The 19 most beautiful botanical gardens and hidden oases in L.A. (2024)

This delightful tribute to the horticultural magic of Southern California includes more than 600 varieties of camellia (these are best seen between January and April, when there are around 34,000 of the plants in bloom) and some five acres of roses. There are also lilac, orchid, fern and California native plant areas, as well as a tea house—flanked by seasonal cherry blossoms—donated by the Japanese-American community.

These gorgeous grounds in Arcadiahave been designed as an educational facility (the plants are mostly arranged by region, and tours are available), but many people simply come here for a little peace and quiet. You could wander these gardens for hours, taking in tropical forests and waterfalls, trees and fish. Plus, be on the lookout for wild peaco*cks, which were first imported into the area in the late 1800s and have stuck around ever since.

This nearly two-acre private Japanese garden and traditional teahouse opens its doors to the public on Friday and Saturday evenings and Sunday afternoons. First constructed in the late 1930s, the garden features two ponds, four bridges and a cascading waterfall, all centered around a Japanese tea house. The current structure was painstakingly restored after a fire in 1981; the original was created in Japan by landscape designer and craftsman Kinzuchi Fujii.

This appropriately titled Japanese garden sits just across from the Sepulveda Basin on the border of Van Nuys. The stony bridges and footpaths wind along a central pond, flanked by by rockwork, manicured trees and tea houses. Of course, this wouldn’t be the Valley without a bit of an industrial edge—the garden is irrigated by the adjacent Donald C. Tillman Water Reclamation Plant.

The host of twoOlympics (with a third on the way), Exposition Park stands as one of L.A.’s most significant institutions. Home to the Natural History Museum, California Science Center and California African American Museum, you’ll find green spaces scattered around the USC-adjacent property. But the most charming section resides in the fragrant Rose Garden, where you can rest in one of the gazebos or take a stroll around the central fountain, all the while admiring its beautiful brick neighbors.

This 55-room Tudor estate is a good way to get a glimpse into the lives of L.A.’s historical 1%. Though the interior is only open for events and tours, the exterior gardens are open daily, free of charge. Take a stroll through alleys of poplars and cypress trees, a fountain and reflecting pool, and a terraced pool area.

In 1971, hiker Amir Dialameh singlehandedly nurtured a scorched hillside in Griffith Park into a shaded retreat.More thana half-century later, this five-acre, volunteer-run garden remains a favorite rest stop for hikers and equestrians alike. Getting here is the difficult part: It’s about a half-mile walk uphill from the trailhead atMineral Wells Road and Griffith Park Drive. But the payoff is sweet once you’ve found a seat on the hilltop picnic benches, among a patchwork of flower beds.

Pasadena certainly doesn’t come up short when it comes to green space. But among all those parks and plazas, Arlington Garden is the only public garden in the city. Walk among sycamores and succulents in this Italian-inspired sanctuary and navigate a seven circuit labyrinth.

It’s impossible to cruise along Grand Avenue and miss the Walt Disney Concert Hall, a twisted metallic explosion of Frank Gehry’s imagination. You may not realize, though, that the acoustically impressive hall harbors a lush garden in its shadows. Whether you’re looking for a quiet place to sit on your lunch hour or a climb along the building’s lustrous exterior, it’s the perfect spot to both appreciate and escape the city.

Events, weddings and banquets are often held at the Los Angeles River Center and Gardens, but the former site of the Lawry’s California Center is an ideal spot for an afternoon stroll as well. Stop by the visitor center, which serves as an exhibit hall celebrating the L.A. River, or walk through the small River Garden Park at the corner of San Fernando Road and Avenue 26, where you might see families picnicking or joggers taking a water break.

Tucked between the Hollywood Reservoir and the Hollywood Sign, this mosaic-filled grove of folk art is decidedly not public: The locked gate and general lack of information clearly state that this garden is meant to be hush-hush. But as aDesignated Historic-Cultural Monument (#996), its existence isn’t exactly secret;the hours aren’t consistent, butyou can sometimes visit it on Thursdays from 10am to noon (as long as you don’t take photos inside). At any other time, we just request thatyou glance into this peaceful terrace of tilework and potted succulents from a respectful distance.