Useful Links

Balboa Park Gardens

A remarkable park, containing 19 gardens including Japanese, desert, rose, Florida, palms and California native plants to name a few.  The park includes 17 museums as  well as other attractions.  Located in San Diego, CA.

Brooklyn Botanical Garden

Well-known, with over 40 gardens and garden features including fragrance and children's gardens, herb, native flora and rock gardens.  Publishes many respected how-to garden books.

Butchart Gardens

Located in Victoria, BC and a Canadian historic site as well.  Gardens were developed in an old quarry.

Chicago Botanic Garden

Botanical gardens in Chicago, noted for many coneflower and other introductions, and plant research.

Chihuahuan Desert Nature Center

The nature center is a facility  of the research institute.  It contains an arboretum that includes native grasses and wildflowers,  a wildscape garden for wildlife, a pollinator garden and a cacti & succulent collections.  All plants are from the Chihuahuan Desert.

Denver Botanic Gardens

In existence for some time, demonstrates all types of gardening including xeric

Desert Botanical Garden - Phoenix, AZ

Features native plants in the cacti and agave families -- over 4000 species and 17,000 plants in a natural setting.

Fairchild Tropical Botanic Garden, Miami, FL

Rare and exotic tropical plants

Huntington Library & Botanical Gardens

Nr. Pasadena, CA in San Marino.  Spectacular gardens (rose, Japanese, Chinese, bamboo forests, herb,
bonzai,  cacti among others), largest collection of euphorbia in U.S.,  art & old manuscripts collections, conservatory

Longwood Gardens (Pennsylvania)

Gardens developed by the Duponts; tours, educational information

National Tropical Botanic Garden

Another national treasure this one featuring Hawaii natives, palms coffee plants as well as plants from Micronesia and Polynesia.  Collections of ficus, bamboo and aroids. Gardens are in Florida and Hawaii.

Rio Grande BioPark

Botanical gardens demonstrating  native, adapted, and water plants; seasonal displays and gardens; two
conservatories;  includes Aquarium and Zoo

San Diego Botanic Garden, Encinitas, CA

This garden features desert and rainforest gardens, bamboo groves, Mediterranean climate landscapes,
succulents and herb gardens among others.  Located north of San Diego.

Santa Fe Botanical Garden

Activities, hikes and educational reserves.

Sherman Library & Gardens, Corona Del Mar, CA

Botanical collections include a  rose and cactus & succulent garden, a conservatory with orchids, heliconias and gingers, and Japanese and herb gardens among other exhibits.  Click on "About" and then "The Gardens" on their website for more info.

Tohono Chul Park, Tucson, AZ

Tucson demo gardens using native & adapted plants

Tucson Botanical Garden, Tucson, AZ

Website provides information on  hours and admissions, but little info about the gardens themselves. 
This is reported to be a small garden but worth the time for a visit.

U.S. National Arboretum

A spectacular place featuring asian plants, azaleas & dogwoods, dwarf and slow growing conifers, holly & magnolia, herb & perennial gardens.  Residence of the U.S. national Bonsai  and Penjing collections (AMAZING!).  Includes a grove of all state trees.

Water Conservation Garden, El Cajon, CA

Exhibits and demonstrates water  conservation gardening to include a meadow, turg & ground cover
exhibits,  cacti & succulent garden, container garden, native plant garden among others.