Garden of the Month – June 2026: UCLA Mathias Botanical Garden
Founded: 1929
Location: Los Angeles, California, USA
Size: 7.5 acres
Access: Free entry, open seven days a week
Collection: Over 1,500 species of plants from around the world
Collection type: Global living plant collection, including California natives, palms, cycads, succulents, aquatics, desert and Mediterranean-climate plants
Garden History
Nestled within an arroyo in the southeast corner of the UCLA campus, the UCLA Mathias Botanical Garden is a 7.5-acre living museum, outdoor classroom, research center, and urban oasis. Home to more than 1,500 species of plants from around the world, the Garden offers visitors a chance to experience extraordinary botanical diversity while finding a rare sense of tranquility in the heart of Los Angeles.
The Garden occupies land long inhabited and cared for by the Gabrielino/Tongva peoples of the Los Angeles Basin. Established in 1929 as part of a larger experimental plant testing site, it became one of UCLA’s most treasured landmarks under the leadership of botanist and professor Mildred E. Mathias, who directed the Garden from 1956 to 1974. Her vision transformed it into a place where teaching, research, horticulture, and public engagement come together.
Today, the Garden serves as an outdoor laboratory for students, faculty, and researchers. Its living collections support teaching and research across the plant sciences, while also inspiring projects in art, design, and performance. The Garden’s Herbarium preserves thousands of plant specimens that support research, education, and collaborations worldwide. Newly renovated facilities will further expand opportunities for learning and discovery.
Beyond the university, the Garden welcomes visitors of all ages through lectures, workshops, exhibits, tours, performances, and field trips that explore the connections between plants, people, and cultures. Hundreds of K–12 students and community groups participate in free educational programs each year, fostering curiosity and environmental awareness.
A dedicated volunteer community supports horticulture, education, and herbarium projects, helping to preserve and share botanical knowledge while strengthening connections between the Garden and the broader community.
The Garden is also a cherished gathering place. From quiet walks beneath towering trees to weddings, celebrations, and community events, its landscapes provide a memorable setting for connection and reflection. Revenue from rentals helps support the care and enhancement of the Garden and Herbarium.
The Collections Project
A botanical garden is only as valuable as its understanding of the plants it stewards. To ensure that the Garden’s living collections continue to support research, teaching, conservation, and public engagement for generations to come, the UCLA Mathias Botanical Garden launched The Collections Project in 2025. Supported by a grant from the Institute of Museum and Library Services (IMLS), this initiative is creating a comprehensive understanding of the Garden’s living collections and establishing a framework for their future growth and stewardship.
At the center of the project is a complete inventory of the Garden’s living collections—the first comprehensive effort to document what is growing in the Garden today. By assessing species diversity, geographic representation, conservation value, and collection strengths, the project is helping identify opportunities for future development while informing long-term curatorial priorities.
The work takes place directly in the landscape. Teams of undergraduate students move throughout the Garden documenting plants in situ, recording precise locations, photographing specimens, and uploading information into a digital collections database. Using tools developed by Hortis, field observations become immediately accessible and searchable, creating a more efficient and integrated approach to collections management.
Beyond documenting the collection, the project is providing the information needed to guide future decision-making. Data gathered through the inventory will help shape collection policies, acquisition strategies, conservation priorities, and educational initiatives, ensuring that the Garden remains both scientifically relevant and resilient as a living collection.
As the project progresses, the Garden is building more than a database—it is creating a foundation for expanding the collection of living plants that will enhance our educational, conservation, and research impact. By connecting detailed plant records with research, teaching, conservation, and public access, the Garden continues to strengthen its role as a dynamic living collection and a place where people can discover the remarkable diversity of plants from around the world.
Learn more about UCLA Mathias Botanical Garden, plan a visit, or stay connected through their website and social channels.
UCLA Mathias Botanical Garden Linktree - Visit their main links for the garden website, events, news and social channels.