Welcome!
Special Post-Holiday Hours
The gardens are currently open for normal business hours, 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. every day, with physical distancing guidelines in effect.
Out of an abundance of caution, Norrie's Gift & Garden Shop is temporarily closed for in-person shopping. Please shop online and schedule curbside pickup at shopucscarboretum.com. We are closely monitoring the covid situation within the county and we will reopen when we can do so safely. While there have been no known cases of covid exposure at the Arboretum or Norrie's, the health and safety of our volunteers, customers, and staff is our highest priority.
Regular Hours
Our gardens are open 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. every day, with physical distancing guidelines in effect. Appointments are not required to visit our gardens.
We offer two options for paying admission:
- Pay online and retain your receipt as proof of payment.
- Pay onsite by depositing cash or check payable to UC Regents in one of our paytubes.
Please:
- Wear a mask
- Maintain 6 feet of space
- Bring your own drinking water
- Conduct a COVID symptom check prior to entering our gardens
- If you are sick, stay home
- Practice good hygiene
Admission is $5 for adults, $2 for children, and free to our Members and Volunteers.
Directions
Located on the west side of the UCSC campus, the Garden is between the main campus entrance and the west entrance. Detailed driving directions...
Hours and Admission
The Garden is open from 9 a.m to 5 p.m. everyday. Please bring cash or check for admission. $5.00 adults, $2.00 children, free to Friend's Members and volunteers. More...
About the Garden
Learn more about the unique botantical value of the Garden's plants. Watch this video narrated by Frans Lanting, noted wildlife photographer.
What's Blooming
There's plenty in bloom throughout the year. Here's a sample of some of the blossoms that can be seen in any given month.
The Gardens
The garden contains collections of plants from California and the Southern Hemisphere (New Zealand, South Africa, and Australia) as well as extensive conifer and succulent collections. More...
Norrie's Gift & Garden Shop
Norries Gift and Garden shop is a local treasure! Plants, books & gifts for all occasions. Check SHOP webpage for current hours. More...
Finding Your Way Around
Walk from California to Australia by way of New Zealand and South Africa! Visit the gift shop or stroll down to the Eucalyptus Grove. Here's a handy map...
Take a Tour
You can arrange a tour any time of the year. Or, join the free, with your admission, first Saturday tour. Lectures and educational programs are offered throughout the year.
Bird Watching
The Garden is rich in wildlife, and is among the best places for viewing birds in the Monterey Bay area, one of America's birding hotspots. More...
Garden Etiquette
Please help us maintain the peaceful atmosphere people have come to enjoy. For fire safety and the health of other visitors, there is no smoking.
To protect our collection, endangered species, and educational materials: There is no collecting of any plant or animal material of any kind dead or alive. This also means no collecting of any seeds or cuttings. We are required to mention that collecting tadpoles, harassing or touching the federally protected red-legged frogs is against federal law. Adult supervision of children is required. Take only notes (not labels or flowers), leave only footprints.
For your safety: Mountain lion sightings are rare, but read the signs about how to stay safe. Please stay on concrete or dirt paths to avoid poison oak, spines, uneven footing and to avoid compacting the soil over tender roots or trampling small plants.
UCSC does not allow dogs on campus, which includes the Arboretum.
