The garden was founded in 1927 by Susanna Bixby Bryant on her Rancho Santa Ana property in Orange County before relocating to its current Claremont site in 1951.
It houses an herbarium with over 1.1 million preserved plant specimens, making it one of the largest such collections in the western United States.
The garden is a major hub for scientific research, specifically in plant taxonomy, genetics, and ecology.
It maintains the conservation seed bank for the State of California, focusing on rare and endangered native plant species.
The California Botanic Garden is the largest botanic garden in California dedicated exclusively to the state's native plants. Spanning 86 acres in Claremont, the garden features over 22,000 specimens representing approximately 2,000 species, subspecies, and varieties of native California flora. It serves as a living museum, research center, and conservation hub focused on biodiversity preservation. The grounds include specialized landscapes such as the California Indian Ethnobotany Garden and the Mesa for large-scale displays of coastal sage scrub. Visitors can access an on-site nursery, Grow Native Nursery, which sells California-grown native plants for sustainable landscaping. The garden hosts educational classes, workshops, and seasonal exhibitions throughout the year. It is located adjacent to the Claremont Colleges, providing a unique intersection of academic research and public horticulture.
The bench overlooking the Mesa during the spring wildflower bloom.
Wear comfortable, sturdy walking shoes, as the terrain includes unpaved trails and natural paths.
Bring sun protection such as a hat and sunscreen, as many of the garden paths have minimal shade.
Visit the Grow Native Nursery on-site if you are interested in purchasing California-native plants for your own garden.
Avoid visiting during extreme heatwaves, as many sections of the 86-acre site are fully exposed to the sun.
Closed on Mondays and most major holidays.
Stay on marked trails to protect sensitive habitat and do not remove any plant material or seeds.
