and it feels like you are in another world once you walk through the gate. The actual botanical garden is more expansive than I expected. Well maintained, with plants flourishing from all over the world. It is truly a huge assortment of things to see. I recently came back to introduce a friend to the garden and decided to buy a membership. The staff was very friendly and helpful. The redwood area seemed to get some tlc, and it was easier to navigate the paths. And I'm looking forward to going back and discovering how the botanical garden changes throughout the year. A bonus of the membership is that you get to visit other gardens for free because of their reciprocity program. Win win!

This is such a beautiful treasure hidden away a bit off of the UC Berkeley main campus. So many students here don't even realize this awesome perk we have while we're here. Tickets are reasonably priced if you're not affiliated with the university at $15 each. Currently, the park only takes reservations for entry (besides members, their guests, and UC Berkeley affiliated individuals), but you can basically get a reservation the same day for your desired time. The garden is divided into sections based on the area the plants are from. When you walk in, you are greeted by super cool cacti in different shapes and sizes. This is my favorite part of the garden since I'm a huge fan of succulents. Some cacti are so fuzzy that you want to touch them. You can find more succulents in a greenhouse-like structure. Right next to the cacti you can find the African plants collection which has some super cool looking flowers. As you keep going, there is the Japanese pond and in the spring newts swim around in the pond and also dash across the garden, so watch out for them! There are also signs telling you to keep an eye out for newt crossings. Further into the garden, in the Mediterranean section, you can climb up some stairs to get to a bench which provides a beautiful view of the San Francisco Bay and the Golden Gate Bridge. It's a great place to sit in the shade to get some rest and enjoy a snack/lunch. The park is a great place to have a picnic with friends and the rose garden is the perfect place, especially in the springtime when all the flowers are in bloom. The grassy lawn next to the Chinese Herb Garden is great for picnics too. Some interesting plants to look for here include the puya flowers which generally bloom around May to June. They are in the South American section and come in a variety of interesting colors including blue, green, and black. The flowers also look like plastic because they are so shiny. Who imagined that mother nature could create something so cool? Pictures really don't do them justice -- you gotta see them in person! Another interesting plant to see would be the banana tree. Prior to visiting the garden, I had never thought about how bananas grew. This really opened my eyes to how such a common fruit is grown. I absolutely love coming to the botanical garden. It's so relaxing and there's always something to see regardless of the season. There's honestly so much I could say about the garden, but how about you try to experience it in person for yourself?

I love visiting the botanical garden whenever I find myself wanting to surround myself in nature. It's such a great place to walk around with a friend, catch up, and talk about life. It's incredibly peaceful and quiet and you can definitely get lost in the abundance of nature. My favorite spot to rest at is the bamboo grove (unfortunately though so many people carved into the bamboo :( ) as well as near the small waterfall near the lotus pond. Of course there's many areas to rest with the benches provided. Definitely also check out the garden's shop! They sell books, puzzles, and other knick knacks as well as plants!!

This is such a beautiful garden hidden in the hills of UC Berkeley. Admission is $15 and reservations are required unless you're affiliated with UCB. The garden is organized by region, such as Asia, Australia, Dessert, Chinese Medicine, Farm, etc. The plants are all identified and labeled. There is a main path that is paved, but there are also many offshoot paths that you access via stairs or stepping stones or bridges. There's so much to explore and enjoy. The waterlily pond was so beautiful, you want to jump in. There are also benches located throughout where you can sit and breath in the beauty. A few couples took advantage of the benches to enjoy lunch. The only reason I took off a star is that it is not really meant for those with strollers or wheelchairs. We came with a little baby and we not able to explore many of the paths. But we'll definitely come back again to explore all those paths we had to skip this time around. We might bring some lunch to enjoy under one of those shaded benches too.

This place is such a marvellous gem. If you like nature, feel good in beautiful places, take nice photos of nature, be in a calm place then this place is the spot. Depending on your relation to the university one pays a different price point. No more than 15$. It's worth for a nice calm day out with nice blue skies. If it's your first time make sure to take a map either physically or on your phone and coordinate the compass and you'll be good. I admire how the garden is divided into continents in order to get a taste you'll like in your surroundings. My favourite is the American dessert, asia, Chinese medicinal herbs, and the herb garden. Those are the ones I've visited and found myself there in order to explore. But this place is huge. I was looking forward to the rose garden but I'm assuming December is not the season? There's a lot of uphill and twist and turns in the gardens so keep that in mind. I look forward to other gardens in soon to come visits. Do come here.

