SEATTLE
BOTANICAL GARDENS
Explore. Relax.
Breathe Deeply.
Your Public Garden Awaits.
Public botanical gardens offer a peaceful escape in urban areas, providing a serene environment for relaxation, inspiration, and a deeper appreciation for the natural world.
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.
▪︎ Wilburton Hills
Bellevue Botanical Garden
Situated in Bellevue, just east of Seattle, the Bellevue Botanical Garden spans 53 acres and showcases a rich tapestry of plant life and garden designs. Highlights include the stunning Perennial Border Garden, Urban Meadow, Waterwise Garden, Rhododendron Glen, and the charming Yao Japanese Garden. The garden hosts educational programs, seasonal events, and is a serene retreat for nature lovers.
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.
▪︎ Ballard
▪︎ U District
Center for Urban Horticulture
Operated by the University of Washington, the Center for Urban Horticulture is a hub for research, education, and outreach in horticulture and environmental stewardship. The 16-acre site features gardens such as the Soest Herbaceous Display Garden, McVay Courtyard, and Goodfellow Grove, offering opportunities to learn about sustainable gardening and urban ecology.
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.
▪︎ Broadview
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.
▪︎ Shoreline
▪︎ Shoreline
Kruckeberg Botanic Garden
Located in Shoreline, just north of Seattle, the Kruckeberg Botanic Garden is a botanical treasure celebrating Pacific Northwest flora. Founded by Dr. Arthur Kruckeberg and his wife, Mareen, the four-acre garden features a diverse collection of native and exotic plants, including rare and endangered species. Visitors can explore woodland trails, rock gardens, and themed plant collections.
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.
▪︎ Rainier Beach
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.
▪︎ Highland Park
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.
▪︎ Washington Park
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.
▪︎ Highland Park
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.
▪︎ Capitol Hill
▪︎ Washington Park
Washington Park Arboretum
Located on the shores of Lake Washington, the Washington Park Arboretum is a 230-acre botanical garden managed by the University of Washington and the City of Seattle. The arboretum features a diverse collection of plants from around the world, organized into themed gardens and natural habitats. Visitors can explore miles of trails winding through forests, wetlands, and manicured gardens, including the famous Japanese Garden within its grounds.
Woodland Park Zoo 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.
▪︎ Phinney Ridge
