Santa Barbara Botanic Garden

The Woodland Trail traverses the canyon slope north of the Meadow and leads to the Redwood Section. No intensive cultivation is done in this area. The trail leads through a natural stand of southern oak woodland dominated by coast live oaks (Quercus agrifolia). Called Encinos by the early Spanish settlers, these trees occur in fairly deep soil on the valley floors and and shaded foothill and canyon slopes near the coast.

At the very heart of the Botanic Garden is the Meadow Display. With its sweeping views across the 1.5 acre expanse up to Cathedral Peak and the Santa Ynez Mountains, the Meadow is one of the most distinctive and renowned features of the Garden.

The Garden houses exclusively California native plants and is a pleasant place to visit in all seasons. From towering redwoods to delicate grasslands, over a thousand species are located on the grounds.

With beautiful vistas to the Santa Ynez mountains and to the Channel Islands, tranquil trails through the redwoods and along Mission Creek, a wide variety of educational opportunities, and a remarkable historic landmark status, the Garden is a wonderful place to spend the day.

The Santa Barbara Botanic Garden is a place of beauty and serenity, of education, research and conservation, of history and stewardship. We welcome you to visit and enjoy our unique native California plants exhibits in beautifully designed landscapes.