What is a Botanical

Welcome Garden?
Welcome to UBC Botanical Garden, a window into UBC Botanical Garden maintains plant collections for Information line 604.822.9666
the fascinating world of plants. With more than research, education and display. The plants, derived Free guided tours Call 604.822.9666. Two weeks’
10,000 different plants on display, visitors can stroll from temperate areas around the world, are all carefully notice required.
through 44 hectares (110 acres) of gardens to see catalogued, labeled and studied, regardless of rarity or Group tours and/or class visits Call 604.822.9666.
alpine and Asian treasures, medicinal and culinary economic value. Two weeks’ notice required. Group rates may be available
plants and the towering trees of a BC coastal native for 10 or more.
Through the Centre for Plant Research, the garden’s
forest. Take a guided tour or visit the Shop in the Garden Garden Pass Membership Unlimited entry to both
collections are used to explore and interpret both the
and plant centre, specializing in gifts, books, hard-to-find gardens, discounts at Shop in the Garden, classes,
science of plants and their role in sustaining life on
and rare plants, and seeds from the Botanical Garden. and events. Adult and family rates available.
earth. The garden is a place of beauty and wonder, an
educational resource that brings research, education UBC Community Free membership for UBC faculty,
and community together. staff and students.

UBC Stroll through 44 hectares of gardens to see alpine and Asian treasures, medicinal
Shop in the Garden Call 604.822.4529. Gifts, books,
garden supplies, rare plants and seeds from plants in
the garden. Operated by Friends of the Garden (FOG)
volunteers. All proceeds fund research, education, and
Vancouver’s coastal forest creates

Botanical and culinary plants and the towering trees of a BC coastal native forest. garden improvements.
Hortline Free gardening advice available Tuesday
and Wednesday 12pm – 3pm: 604.822.9666; online
a favourable microclimate for
rhododendrons and other exotic
plant treasures.
Garden Visiting with children?
Pick up an activity sheet for ages 5 –10 and learn about
sustainability and the importance of plants to life. Follow
UBC Botanical Garden and Centre for Plant Research
is closely affiliated with the Landscape Architecture
and Agroecology programs. Important interdisciplinary
horticulture forum: [Link]/forums
Donations Our garden grows through your support.
Tax-deductible donations can be made by calling
the kids’ route (in red) and match the red Stop Signs connections also include Botany, Geography and Forestry. 604.822.9666 or by looking at our web site:
around the garden with pictures on the activity sheet. The Botanical Garden maintains close community [Link]/support
connections through volunteer activities of the Directions UBC Botanical Garden, 6804 SW Marine Drive
Friends of the Garden, and public outreach programs is located across from UBC gate 8 (at Stadium Road).
such as lectures, workshops and courses. A 20-minute walk SW from UBC’s central transit loop
or a 20-minute drive from downtown Vancouver.
Nitobe Memorial Garden Call 604.822.6038. Traditional
Japanese tea and stroll garden. A five-minute drive north
along NW Marine Drive, UBC Gate 4, use Fraser Parkade.
These maps may be recycled or re-used at the gate entrance.

A Garden for all Seasons A Look Back: History of UBC Botanical Garden

Design [Link]
At any time of year, a walk through UBC Botanical Founded in 1916, the UBC Botanical Garden is the oldest and re-established Davidson’s objectives of developing
Garden is a feast for the senses – an ever-changing continuously operating university garden in Canada. plant collections for research and teaching. During
palette of colour and design. A separate seasonal the 1980s and 1990s the Botanical Garden fostered a
insert is available to provide detail on upcoming John Davidson (1878 – 1970), the garden’s creator
Fall and first director, had been Curator of the Botany
successful Plant Introduction Scheme under its third
events and seasonal highlights. director, Bruce Macdonald.
Brilliant fall colours develop and branches become Museum at the University of Aberdeen, Scotland. As
Spring heavy with fruit in the Food Garden. All around, Provincial Botanist, he initiated a survey of the BC The present layout of the garden’s administration
Springtime brims with impressive floral displays: the berries of mountain ash, cotoneaster and purple
flora in 1911, establishing a botanical garden and building and research centre was built in 1990, aided by
spectacular rhododendrons and magnolias in the callicarpa attract migrating birds. Trees, shrubs and
herbarium at Colony Farm at Essondale. The collections a generous donation by the Honourable David C. Lam,
Asian Garden, bulbs in the Alpine Garden, and apple, vines put on a glowing display of autumn colour.
(some 25,000 plants representing 900 species) were former BC Lieutenant Governor.
pear and plum blossoms in the Food Garden. Winter transported to the UBC campus between 1914 –1917.
In September 2002, the University of British Columbia
Summer Fallen leaves and winter’s chill showcase the peeling Davidson established the Botanical Garden as a resource
hired the Garden’s fourth director, Dr. Quentin Cronk, who
stems of paperbark maple and birch. Giant native for teaching and research before the university officially
High-climbing vines, such as clematis, kiwi fruit, initiated the creation of the Centre for Plant Research to [Link] [Link]
evergreens take centre stage, laced with frost or snow. moved to the Point Grey campus in 1925.
roses and wisteria display their colours above the giant facilitate academic scholarship in plant science.
Himalayan lilies, hydrangeas and hardy gingers in the Heathers, mahonia and hellebores add subtle hues to
By 1966 the Botanical Garden had become a separate,
Asian Garden. The aroma of swamp lantern fills the the Winter Garden and rhododendrons gradually turn
the winter scene into a riot of early spring colour. non-academic facility, reaching its current size of
Native Garden, alpines are in bloom and the perennial 44 hectares (110 acres). Dr. Roy Taylor became director
borders are ablaze with colour.

The garden is a place of beauty