What a beautiful garden on the UC Berkeley Campus. After getting a behind the scenes Yelp Zoom tour (thank you Oakland CM Emma) a few months ago, I bookmarked this garden. It was so interesting to learn about the science behind the stunning flowers, trees, herbs and succulents and then be able to visit in person. Each plant is catalogued with a common, family and scientific name as well as where it was collected. A red dot on the label indicates that the plant is rare or endangered. The garden features a vast collection of plants from nearly every continent. There is an emphasis on plants from Mediterranean climates such as California, the Mediterranean Basin, Australia, South Africa, and Chile. The stunning outdoor collections are grouped geographically or by categories. Each section was so unique. Loved the soaring California Redwoods, the Deserts of the Americas, the Japanese Pool, and the Chinese Medicinal Herb Garden. The Garden of Old Roses was so colorful and has a spectacular panoramic view. It was fun to see what is growing in the Crops of the World. Seeing so many cacti blooms was really a special treat in the Deserts of the Americas section. The Beavertail, Scarlet Cob, Pink Easter Lily (which had white blooms) and Echinopsis Cacti were all so unique. This section features some of the oldest plants in the garden. The Asia collection was so peaceful and tranquil. Loved the Japanese Pool which was featured in the Golden Gate exposition in 1939. Interesting to also see soaring Chinese Redwoods near a babbling creek that you can cross on a stone walkway. Definitely go on the side trails through the sections and then sit down and literally smell the roses. We found so many unexpected treasures as we explored on a cool Sunday morning. So magical. Visits are currently by reservation. We used our Mercer Botanic Garden/American Horticultural Society Reciprocal Membership for admission. Parking is a bargain at $1 per hour across from the entrance. And...virtual visits and classes are still available.

Wow! This place is huge and very well designed. Multiple sections with well cared for trails. A wonderful gift shop and natives plants (others too). It was $18 per adult. Arrive early for parking.

A must-see spot if you're a UC Berkeley student- you get in for free! There are so many cool plants to admire. All in all, I spent about 2 hours walking around here. It's a great place to visit with a friend on a weekend. I recommend going during the spring to see most of the plants in full bloom! From flowers to gardens of fruits and vegetables, there's a wide variety of plants to see but the area is compact in a way that you're not walking for hours and hours. There's a cute shop by the exit from where you can buy plants if anything caught your eye as well!!

I had been to the Botanical Garden on the UCLA campus so I thought it would be something similar, a nice getaway on campus to walk around for a little bit between classes. Oh my god, this place is huge! I'm not sure if it's technically on campus; it's far up a hill and hard to access unless you have a car. It's more of it's own entity and rivals the botanical garden in the city in size and diversity. The gardens are divided by an impressive variety of different geographical regions and subdivisions. My favorites that I thought were unique to this botanical garden were the Herb, Chinese Medicinal Herb, and Crops of the World gardens because it was really interesting to see what many plants and herbs I eat actually looked like in the ground. This as also probably the best labeled garden I've seen so far. Aspiring botanists would love it here. You can take hours here if you are one of those people that really like to inspect every single thing otherwise I'd say give yourself at least an hour. There are many benches along the way to snack or relax and overall there is a good balance of sun and shade. The garden is a bit hilly and a lot of walking so it might not be the best place for people that can't walk too far. Kids might get bored here if they are with a parent that takes time to examine every single plant. Down the street are some hiking trails so you can make an afternoon of it.

Pretty nice place to get out, get some fresh air, and do a little walking. It's best to pay online and pick up your ticket at will call. Parking is just up the hill a little and you can pay by phone. We've gone a couple of times and probably the best times would be in the spring and summer months. Lots of roses and flowers and in bloom. Overall it's a pretty good experience!

