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GARDENS

Balboa Park is renowned for the lush landscaping and lovely gardens on its 1,200 acres, offering a magnificent backdrop for the cultural attractions. The Park was ranked among the Best Parks in the World by the Project for Public Places in 2003 (13 out of 24) for its mixture of horticulture and art and culture.

There are more than eight gardens in the Park, which include the lovely Alcazar Garden, the award-winning rose garden, the Japanese Friendship Garden, the desert garden and the historic Botanical Building. The City of San Diego’s Park and Recreation Department manages and maintains the grounds of this spectacular public resource.

1935 (Old) Cactus Garden
This historic garden was developed under the direction of Kate Sessions for the 1935 California Pacific International Exposition. It contains... More
Alcazar Garden
Alcazar Garden, named because its design is patterned after the gardens of Alcazar Castle in Seville, Spain, lies adjacent to the Art Institute... More
Australian Garden
Native plants from Australia grow well in San Diego since both areas have similar climates. The garden contains Grevellia, Acacia, Callistemon,... More
Botanical Building
The view of the Botanical Building with the Lily Pond in the foreground is one of the most photographed scenes in Balboa Park and a... More
California Native Plant Garden
The native plant garden is a small demonstration garden located at the west end of the tennis courts at Morley Field on Balboa Park's East Mesa.... More
Casa del Rey Moro Garden
The Casa del Rey Moro garden (House of the Moorish King) was designed by Richard Requa for the 1935 California Pacific International Exposition... More
Desert Garden
The Desert Garden contains more than 1,300 plants, including succulents and drought-resistant plants from around the world, within its 2.5... More
Florida Canyon Native Plant Preserve
This canyon gives the visitor a glimpse of the original landscape of Balboa Park. The 150 acres of Coastal Sage Scrub provide an important... More
Inez Grant Parker Memorial Rose Garden
One of the most frequently visited gardens and a popular location for wedding ceremonies in the Park, the stunning Inez Grant Parker Memorial... More
Japanese Friendship Garden
The Garden originated as a teahouse during the 1915–16 Panama-California Exposition and now lies on two acres near the Spreckels Organ... More
Marston House Garden
The Marston House Garden, a formal English Romantic-style garden with California influences, represents a slice of San Diego history. The formal... More
Palm Canyon
Palm Canyon is a tropical oasis, containing more than 450 palms (58 species) within its 2 acres. A true hidden spot in Balboa Park, the winding... More
San Diego Botanical Garden Foundation
Since 1962 the San Diego Botanical Garden Foundation has been a gardening leadership organization and a home for member floral and garden groups... More
San Diego Floral Association
The oldest garden club in Southern California, the San Diego Floral Assciation hosts floral and horticultural shows.   A... More
San Diego Zoo Botanical Collection
The San Diego Zoo Botanical Collection is an internationally prominent collection with more than 4,500 species of plants. The American... More
Trees for Health Garden
This educational garden promotes a better understanding of the value and uses of medicinal plants. The living collection of plants also helps... More
Veterans Memorial Garden
Located on a one-acre parcel of land in front of the Veterans Museum and Memorial Center, the garden was dedicated on Veterans Day, 11 November... More
WorldBeat Center's Children's Ethnobotany Garden
The unique organic herb, fruit, and vegetable garden honors the memory of George Washington Carver, and is dedicated to teaching young people... More
Zoro Garden
Zoro Garden--a sunken stone grotto garden that was designed as a nudist colony during the 1935 California-Pacific Exposition--is now a butterfly... More

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