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Situated in Golden Gate Park, the San Francisco Botanical Garden is undeniably one of the jewels in the city’s crown — an oasis in the city, it spans 55 acres and features 9,000 kinds of plants from around the globe.
The brainchild of John McLaren, a Scottish-born horticulturalist who was the superintendent at Golden Gate Park for 53 years, he envisioned the arboretum and botanical garden which took decades to create. In 1926, a bequest from Helene Strybing provided the seed money to make the gardens officially happen.
During the 1930s, the arboretum’s first director, Eric Walther, selected plants and trees from all over the world, while a labor force of WPA workers allowed the gardens to reach completion. Since it first opened in 1940, a new and unique addition has been created in the Botanical Garden every decade. With several plant collections and over 10 specialized garden spaces that offer something new to discover in every season, there are myriad ways to enjoy what’s blooming. Keep reading for eight of them.
Take a tour
One of the best ways to learn about the highlights of the garden is by taking a docent-led tour. The San Francisco Botanical Garden offers 90-minute tours that are included with the price of admission — check out upcoming tours and register through their events page, then meet at the “Free Public Tour” sign by the front gate. Groups of eight or more can also arrange a private tour for a small per-person fee (free to student groups). If you prefer to do a self-guided tour, download their interactive map or pick up a printed copy at the garden entrance.
Enjoy a picnic
The Botanical Gardens does not have a cafe or restaurant, but it is an ideal picnic destination (just leave the folding chairs and tables at home). Popular picnic spots in the Botanical Gardens are the Great Meadow, Conifer Lawn and Fountain Plaza — all beautiful places to simply relax and enjoy the space without having to be actively “doing” something. Find yourself a beautiful spot in the park, unfurl a picnic blanket, pop open your bottle of rosé, and enjoy a basket of goodies.
Douglas Iris (Iris douglasiana) flowering by Meadowfoam (Limnanthes) in the Arthur L. Menzies Garden of California Native Plants at the San Francisco Botanical Garden in Golden Gate Park.
Courtesy of the San Francisco Botanical GardenSign up to take a class
If you are more of a ‘doer,’ there are countless events happening almost daily at the Botanical Gardens. Yoga in the garden? Family story time and a garden craft? Sound bathing? Check out the garden’s events page because there’s a class for that. There are dance and movement classes, musical performances, art-focused workshops like watercolor painting, poetry readings and cultural performances — options include nearly every interest, even birding and gardening. Classes are priced individually and require registration.
Get in with a discount — or even for free
The San Francisco Botanical Garden offers free admission for veterans, children under 4 and San Francisco city and county residents who have an ID with proof of address. Children ages 5–11 are $3; seniors and youth ages 12–17 are $7; adults are $13; and a family pass is $27.
The San Francisco Botanical Garden also offers free admission every morning from 7:30–9 a.m. (enter through the Main Gate), and on the second Tuesday of every month, plus on Thanksgiving, Christmas and New Year’s Day. Memberships come in varying prices and levels, each featuring their own perks, but all include free admission to dozens of reciprocal gardens across the country. If you want to visit the San Francisco Botanical Garden, the Japanese Tea Garden and the Conservatory of Flowers, you can access all three over three days with a multi-garden ticket.
Roy Dahan, of San Jose, plays one of the many “Flower Pianos” in the San Francisco Botanical Garden, on Friday, Sept. 16, 2022.
Charles Russo/SFGATEDon’t miss Flower Piano
The San Francisco Botanical Garden’s signature annual event is Flower Piano, when a dozen pianos are placed at various locations throughout the gardens. While there are a few scheduled events featuring professional performers happening during the week, the main idea behind Flower Piano is to encourage people to play a song wherever they encounter the instrument, no matter their skill level. Even if all you can remember is a rusty version of Chopsticks, plunk away.
Explore the flora of the world
The San Francisco Botanical Garden features collections of plants from around the world. There are three cloud forest collections, from the Andean, Mesoamerican and Southeast Asian regions; collections of the plants from Chile, Australia, New Zealand and South Africa; and plants from the Mediterranean and Temperate Asia regions. One of the most beloved gardens is the Arthur L. Menzies Garden of California Native Plants, which highlights the state’s native plants — including a grove of coast redwoods in the heart of the city, one of the most popular attractions. The Botanical Garden also has one of the most significant collections of magnolias in the world.
Discover the themed gardens
The San Francisco Botanical Garden’s themed gardens offer unique ways to experience the property, too. The Fragrance Garden invites visitors to use their sense of smell to explore, while the Moon Garden creates a Japanese-inspired, zen-like atmosphere. If you want to take a piece of the Botanical Gardens home with you, pay a visit to the Bookstore & Plant Shop, which in addition to books and merchandise hosts frequent plant sales.
Children enjoying the bamboo pond at the San Francisco Botanical Garden.
Courtesy of Natalie Jenks/ San Francisco Botanical GardenGet the family involved
In the Children’s Garden, your little botanist can hunt for bugs, engage in garden crafts and enjoy story time at the garden’s library. The Botanical Garden has robust educational offerings for families, ranging from programming for kids to summer day camps focused on gardening and even after-school programs.
What hours is the Botanical Garden open?
The San Francisco Botanical Garden is open daily at 7:30 a.m. Closing hours vary per season: in spring and summer the Botanical Garden closes one hour after the last entry at 6 p.m.; in fall and winter, it closes one hour after the last entry at either 4 or 5 p.m. Check the website or call ahead for details.
For more detailed information about the garden’s hours, as well as the location, map, public transportation, parking and shuttle, visit the website.
Wandering the San Francisco Botanical Garden in the San Francisco’s Golden Gate Park offers visitors moments of quiet and reflection.
rruntsch/Getty Images/iStockphotoWhere exactly is the Botanical Garden located?
The San Francisco Botanical Garden is located in Golden Gate Park, near the corner of Ninth Avenue and Lincoln Way. There are two entrances, the Main Gate near Ninth Avenue, just inside the park, and the Friend (North) Gate on Martin Luther King Jr.
Find it: San Francisco Botanical Garden, 1199 9th Ave., San Francisco, CA 94122
This story was edited by Hearst Newspapers Managing Editor Kristina Moy; you can contact her at [email protected].