If you come in the spring or summer, you will see some beautiful blooms. I once happened to visit while their corpse flower was opening. It was very cool. If you're a UC Berkeley student, you get to go in for free, so take advantage of that benefit whenever you can. Great place to walk around and clear your mind or have a chat with a good friend. I gave it a four because the place is quite boring and sad during off season.. for me at least.

This is such a beautiful and relaxing place to walk around. My favorite spots were the Japanese Pond which was located in a lush forest, and the bamboo forest. Both of these areas were nice and cool to walk around in even on a hot sunny day. Covid updates: - currently open with reservation only - masks required on entire grounds - bathrooms are open, but water fountains are off - almost everything open, though glass house closed, and some trails were closed off - benches available. - gift shop is open- they allow 1 customer/group inside at a time, and there are some plants displayed outside for sale (not many) Kids: 6 and under free! I think this is a great place to take young kids. Personally my toddler hates hiking, but is amenable to this type of what I call 'stealth hiking' where we walk around trails, play games, and explore, and she had a blast here and probably walked around 7K steps. As far as strollers the main pathways are cemented and stroller friendly, but most of the smaller trails to explore are dirt and narrow so plan on bringing a baby carrier. No pets allowed except service animals.

Yooooooooo this Garden it's more like a private forest with thousands of plant species. My partner brought me here for a date and I was in awe of all the beauty that nature had to offer. I will advise to dress very comfortably as if you were going camping or hiking. Because when I heard Botanical Gardens I thought it was going to be cute view with tents and butterflies floating everywhere with a leisure trail. Now don't get me wrong in the beginning there is a butterfly garden unfortunately due to Covid there were restrictions. There is also a tent where you can buy house plants. Now as you trek into the deeper parts of the garden be prepared for some intermediate hiking. You will however not be disappointed. Pro tip, parking is little confusing make sure to take a picture of your license plate when buying your ticket because you will need to type in your plate number it's really silly. Also the park offers refreshing snacks and beverages. This came in handy because when I went to the park it was very very hot and I needed a drink LOL.

I have been to the San Francisco Botanical Gardens several times & love it there. Recently me & some friends decided to check out the UC Botanical Gardens at Berkeley. The Berkeley Botanical Garden sits in a valley of hills with taels trees with branches that reach to the sky. It is truly a Living Natural History Museum. There are so many cool trees, flowers, & plants here that it feels like you are traveling around the world looking at them that would be native to various regions in the world. The main difference between the Berkeley Botanical Garden & the San Francisco Botanical Garden is that it is more scientific here. Botanists & Professors at Cal use the garden here for scientific research. Each tree, plant, or flower has a numeral that can be looked up to find more background if you have that interest otherwise you can simply enjoy. The gardens here were founded about 100 years ago & Cal was founded about 150 years ago. The gardens are vast so it is great to lose yourself in it all for awhile taking in the beautiful foliage as is especially a welcome respite for an urbanite living in the City.

Love plants? Love walking up hills? This botanical garden is for you! Parking Paid parking is required, $1.50 an hour. Admission Admission is $15, probably the most I have ever paid to get into a garden, but it's a donation to UC Berkeley. I did NOT make a reservation like the website said to do, and it was fine. Time Spent I spent about 1.5 hours here and I didn't cover the entire grounds. It's a huge plot of land with flora from every region in the world it seemed. I enjoyed this as an outdoor walk. Some of the paths are unpaved/just dirt like other reviews mentioned. Some paths were muddy as well from sprinklers. It would be very challenging to walk around here if you have mobility challenges or a stroller/wagon. Overall, I liked the UC Botanical Gardens- particularly the food gardens and pond area where I saw a real newt! I would recommend this as a good outdoor walk if you don't mind the admission fee.

Took my 14 yr old autistic grandson here a few Saturdays ago. He absolutely loved it, was very helpful to his 73 yr old grandmother going up and down the hills. We did become a little lost, guess we should take a compass next visit. It also happened to be a plant sale day. So it was fun letting him select 2 plants. Gardening is a great outlet for him:-)

It was our first time at UC Berkeley Botanical Garden, and it happened to be one of the hottest day. We were sweating since there was not too much shade here. The garden was well maintained, with plants flourishing from all over the world. The garden was beautiful and had wide variety of plants. We were able to see many plants in bloom. We had to park at the overflow lot which was available, and they had a shuttle which is very convenient. We had to pay for parking at the pay station. There's a place where you can purchase plants, cold water, and snacks. Cold water helps a lot when you go on a hot day. I would recommend people to bring lots of water and put plenty of sunscreen.

