San Francisco Botanical Garden: A Must-Visit Destination

At the San Francisco Botanical Garden, you can explore plants that seem to have leaped right out of Jurassic Park, along with flowers resembling white doves. Moreover, you can savor fragrant blooms cultivated specifically for their captivating scents.

This botanical garden spans an impressive 55 acres, equivalent to over 40 football fields, and is home to more than 8,500 plant varieties sourced from around the globe.

Things to Do at the San Francisco Botanical Garden

The most appealing aspect of the San Francisco Botanical Garden is its ever-changing displays of unusual plants and flowers.

• February: Be sure to take in the magnificent deciduous magnolia trees, which showcase branches adorned with striking white and pink blossoms, some boasting as many as 36 petals each.
• Early Spring: Don’t miss the prehistoric-looking Gunnera tinctoria, commonly known as Chilean rhubarb or “Dinosaur food,” which rapidly grows back each spring, reaching heights of four feet within months.
• May: Look out for the elusive dove tree in full bloom, where tiny actual flowers are complemented by large white, wing-shaped bracts that can measure six to seven inches long.
• September: Enjoy the breathtaking Angel’s Trumpet, with its dramatic, pendulous flowers in various vibrant colors.

No matter the time of year, the garden’s extensive collection guarantees that you will encounter some fascinating plants in action. For the latest bloom information, visit the San Francisco Botanical Garden website.

For those considering a marriage proposal in the garden, the fragrance garden offers a lovely and romantic setting. Alternatively, you may scout the area for a secluded spot among the lush greenery to pop the big question.

What You Need to Know

Just to clarify, the arboretum at Golden Gate Park is now incorporated within the San Francisco Botanical Garden at Strybing Arboretum.

Admission fees are applicable for individuals older than four years. However, both members and San Francisco residents enjoy complimentary access. Moreover, entrance is free for all visitors during select days throughout the year, which are detailed on the official website.

For those visiting in wheelchairs, most pathways are accessible, and wayfinding signs indicate these routes. Additionally, complimentary wheelchairs are provided at both garden entrances on a first-come, first-served basis.

Strollers are permitted, although other wheeled vehicles are not allowed.

If you are a gardening enthusiast wishing to take home exquisite plants, consider timing your visit with one of their monthly plant sales or their annual sale, recognized as Northern California’s largest plant sale, featuring unique specimens. Sale dates can be verified on the official website.

Plan to visit the Botanical Garden while exploring Golden Gate Park. Conveniently located at the east end, it is near attractions like the California Academy of Sciences, the de Young Museum, and the Japanese Tea Garden. You can also explore the Conservatory of Flowers and the park’s various outdoor flower gardens, including a dahlia garden, tulip garden, and rose garden.

How to Get There

The San Francisco Botanical Garden is situated in Golden Gate Park at the intersection of 9th Avenue and Lincoln Way. The garden features two entrances: the main gate on 9th Avenue and an additional gate on Martin Luther King Jr. Drive.

If you plan to drive to the San Francisco Botanical Garden, directions can be found on their official website.

Street parking is available near both entrances; however, it tends to fill up quickly on weekends and holidays.

On Saturdays, Sundays, and major holidays, alternative parking options are available within the park where you can also take the Golden Gate Park shuttle. For those opting for public transportation, it is a convenient choice. Additionally, if you prefer biking, you’ll find bike racks at both entrances.