Seattle Botanical Gardens
Public botanical gardens offer a peaceful escape in urban areas, providing a serene environment for relaxation, and a deeper appreciation for the natural world. Public gardens also serve as educational resources, and play a vital role in plant conservation, working to preserve endangered species and protect biodiversity.
Explore. Relax. Breathe Deeply. Your Public Garden Awaits.
Public gardens in the Seattle area also invite visitors to engage more deeply through a variety of enriching experiences. From traditional Japanese tea ceremonies and docent-led nature walks to seasonal plant sales, art exhibits, and hands-on gardening workshops. Many gardens also feature scenic event venues, and educational programs for all ages, offering something for everyone.
Bellevue Botanical Garden
Spanning 53 acres in the heart of Bellevue, this botanical garden blends untamed natural beauty with meticulously designed display gardens. Visitors can explore themed collections, meandering trails, a charming suspension bridge, and seasonal highlights from spring bulbs to brilliant fall color.
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Carl S. English Jr. Botanical Garden
The Carl S. English Jr. Botanical Garden, located at the Ballard Locks in Seattle, is a 7-acre oasis that blends botanical beauty with engineering marvels. It features diverse plant collections, scenic views of Puget Sound, and the fascinating boat activity at the locks. The garden's well-maintained pathways and interpretive signs offer a peaceful retreat and insights into the area's history and design.
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Center for Urban Horticulture
Part of the University of Washington Botanic Gardens, this 16-acre site in the U District features a captivating herbaceous display garden, tranquil water features, and inspiring plant arrangements. It is also home to the Miller Library, a wonderful resource for gardeners and plant lovers.
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Dunn Gardens
A historic treasure in Seattle’s Broadview neighborhood, Dunn Gardens is a prime example of early 20th-century landscape design by the Olmsted Brothers. The garden features lush plantings, meandering pathways, and picturesque vistas inspired by English-style gardens. Visitors can explore formal and naturalistic elements, including woodland groves, perennial borders, and tranquil ponds, while learning about the history of landscape architecture in the Pacific Northwest.
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Elizabeth C. Miller Botanical Garden
Located in the Shoreline neighborhood of Seattle, the Elisabeth C. Miller Botanical Garden is a private oasis known for exceptional plant collections and innovative designs. Founded by horticulturist Elisabeth Miller, the garden showcases a diverse array of trees, shrubs, perennials, and bulbs selected for beauty, adaptability, and seasonal interest. Visitors can enjoy guided tours and workshops.
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Kruckeberg Botanic Garden
This 4-acre Shoreline garden is renowned for its diverse plant collection, with a special focus on Pacific Northwest natives. Established in the 1950s by Dr. Arthur Kruckeberg and his wife Mareen, it remains a living legacy of their passion for plants and conservation.
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Kubota Garden
Tucked away in the Rainier Beach neighborhood of Seattle, Kubota Garden is a hidden gem renowned for its blend of Japanese and Pacific Northwest landscaping styles. Created by Japanese immigrant Fujitaro Kubota over decades, the garden boasts lush foliage, meandering streams, waterfalls, and meticulously crafted stone arrangements. Visitors can explore winding paths, serene ponds, and groves while admiring the garden’s seasonal beauty.
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Seattle Chinese Garden
Located within the South Seattle College campus, the Seattle Chinese Garden is a cultural and botanical treasure highlighting Chinese gardening traditions. The garden features classical architecture, pavilions, stone bridges, and plants native to China. Visitors can enjoy cultural events, workshops, and guided tours to deepen their understanding of Chinese garden design and plant lore.
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Seattle Japanese Garden
Located in the Washington Park Arboretum, the Seattle Japanese Garden is a tranquil oasis inspired by traditional Japanese landscape design. Visitors can wander along winding paths past serene ponds, vibrant azalea and cherry blossom trees, moss-covered stones, graceful bridges, and authentic tea houses, immersing themselves in the tranquility of traditional Japanese garden aesthetics, where every element reflects balance, symbolism, and seasonal change.
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South Seattle Arboretum
The Arboretum at South Seattle College is a diverse garden highlighting sustainable landscaping and a wide variety of plants. The 5-acre site sits at the north end of campus on a bluff overlooking downtown Seattle, Elliott Bay, and the West Duwamish Greenbelt. It includes themed plantings, native species, and demonstration gardens, serving as both a student learning environment and a public space. The Seattle Chinese Garden borders the Arboretum.
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Streissguth Gardens
Situated in the Capitol Hill neighborhood of Seattle, Streissguth Gardens is a hidden gem known for its charming collection of plants, sculptures, and artistic installations. Named after the Streissguth family who created and maintained the garden for decades, the garden offers a whimsical retreat filled with colorful blooms, winding pathways, eclectic garden features, and stunning views of Lake Union and the city skyline.
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Washington Park Arboretum
Jointly managed by the University of Washington and the City of Seattle, this 230-acre arboretum showcases diverse plants from around the world, with a focus on species that thrive in the Pacific Northwest. Winding trails lead through woodlands, wetlands, and world-class collections of maples, azaleas, and magnolias.
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Woodland Park Rose Garden
Situated within the Woodland Park Zoo in Seattle, the Rose Garden is a picturesque sanctuary filled with vibrant blooms and fragrant roses. Spanning two acres, the garden showcases a diverse collection of rose varieties, including hybrid teas, floribundas, climbers, and antique roses. Visitors can stroll along manicured pathways, and learn about rose cultivation and care.
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