It's a well curated botanical garden...what kinda monster would give it anything less than ? Enjoy the walks here and learn a little about plants. If you can go to the redwood grove (I'm not sure when its open to public) go...the light will shine through the trees and make you think you're on Endor.

I highly recommend coming to this beautiful spot. Not only does it have great views of the bay in some locations but the diverse amount of plants here is amazing. I definitely need to come back to visit the rose garden area during full bloom. I could only imagine how a photo would look under the arch. I was a bit jealous of the couple that brought food and was eating at the picnic table underneath the bamboo-- highly recommends. Considering there are some uphill areas, I appreciated how many benches were present throughout for those that may want to take a breather. The fountain near the Asian gardens was beautiful, especially on a clear day. The Arid House and Xerophytic Fern Display had some really cool plants and great information/background on them. It definitely is huge so recommend bringing comfortable shoes, water, hat, and some good energy! Definitely suggest this place for a family and anyone looking to enjoy some nature! I'm excited to come back to have a picnic with my friends or read a book at one of the benches.

Probably the most unique botanical garden I have been to because of the redwoods which was located outside the garden and gated with a code that you can get from the ticket booth. I felt like I went to Redwoods National Park once I stepped into the area. The main garden was also very beautiful and peaceful and a great place for a stroll even in the winter.

Amazing gardens! Bring a picnic and stay the day. Everywhere you look flowers and beautiful plants. Hills and uneven paths. Great fun for the whole family. Pond with red newts in the Asian garden area. Plenty of shade.

What a treat to visit this magnificent botanical garden while we were in California! It was wonderful to visit countries via the flora grown there on our walk - Asia, Australasia, California, Deserts of the Americas, Eastern North American, Mediterranean, Mexico & Central America, South America, South Africa, Crops of the World, Herb Garden, Chinese Medicinal Herb Garden, Garden of Old Roses and Tropical House. Lots of water features throughout the Asian gardens. Hubby recognized some of what was in South America where he used to live. This place is huge! Definitely get your walking steps in if you do all of it. One of my favorite parts was seeing the Alstromeria en masse. I love these flowers because they have the longest staying power in bouquets from the florist here. You cannot grow them here though. Absolutely stunning! I would recommend it to anybody!

Man, 4.5 years of attending Cal and I'm embarrassed that I never been to the UC Botanical Gardens. I was so focused on surviving grad school and finding work afterwords that I never stopped to smell the roses. I am glad to finally visit the Garden over a sunny March afternoon with the wife. Its definitely 5-star. In a few hours you can enjoy the beauty, science, and yes lots of steps that UC Gardens have to offer. PARKING: Although they have a pay lot, it fills up quickly. We had to park near Lawrence Hall of Science for $1/hour and hike downhill (and later uphill!) for 15 minutes (~0.7 miles). Be sure to photograph your license plate, NOT the parking stall number. FEE: $12 is very reasonable. Plan on spending 2-3 hours here to maximize the fun. Note they have picnic grounds and an indoor conference center with restrooms, seating, and outlets. INDOOR GARDENS: I enjoyed the Cactus room - all shapes and sizes of these thorny plants from different deserts across the world. One was shaped like a gigantic mask while another looked like it had blonde hair! Another cool exhibit had carnivorous plants. Venus Fly Traps are cool but wait till you see some of those Pitcher Plants. The real big ones can even catch rodents! OUTDOOR GARDENS: You don't get a sense of how big this place is until you arrive and wander the perimeters. They literally have gardens with plants and flowers from all over the world. My favorites were the Herb gardens and seeing all the colorful magnolias and rhododendrons. The Chinese Herb Garden is especially hilarious since each type of herb cures a particular ailment in gory detail. You can definitely get your steps in wandering outside. FACILITIES: Thankfully, they have clean restrooms here, especially inside the Conference Center which is great for meetings and events. I saw one group set up a buffet lunch here. They also have picnic grounds outside and plenty of wooden benches to take a break.

