UC Botanical Garden at Berkeley
Nine geographic collections, rare cycads, redwoods, cacti, carnivorous plants, and conservation work occupy a steep Strawberry Canyon site.
Artwork inspired by Ruth Asawa
Nine geographic collections, rare cycads, redwoods, cacti, carnivorous plants, and conservation work occupy a steep Strawberry Canyon site. Labels and accession histories make this a research collection rather than decorative parkland. Useful scale comes from three specifics: founded, 1890; plants, 10,000+ kinds; and institution, UC Berkeley.
Begin with California, then compare one analogous climate region elsewhere and use accession labels to track wild origin or conservation status. Paths are steep, parking is limited and timed, wildfire or wind can close the canyon, and some glasshouses use restricted access. Close attention to California collection, New World Desert, and Asian collection turns the visit from a collection of sights into a connected argument about this place.
- Founded
- 1890
- Plants
- 10,000+ kinds
- Institution
- UC Berkeley
Quick guide
- Establish scale
- Begin with California, then compare one analogous climate region elsewhere and use accession labels to track wild origin or conservation status.
- Slow down for
- Compare California collection with New World Desert, then use Asian collection to test what the site is trying to communicate.
Know before you go
- Establish scale
- Begin with California, then compare one analogous climate region elsewhere and use accession labels to track wild origin or conservation status.
- Slow down for
- Compare California collection with New World Desert, then test that reading against Asian collection.
- Place in context
- Founded: 1890; Plants: 10,000+ kinds; Institution: UC Berkeley
- Plan the arrival
- For UC Botanical Garden at Berkeley, the public entrance is 200 Centennial Dr, Berkeley, CA 94720. Before visiting UC Botanical Garden at Berkeley, check timed entry, parking instructions.
Good to know
Paths are steep, parking is limited and timed, wildfire or wind can close the canyon, and some glasshouses use restricted access.
Notice these
- California collection
- New World Desert
- Asian collection