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San Francisco Gardens: Where to Find Colorful Flowers and Beautiful Plants throughout SF
by Jill Loeffler •
One of my favorite things to do is photograph our beautiful San Francisco gardens. I love the color and variety of the gardens throughout the city.
There are many SF gardens in Golden Gate Park. However, you will also find colorful gardens in places that you may not have thought about, such as on Alcatraz Island and Lombard Street.
Read on for details about where to find the most beautiful gardens in San Francisco. I've also included photos and the best times to visit each one!
Disclaimer: I receive a small commission from some of the links on this page.
1. Alcatraz Island
As far as San Francisco gardens go, this may be the most surprising. Believe it or not, "The Rock" has a long history of maintaining gardens on the island.
The military first brought in soil and colorful plants in the mid-1800s in order to make the island seem more habitable.
Once it was converted to a federal prison in the 1930s, the inmates continued to maintain the gardens. From everything I've read, that was one of the best jobs in the prison.
Today, the Golden Gate Parks National Conservatory maintains these gardens along with several volunteers. You will find hundreds of colorful flowers in bloom on Alcatraz Island almost all year long. You can also visit them during your trip to Alcatraz.
Best Time to Visit: My favorite time to see the SF gardens on Alcatraz is in the late spring. This is when the gorgeous pink snapdragons and pink and yellow columbines are in bloom. In the summer, you will find the snapdragons still in bloom as well as purple Lily of the Nile and white and pink yarrow. The winter is when the African daisies and the yellow hens and chicks show their beautiful colors.
>> Tips to visit Alcatraz Island
2. San Francisco Botanical Garden at Strybing Arboretum
This hidden gem is one of several gardens of Golden Gate Park. With more than 60,000 plants, I find it's a different experience every time I visit.
It's easy to enjoy the San Francisco Botanical Garden because it is not very crowded. You have plenty of open space to roam around without having to push through any crowds.
You can also visit any time of the year, as there is always something in bloom!
You will find acres of beautiful gardens here with both international and native plants. These are just a few of my favorite parts to explore:
- Fragrance Garden (also sometimes referred to as the Garden of Fragrance)
- Mesoamerican Cloud Forest
- Zellerbach Garden of Perennials
Best Time to Visit: My favorite time to go is in the spring when I find a number of gorgeous plants in bloom. Another great time to visit is in the winter months (usually from December to early March) when their Magnolia collection of trees are in bloom. Pick up a self-guided walking tour map so you don't miss any of these beauties during your visit.
They offer free admission on the second Tuesday of the month and on certain holidays. Find a full calendar of free admission days in San Francisco.
>> More San Francisco Botanical Garden photos, tickets & tips to visit
3. Conservatory of Flowers
The Conservatory of Flowers is another San Francisco flower garden located within Golden Gate Park.
It offers a beautiful display of colorful plants and flowers both inside and out. They change the flowers in their outdoor area often to make sure their outdoor gardens are always in bloom.
Inside this living museum, you will find five special temperature-controlled areas with plants from around the world. You can see everything from orchids to carnivorous plants.
Make sure you don't miss their special exhibits. I love the variety, as they range from butterfly gardens to beautifully sculptured objects made out of flowers.
Best Time to Visit: This one of the best San Francisco gardens to visit any time of year. Since each room is temperature-controlled, you will find several types of plants in bloom no matter the season.
The SF Conservatory of Flowers is right on John F. Kennedy Drive, so is easy to access once you enter Golden Gate Park.
>> Additional pictures and visitor information for the Conservatory of Flowers
4. Dahlia Garden
Just a few steps from the Conservatory of Flowers, you will find another stunning flower garden in San Francisco: the Dahlia Dell. It's filled with dahlias of all colors, forms, and sizes—some up to a foot in diameter!
This SF garden is outdoors in Golden Gate Park and free and open to the public to visit.
Best Time to Visit: This is one of the San Francisco gardens to visit in summer or early autumn, from about mid-May to the end of October.
5. Japanese Tea Garden
The Japanese Tea Garden is another famous garden in San Francisco. It's on the eastern end of Golden Gate Park, just steps from the Botanical Garden. It's also the oldest public Japanese Garden in the United States.
This zen retreat offers several colorful flowers and peaceful gardens. It's also filled with beautiful and historical Japanese structures. It's a great place to step away from the bustle of the city.
Best Time to Visit: My favorite time to come here is in the early spring for the cherry blossoms. A traditional Japanese symbol of spring, they add beauty to this SF garden from late March through the end of April.