What a beautiful garden! Upset it took us this long to finally check this place out. Very large garden, we spent about two hours here and I could have stayed longer. Sadly couldn't see the redwood area because of a wedding event happening there. So plan accordingly if you want to check it out. We got there right at10:00am opening and the wedding started at 12:00. Workers did not inform us of the wedding or else we would have done the redwood area first. Parking was $1 an hour so not bad at all!

We were in Oakland for a wedding, and our "next day" activity was a visit to the Botanical Garden. It was amazing. Beautiful walks, plants segmented into regions of the world, and the carnivorous plants (think venus fly trap) greenhouse was fascinating. Way too much to see in about 2 1/2 hours (we also had a late lunch group planned), but definitely worth it. The wedding couple had also never been here even though they lived in Oakland, and felt the same as above, so one of the other wedding guests bought them a longer term pass.

The UC Botanical Garden is absolutely breathtaking. If you have an appreciation for plants and their origins, this is the place for you. Due to COVID-19, you need to place your reservations online, but it was fairly easy. There is also very clean bathrooms, an area to refill your water bottle, benches, and picnic tables. They sell no food, but allow you to bring your own to picnic--which we did. The parking is very easy to get to and an affordable rate. The admission price allows you access to the main botanical garden and adjacent to the parking lot, an area filled with Redwood Trees and amphitheater (don't forget to ask the person at the kiosk for the code to get in). The garden itself is divided into different sections to represent the country it grows from. Though walking around is easy, to truly have the whole experience, it is not stroller friendly as many areas has steps/stones for you explore. There is a good balance of shaded and sunny areas. Be sure to wear shoes as areas can be dusty, wet, or a little muddy. The diverse selection of plants and trees were very impressive. My family was there from 11am-4pm with desires to explore around more. At the end, we stopped by the gift shop where they sell some plants and succulents at a fairly reasonable price. I highly recommend this place!

Hidden way past the Memorial Stadium, the UC Botanical Garden is a must see experience for Berkeley. Bringing a huge mix of plants, flowers and trees this place melds each region of the world fluidly. Sitting near the top of a hill with limited parking (hopefully you weren't there during a wedding), this place can be easy to pass if you weren't looking for it. The prices for entrance are very reasonable at $15 for an adult and $12 if you're a student. But if you're hesitant because the price, don't be. The gardens themselves are kind of a wonderland of sorts. Even if you're completely unexperienced to these type of things like myself you can become immersed into each region quite quickly. In particular some of my favorite areas were their garden of old roses which I thought was a play on older rose species but in fact they were old roses. If you get tired as well the entrance also offers some space to sit and look over the entire garden. Additionally, there's a small lawn area that provides a great place to take a nap and it seems welcomed as various patrons do so. That said, I would note it's important to not destroy any of the plants. While I didn't see it directly, people carved their initials in the bamboo forest. All in all, this place is definitely a must see if you want a different experience from the rest of Berkeley but probably even the Bay Area.

For those unaware that the University of California had a botanical garden...oh wait, that would be me. Color me embarrassed that I am a Cal Bear and lapsed alumnus who didn't even know these 34 acres of greenery existed before I found if in the Yelp app. Hell, I didn't take Botany 101 when I was a pug-nosed freshman. I think I took Astronomy 101 because I heard i could nap in the observatory. No plant love from me. But we all mature, don't we? Besides, the garden is off Centennial Drive in Strawberry Canyon up in the Berkeley Hills. Who went there when I had dorm bong parties to attend? But all these years later, I can appreciate the diversity of plant life to be found here, over 10,000 different plant species laid out geographically so there is some semblance of order to what you see. The plants were clearly labeled along paths that wind on the slopes. From my layman view, the most impressive section is the New World Desert where an amazing variety of cacti and succulents thrive (photo: http://bit.ly/2CYhhFL). Nevertheless, the entire layout is worthy of a couple of hours of botanical perusal. Admission is $12 except for students and alumni who have paid their dues. Yep, I paid the $12. RELATED - Looking for other gardens? Here's a collection of oases I have seen and reviewed: http://bit.ly/2ySCmNr

I had a lovely time. Remember to where comfortable shoes. This location was bigger than I thought it was.