desert garden

Botanical Gardens

Encompassing about 130 acres, the Botanical Gardens feature living collections in 16 stunning themed gardens with more than 83,000 living plants, including rare and endangered species, and a laboratory for botanical conservation and research.

In 1903, Henry E. Huntington (1850–1927) purchased the San Marino Ranch, a working ranch about 12 miles from downtown Los Angeles with citrus groves, nut and fruit orchards, alfalfa crops, a small herd of cows, and poultry. His superintendent, William Hertrich (1878–1966), was instrumental in developing the various plant collections that make up the foundation of The Huntington’s Botanical Gardens. The property—originally nearly 600 acres—today covers 207 acres, 130 of which are open to visitors.

Nicole Cavender, Director of the Huntington Botanical Gardens, on the Language of Flowers

“If you can believe it, we have over 83,000 living plants here. The Botanical Gardens serve as the entryway to The Huntington, connecting all three of the collections—the art collections, the library collections, and the plant collections.”

Themed Gardens

All Gardens

Botanical Living Collections

In addition to 130 acres of themed gardens, The Huntington has significant holdings of botanical living collections, including orchids, cycads, and bonsai, examples of which may be found throughout the grounds. These core collections are being preserved, expanded, studied, and promoted for public appreciation, and support many areas of botanical research, including conservation and cryopreservation. The collections also serve as the foundation of The Huntington’s educational programming, including botanical lectures, gardening workshops and demonstrations, and plant sales.

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Core Collection Highlights

The exterior of the Japanese Heritage Shōya House. 

The 320-Year-Old Japanese Heritage Shōya House to Open Oct. 21

Sustainable living across three centuries will be showcased in the historic residence and compound, which was moved to California from Marugame, Japan.

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The exterior of the Japanese Heritage Shōya House.  | The Huntington Library, Art Museum, and Botanical Gardens.

A sign in a garden that says, “Meet Me in the Garden.”

Sensory Adventures in the Gardens

Every visit to The Huntington is as unique as the visitor. Each individual explores the gardens and the galleries through a personal lens, adding deeper meaning and relevance to the collections. With the aim of engaging a more diverse cross section of people, The Huntington created the Meet Me in the Garden program as a way of welcoming visitors with different sensory needs. The program is geared toward families with members who identify as disabled, but all guests can participate.

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Meet Me in the Garden invites visitors to experience The Huntington as a sensory adventure. Photo by Linnea Stephan. | The Huntington Library, Art Museum, and Botanical Gardens.

Workers directing the placement of a large boulder, held by a crane.

Gateway to the Desert Garden

The Desert Garden is one of the world’s premier collections of succulent plants, covering more than 10 acres and comprising more than 5,000 arid-adapted plants. The Desert Garden Entrance Project, nearing completion, will make it possible to showcase more of this collection and spotlight the significance of these plants.

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John Trager (third from right) and Seth Baker (second from right) direct the placement of a boulder in a redesigned area of the Desert Garden. | Photo by Aric Allen.

Botanical Conservation & Research

In addition to 130 acres of themed gardens, The Huntington has significant holdings of botanical living collections, including orchids, camellias, cycads, and bonsai, examples of which may be found throughout the grounds. These core collections are being preserved, expanded, studied, and promoted for public appreciation, and support many areas of botanical research, including conservation and cryopreservation.

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Exotic Plant Depository Aids in Research and Identification

The Huntington Botanical Gardens Herbarium (HNT) was founded in the 1960s by Myron Kimnach, director of the Botanical Gardens from 1962 to 1986. It is a depository of mostly exotic plant specimens used in research and teaching. These specimens serve as documentation for research projects and as resources for plant identification.

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