The Japanese Tea Garden is open daily from 9 am to 5 pm. Admission is free from 9 to 10 am on Monday, Wednesday, and Friday each week.
It's also just steps from the de Young Museum, the California Academy of Sciences, and the Botanical Garden, so you can easily visit multiple attractions while you are in Golden Gate Park.
>> More Japanese Tea Garden pictures and tips to visit
6. Lombard Street
This popular San Francisco attraction comes to life in the spring, summer, and early fall when its flowers are in full bloom. They add a pop of color to make this famously crooked, brick-lined street even more beautiful.
Best Time to Visit: This is one of the most photographed San Francisco gardens. You can capture postcard-worthy photos of the Lombard garden from April to September. I suggest you visit in the morning.
This unique San Francisco flower garden is also free and open to the public every day of the year.
>> Find more photos & visiting tips for San Francisco's crooked street
Visit multiple gardens in San Francisco with this package deal: a trip to Alcatraz Island, plus a two-day Hop-On Hop-Off bus tour, which includes stops at Golden Gate Park, Lombard Street, and at least a dozen other attractions around town.
7. Mission San Francisco de Asis Cemetery
There is a beautiful little-known rose garden in San Francisco's Mission District if you step inside the historic Mission San Francisco de Asis, the oldest building in the city.
I had never really noticed the gorgeous rose garden until my last visit when I was strolling through the cemetery. The size and quality of the flowers are amazing!
This old cemetery is where several of the pioneers of San Francisco are buried. Many of the gravestones look aged, but the beautiful roses add a touch of color to the experience.
Best Time to Visit: The great thing about roses is that they stay in bloom for a long time. The best time to see them here is between mid-April and the end of September.
>> See pictures & visiting tips for the mission
8. Rose Garden in Golden Gate Park
If you love roses, another great place to admire them is the large Rose Garden in Golden Gate Park.
Located near the pedestrian entrance at Park Presidio Boulevard and Fulton Street, this famous garden in San Francisco is free to walk through.
Best Time to Visit: The best time to visit is from mid-April to September. My last stop here was in mid-October and there were still a few roses in bloom, but their petals were starting to fall to the ground.
>> More about visiting Golden Gate Park
9. Queen Wilhelmina Garden
If you head to the northwest corner of Golden Gate Park, you can't miss the towering Dutch windmill that was gifted to the city of San Francisco by the Queen of the Netherlands in 1902.
The beautiful tulip garden that sits beneath the windmill is named after her, and is a popular idyllic backdrop for weddings.
This is another one of the San Francisco gardens of Golden Gate Park that is free and open to the public.
Best Time to Visit: Head over here in the springtime, around March, when the colorful tulips are in bloom.
>> Check out other things to enjoy in the nearby Outer Richmond neighborhood
10. Potrero Hill Community Garden
While there are several community gardens spread throughout the city, there is no community garden in San Francisco quite like the one in Potrero Hill.
Not only does it stay unlocked and welcome respectful visitors, but thanks to its location on a hill, it also offers some of the best views in town.
Stopping by this hidden gem in a trendy residential neighborhood is such a lovely retreat from the more trafficked tourist attractions of the big city.
Best Time to Visit: Almost any time of the year, you'll find beautiful and colorful fruits and veggies growing in this treasured community space.
>> Find other cool things to do in the Potrero Hill district surrounding this SF garden
Gardens Near San Francisco
Muir Woods National Monument
If you love seeing unique plants and flowers, then you will love a visit to Muir Woods National Monument.
This is not exactly one of the best gardens near San Francisco but rather a 550+ acre forest about 45 minutes north of San Francisco.
Muir Woods features towering coastal redwood trees up to 1,200 years old. It's one of Northern California's top nature destinations and hiking spots.
>> Additional details, including pictures and tips to get to Muir Woods
Monarch Grove Sanctuary
If you plan to head south of San Francisco to the Monterey Bay Area, don't miss the Monarch Grove Sanctuary in the town of Pacific Grove. It is full of pine, cypress, and eucalyptus trees, which are perfect for the butterfly clusters.
Every year, the magnificent Monarch butterflies migrate through this part of California to wait out the winter. The best time to visit is between October and February, and admission is free.
>> Discover more about top attractions in and around Monterey
Deals on Tours
If you're planning to visit these famous gardens of San Francisco and the surrounding area, check out the following tour packages. This leaves the driving to someone else while you get to sit back and smell the roses.
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