9 of The Most Beautiful Rose Gardens in California

Roses are a symbol of love and passion. When words fail, roses express one’s emotions. And when a single rose isn’t enough to do so, you head to a rose garden to properly demonstrate your feelings. Boasting dozens of gorgeous rose gardens, the Golden State never fails to impress when it comes to floral beauty—almost every city has a rose garden to be proud of. Take a stroll through the most beautiful gardens in California and enjoy acres of flora in a variety of colors. 

1. Huntington Library's Rose Garden 

Location: 1151 Oxford Road, San Marino

Roses are red, violets are blue, but at the Huntington Library Rose Garden, that’s just not true—you’ll find the romantic flowers in more than one color. Henry and Arabella Huntington created the rose garden in 1908 for their private enjoyment. More than a century later, the Huntington Library’s Rose Garden is one of the best in California. You’ll find representative varieties of roses spanning from 1504 to modern day. Visit the garden between March and December and enjoy more than a thousand displays of colorful and heavily scented roses. P.S. Did you know that the pathway leading to the Japanese Garden is one of the coolest Instagram spots in California? There’s so much more to this botanical garden than meets the eye. 

2. Rose Story Farm 

Location: 5950 Casitas Pass Road, Carpinteria

Rose Story Farm is a family-grown garden established in 1998. It all started when the founders chose to plant a thousand roses on half an acre of land on their avocado and lemon farm. They hoped to create an old-fashioned rose farm with radiant shades of European and pre-1950s American varieties.  Since then, the garden has expanded to over 30,000 roses with more than 130 varieties. Whenever you visit the charming town of Carpinteria, make sure to stop by the Rose Story Farm to enjoy a fairytale-esque afternoon.

3. Berkeley Rose Garden 

Location: 1200 Euclid Avenue, Berkeley

A fun thing to do in Berkeley includes spending a quiet morning at the Berkeley Rose Garden. The dazzling display of beauty and color is located next to the famous Codornices Park. Here, you’ll find more than three acres of roses with over 1,500 bushes consisting of 250 varieties. You’ll also be exposed to breathtaking views of San Francisco Bay and the Golden Gate Bridge. In addition to captivating views, the garden has a redwood pergola, tennis courts, a semicircular-terraced amphitheater, and some of the best hiking trails in the Bay Area. Not only is the Berkeley Rose Garden romantic, but it’s also super fun.

4. San Jose Heritage Rose Garden

Location: 438 Coleman Avenue, San Jose

Initially cleared for airport safety, the five-acre San Jose Heritage Rose Garden houses more than 4000 flowers, many of which are unknown or recently found species. The beauty of this San Jose rose garden lies in the way it was shaped—the garden resembles a bowl, the bottom of which is five feet deep with six diamond-shaped areas, each containing a different set of roses. Thanks to its unique form, visitors can see every single rose from different angles.

5. Inez Grant Parker Memorial Rose Garden

Location: 2125 Park Boulevard, San Diego

Located in Balboa Park, the stunning Inez Grant Parker Memorial Rose Garden is a sight to behold. The three-acre site has approximately 1,600 roses of more than 130 varieties, including hybrid teas, floribundas, and grandifloras. Each year, the Southern California rose garden introduces new varieties—there’s always something new to marvel at. The garden is in full bloom from March to December, but if you visit between April and May, you’ll be pleasantly surprised. 

6. Municipal Rose Garden 

Location: 1649 Naglee Avenue, San Jose

Named one of the country’s best, the Municipal Rose Garden San Jose lives up to its hype. As one of California’s most visited spots, the garden features more than 3,500 plants of 189 species. The Municipal Rose Garden in San Jose is at its prettiest in early May—this is when the flowers bloom. Take your significant other on a stroll at this five-and-a-half-acre garden and admire the delightful displays.  

7. Exposition Park Rose Garden 

Location: 701 State Drive, Los Angeles

Just across the University of Southern California, you’ll find the striking seven-acre Exposition Park Rose Garden, also known as the rose garden at the California Science Center. Here, you’ll come across around 15,000 bushes representing 200 varieties of roses, as well as features like a circular fountain, statues, and gazebos. The impressive rows of rose beds offer the perfect backdrop for wedding photoshoots—the garden happens to be one of the best places to propose in California. Visiting the Exposition Park Rose Garden is a romantic activity everyone in Los Angeles loves to do. Lay out a blanket, have a picnic, and bask in the glory of the flowers. 

8. California State Capitol World Peace Rose Garden

Location: 1317 15th Street, Sacramento

The California State Capitol World Peace Rose Garden features about 650 roses and more than 140 varieties. Boasting a Victorian design with walkways that lead to a small courtyard, this is one of the best rose gardens in California. Walk towards the elegant Peace Pavilion in the center of the garden, which is surrounded by a heart-shaped seating wall. Stroll along the pathways and find inspirational messages written by young adults, engraved on plaques, and distributed between the rose bushes.

9. Morcom Amphitheater of Roses

Location: 700 Jean Street, Oakland

Opened in the late 1920s, the eight-acre Morcom Rose Garden features more than 6,000 rose bushes of different varieties. Winding walkways, gorgeous stairways, fountain cascades, and a reflecting pool adorn the flowers that bloom the brightest between May and October. Before officially becoming a rose garden, this place was known as Linda Vista Park. Many people choose the Morcom Amphitheater of Roses to host celebrations, whether it’s a wedding or graduation—the central walkway and pergola create a beautiful background.