As you’re exploring the striking garden, you’ll come across cloud forest species from Central and South America, as well as Southeast Asia. While the Mediterranean and mild-temperate climate plants are impressive, it’s the montane tropic species that steal the show. Feast your eyes on the large variety of flora and immerse yourself in a symphony of nature.
Ruth Bancroft Garden and Nursery
Location: 1552 Bancroft Road, Walnut Creek
Home to over 2,000 cacti, shrubs, trees, and succulent plants, the Ruth Bancroft Garden and Nursery is a world-renowned 3.5-acre wonderland. Gardener and landscape architect Ruth Bancroft created the garden on her husband’s grandfather’s fruit farm. Bancroft started out with a single succulent plant and soon expanded to a larger and greener space. Now, visitors flock to the California botanical garden, which showcases fabulous blooms and highlights plant structure and texture in robust plantings.
From aloes and aeoniums to Yuccas and Butia palms, you’ll find countless plants native to Mexico, Chile, South Africa, and Australia. As one of the best botanical gardens in California, this tranquil sanctuary features the most beautiful photo ops in the Bay Area.
Mendocino Coast Botanical Gardens
Location: 18220 Highway 1, Fort Bragg
47 acres of canyons, wetlands, coastal bluffs, and a closed-cone pine forest make up the Mendocino Coast Botanical Gardens. Established in 1961, this Northern California botanical garden features the most scenic landscapes in the entire region. Rhododendrons, fuchsias, and camellias radiate botanic bliss as you discover the depths of this natural wonder.
Visit any time of the year and you’ll see native species blooming in their natural habitat, with verdant areas brimming with heaths and heathers. Stroll along the trails, marvel at the flora, and soak in the stunning ocean views at this IG-worthy spot in the Golden State.
Central California Botanical Gardens