The Bay Area has several public gardens that display California native plants. Here is information on their location, hours and admission policies.
San Francisco
San Francisco Botanical Garden at Strybing Arboreteum
The Arthur L. Menzies Garden of California Native Plants is especially beautiful in the Spring when the native meadow is in full bloom and when the musty fragrance of pink-flowered currants (Ribes sanguineum) permeates the garden.
Location: on Martin Luther King Drive in Golden Gate Park near the intersection of 9th Avenue and Lincoln Way, San Francisco, CA 94122
Plant Sale at nursery: 10 am -1 pm one Sat in March, April, June, July, August, September, October and November; large annual sale first weekend in May. Plants available at The Arbor adjoining the Bookstore, daily from 10 am – 4 pm, closed major holidays.
Telephone: (415) 661-1316
Hours: Open daily from 7:30 am until 1 hour after last entry, which varies seasonally between 4 and 6 pm.
Admission: $7 Adults, $5 Youths 12-17 and Seniors 65 +, $2 Children ages 5-11, Free to Children 4 and under. Free to San Francisco residents and SFBG members, and daily between 7:30 and 9 am, as well as all day the 2nd Tuesday of each month and Thanksgiving, Christmas and New Year’s Day.
East Bay
Regional Parks Botanic Garden
Devoted to the collection, growth, display, and preservation of the native plants of California with plants from differents areas of the state grouped together.
Location: Wildcat Canyon Road at South Park Drive, just east of the Brazil Room for directions see map of Tilden Park
Telephone: (510) 841-8732
Parking: Free lot across from garden entrance on Wildcat Canyon Road
Hours: 8:30 a.m. to 5 p.m. daily. Free Tours start at the Visitor Center, usually at 2 p.m., on most Saturdays and Sundays. Please call to confirm. Garden Tours for Groups are available by appointment.
Closed: New Year’s Day, Thanksgiving, and Christmas
Admission: Free
For more information on the Regional Parks Botanic Garden, visit the web site of the Friends of the Regional Parks Botanic Garden.
University of California Botanical Garden
Location: 200 Centennial Drive, Berkeley CA 94720
Spring plant sale in late April, plants also available at store.
Hourly $ parking across the street.
Hours: Garden open 9 am – 5 pm, store open 10:30-4:30 pm daily
Closed: First Tuesday of every month; Christmas
Admission: $10 Adults; $8 Seniors 65+ and college students; $2 Children ages 5-12; Free for children ages 4 and under, and UCBG members. Free docent tours on Thursdays, Saturdays and Sundays at 1:30 pm.Hours: 9 am – 5 pm daily.