UCR Botanic Gardens: Everything You Need To Know

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You find a living museum and natural oasis in California’s inland empire. Yes, we are talking about the UCR Botanic Gardens. The magical space is at the foothills of the Box Springs Mountains on the east side of the California University at the Riverside Campus.

Here you can enjoy 40 hilly acres covered with gardens for young and old to explore. So, the next time you say you are bored, pack the car and head out to this magical garden for a relaxing day.

University of California

About UCR Botanic Garden

The living plant museum has more than 3,500 plant species with thousands of flora worldwide. Here you find indoor plants from the Mediterranean, Asia, and Desert, to native plants grown in California.

The botanic gardens are available for all to learn about the environment and nature with their variable topography and subtropical climates. Here you can become one with nature and the wildlife as it will surely inspire you with the natural surroundings.

The mission of the UCR Botanic Garden is to help promote the campus to engage the community with conservation and the gardens. Two major arroyos have steep slopes with a water flow found in one known as Chancellor’s Canyon.

In the other one, Alder Canyon, you find huge granite boulders 1110 feet above sea level elevations.

Things To Know Before Visiting UCRBG

UCR Botanic Gardens

Before visiting the UCR Botanic Garden, we have compiled a list to check out to make your visit as comfortable as possible.

Hours of Operation

The gardens open in fall hours from Monday to Friday from 8 am to 3:30 pm, and on the 1st and 3 rd Sunday, it closes at 2 pm. The gardens are closed from the 23rd of December to the 1st of February 2023. The botanic garden is not open on major holidays or special events.

Furthermore, if you are a group of ten and more, we recommend you schedule your visit in advance.

Parking

Transportation & Parking Services handles the parking at the UCR campus. You can buy a temporary permit. There are also additional parking options available at the BG Lot: ParkMobile App  (Search Zone 2477), Lot 10: ParkMobile App (Search Zone 2461), and Lot 13 Blue: ParkMobile  App (Search Zone 2492).

Furthermore, there is parking available within walking distance of the gardens.

Admission Fees

university of california botanic garden entrance gate

The fantastic thing is that you need not pay to visit the botanic gardens, but they accept donations. You can find a donation box near the Gatehouse at the entrance.

Policies and Guidelines

The UCRBG is not a park but a living garden, so you can find different wildlife migrating through the gardens. Hence there are some guidelines you need to follow:

  • You cannot bring pets, bicycles, drones, skateboards, or more.

  • Neither can you take in firearms, outdoor cooking equipment, or alcohol!

  • Please remain on the designated paths and do not approach any wildlife.

  • For group photography, you need to have a permit in advance.

Photography Policy

Personal photography of nature and plants is permitted to share with others. The same applies to individual photographers, as you are not charged a fee, but donations are welcome. You need to get permission for photo shoots and will be charged a fee for the session in the garden.

What To See Inside UCR Botanic Garden

ucr botanic garden

On the premises, you can find several buildings that include meeting spots, restrooms, and a greenhouse. Still, there are some highlighted spots worth mentioning:

Native American Plants Garden

The Native American Plants Garden is a new section displaying plants important to the indigenous people of the Southern California inland regions.

Rose Garden

Three rose gardens have heritage varieties, floribundas, miniatures, hybrids, and more.

Subtropical Fruit Orchard

In the fruit orchid, you can find different fruit trees, including avocados, sapotes, macadamias, and more.

Butterfly Garden

In the butterfly garden, you find flowering shrubs to native plants growing in the Riverside area that supports the butterfly lifecycle to other pollinators.

Herb Garden

This herb garden is a formal place where you can find aromatic culinary herbs and medicinal ones from around the world.

Lilac Lane

At this semi-shaded section found at Chancellor’s Canyon, you can find true lilacs that can flower along Riverside in mild-winter climates.

Geographical Plant Collection

Another highlight is that all the plants in the botanic garden are found in geographical collections as follows: 

Australia
It has recently been renovated and features plants native to Australia’s Mediterranean climate zone, including Eucalyptus, Melaleuca, Grevillea, and others.

Baja California 
Here you find some bizarre species from the arid southwest region, such as the boojum tree (Fouquieria columnaris).

California Chaparral

Here you can find native plants from the manzanita (Arctostaphylos), California lilac (Ceanothus), and other native shrubs of California’s chaparral plant community

Coastal Sage Scrub

In this section, you find plants widespread throughout the California coast native to the region from Encelia California (California brittlebush) and Artemisia californica (California sagebrush).

Latin America

In Latin America, you can find highlights of Mexico, Central, and South America the floss-silk tree (Chorisia speciosa) and pink trumpet tree (Handroanthus impetiginosa

Mediterranean

Features plants are cork oak (Quercus suber), pines, cedars, and rosemary among other outdoor plants.

North American Desert

Here you can see an extensive collection of desert plants native to the Colorado and Mojave Deserts.

North Coast Redwood Forest

In the Chancellor’s Canyon lower section, you find redwood to other species growing in this location.

Oak Woodland

Here are several species in California and other regions with a Mediterranean climate, like oaks.

Sierra Foothills

The section represents California’s Sierra Nevada Mountains filled with foothill pine (Pinus sabiniana), California buckeye (Aesculus californica), and fremontia (Fremontodendron)

South Africa 

From Southern Africa, you find desert collection species like the spectacular aloes, ice plants, bulbs, and wildflowers in season

Temperate Deciduous Forest 

Here you find the lower canyon filled with shrubs and trees from China and the eastern United States, like the deciduous dawn redwood tree (Metasequoia glyptostroboides)

Rentals Available at The UCRBG

Another benefit is that you can host meetings at the UCR Botanic Garden. You can also find activities to programs hosted at the UCRBG Meeting Room and Patio. Yet, the garden lawn is not available to rent, and private parties to weddings are not allowed.

Tours

There are also different tours available that you can check out:

  • Docent Guided School Tours where children can learn all about plants and more.

  • Non-School Related Tours are great to attend as a self-guided tour or with a tour guide.

  • Bird Walk & Breakfast for those who enjoy birdwatching and want to learn more about the different birds within the garden.

  • Twilight Tours is available throughout summer to enjoy the garden when the temperature cools.

Frequently Asked Questions

No, you cannot host a wedding or private parties in the garden, but you can hold meetings at the facilities.

The UCRBG spreads over 16 acres and is stipulated according to horticulture and geographical sections.

The botanic gardens are free to visit, but a donation is welcome.

Yes, you can find this rare plant at the UCR botanic garden, and it bloomed in July this year.

Whether you want to buy, sell or simply reach out to other plant enthusiasts, Plantly is the right place to be!

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