San Francisco Gardens to Visit

Garden Design's self-guided day trip to 3 beautiful Bay Area gardens

Written and produced by Karen Chapman as recommended by local garden expert Kelly Kilpatrick

A horticulturally diverse oasis created from a vast windswept expanse of sand dunes, Golden Gate Park in San Francisco offers visitors a picturesque setting with lakes, picnic spots, trails, and gardens.

Local landscape designer Kelly Kilpatrick suggests leaving the car behind for the day, as each of these gardens is within easy walking distance of one another. Start your day at the Conservatory of Flowers, where there is always something new to see. From there, it is just a short, flat walk to the San Francisco Botanical Garden. Complete your tour with a visit to the Japanese Tea Garden.

Should you have a little extra time Kelly suggests walking across to the de Young Museum and heading up to the public observation tower, where you can enjoy panoramic views across the city and park.

1. Conservatory of Flowers

One of San Francisco’s most beloved landmarks, this wood and glass conservatory dates back to Victorian times. It houses over 1700 species of aquatic and tropical plants, including a world-renowned orchid collection, carnivorous plants, and Kelly’s favorite: a 100-year-old giant imperial philodendron which reaches right up to the center of the dome.

Special exhibits ensure that there is always something new to enjoy, with the Butterfly Zone and miniature garden railroad being especially popular.

“This is a good place to go on a foggy day,” comments Kelly.

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Wheelchair Access

Information

100 John F Kennedy Dr
San Francisco, CA 94 GET DIRECTIONS

(415) 831-2090

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2. San Francisco Botanical Garden

Travel the world in 55 acres as you explore landscaped gardens and open spaces. Special collections include magnolias and camellias, while the Garden of Fragrance features aromatic plants set in beds of stone salvaged from a 12th-century Spanish monastery.

“You can totally get lost!” exclaims Kelly, admitting it is hard to see it all in just a few hours. So, when time is limited, she recommends visiting the succulent garden which is especially welcome on a foggy day, as it is “a good spot to catch some rays!” She also appreciates the New Zealand exhibit, where you can see her favorite tree, the New Zealand Christmas tree (Metrosideros excelsa), and its impressive aerial roots. Indeed, the sandy soil in the Golden Gate area makes it well suited to the selections of succulents, as well as South African and New Zealand plants.

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Wheelchair Access

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1199 9th Ave
San Francisco, CA 94122 GET DIRECTIONS

(415) 661-1316

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3. Japanese Tea Garden

Right next door to the Botanical Garden, the Japanese Tea Garden offers a change of pace, as well as a welcome spot for a refreshing cup of tea. Established in 1894, it is also the oldest such garden in the United States.

“It is so beautiful in spring with all the cherry blossoms,” reminisces Kelly, but it is always a lovely place to stroll with twisting pines, clipped azaleas, graceful Japanese maples, and carefully manicured plants at every turn.

The highly arched drum bridge is a popular destination, while the koi ponds, century-old five-story pagoda, and karesansui dry garden of stones and gravel will also delight visitors.

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Drink

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75 Hagiwara Tea Garden Dr
San Francisco, CA 94118 GET DIRECTIONS

(415) 752-1171

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About your local garden expert Kelly Kilpatrick

Working from the converted attic in her Oakland, California home, where she lives with her husband and son, along with their dog Bessie, Kelly runs her design firm, Floradora Garden Design. Her vast plant knowledge and talent for making the most of every garden inch make her designs perfect for smaller Bay-area lots. Her designs have been described as attractive, welcoming, sexy, and detailed. She specializes in fun and unusual plantings, as well as drought-tolerant, native, and eco-friendly gardens and container plantings.

Conservatory of Flowers

San Francisco Botanical Garden

Japanese Tea Garden

San Francisco Gardens to Visit

1. Conservatory of Flowers

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2. San Francisco Botanical Garden

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3. Japanese Tea Garden

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United States

International

About your local garden expert Kelly Kilpatrick