Our Guide to Santa Cruz Agriculture and Horticulture Tourism provides general information on the area’s gardens, organic farms, demonstration farms, greenhouses and more.
We also highlight some regional gardens that may be of interest to you. They would require a drive, but the are well worth a visit!
Santa Cruz Area Gardens
Bamboo Giant Nursery
Bamboo Giant Nursery featuring exotic bamboo for retail and wholesale. Supplies and services for installing whole groves, privacy hedges or single plants.
Address: 5601 Freedom Blvd, Aptos, CA 95003
Phone: (831) 687-0100
Website: http://www.bamboogiant.com/
Hakone Estate and Gardens
Covering 18 acres, Hakone is the oldest Japanese and Asian estate gardens in the Western Hemisphere, established in 1915. It is one of the prime land marks by the National Trust for Historic Preservation. It is an authentic replica of Japanese Samurai or Shogun’s estate garden, designed by one of descendent of the imperial gardening family members.
Address: 21000 Big Basin Way, Saratoga, CA 95070
Phone: (408) 741-4994
Website: http://www.hakone.com/
Japanese Friendship Garden
Located in: Kelley Park
Address: 1300 Senter Rd, San Jose, CA 95112
Phone: (408) 794-7275
Website: https://www.sanjose.org/listings/japanese-friendship-garden
Roses of Yesterday and Today
The Roses of Yesterday and Today Garden, which has developed with the help of four generations of the Wiley/Stemler family, has more than 230 rose varieties on display. Picnic tables are available.
Address: 803 Browns Valley Rd, Watsonville, CA 95076
Phone: (831) 728-1901
Website: http://rosesofyesterday.com/
San Francisco Botanical Garden
Whether you have ten minutes or a life-time, there’s always something new to see and do at the SF Botanical Garden. The Garden is open daily, 365 days a year. Weekdays, 8 am to 4:30 pm. Weekends & holidays, 10 am to 5 pm
Address: 1199 9th Ave, San Francisco, CA 94122
Tickets: $7–12 · sfbg.org
Phone: (415) 661-1316
Website: https://www.sfbg.org/
San Jose Municipal Rose Garden
Address: 1649 Naglee Ave, San Jose, CA 95126
Phone: (408) 794-7275
Website: https://www.sanjose.org/listings/municipal-rose-garden
Sierra Azul Nursery
Plants for California’s Mediterranean Climate – 2 beautiful acres of demonstration gardens
Address: 2660 E Lake Ave, Watsonville, CA 95076
Phone: (831) 728-2532
Website: https://sierraazul.com/
UCSC Arboretum
Situated on what is now the campus of the University of California at Santa Cruz and what was originally part of the vast land holdings of pioneer settler Henry Cowell, the Arboretum occupies one of the most propitious horticultural sites in the world.
Located in: University of California Santa Cruz
Address: 1156 High St, Santa Cruz, CA 95064
Phone: (831) 502-2998
Website: https://arboretum.ucsc.edu/
Santa Cruz Nurseries & Greenhouses
Bamboo Giant Nursery
Bamboo Giant Nursery featuring exotic bamboo for retail and wholesale. Supplies and services for installing whole groves, privacy hedges or single plants.
Address: 5601 Freedom Blvd, Aptos, CA 95003
Phone: (831) 687-0100
Website: http://www.bamboogiant.com/
Bay Laurel Rhododendrons
Address: 1554 Bean Creek Rd., Scotts Valley, CA 95066
Phone: (831) 438-3999
Website: http://www.madeintheshade.biz/
Far West Nursery
Far West Nursery and Garden Center offers more than two acres of plants to satisfy your every garden need.
Address: 2669 Mattison Ln, Santa Cruz, CA 95062
Phone: (831) 476-8866
Website: https://www.farwestnursery.com/
The Garden Company Nursery & Gift Shop
They have something for everyone, from the novice home gardener to the serious plant collector.
Address: 2218 Mission St, Santa Cruz, CA 95060
Phone: (831) 429-8424
Website: http://thegardenco.com/
The GrowBiz
They are have the LARGEST outdoor and indoor gardening inventory in the Bay Area!
Address: 2450 17th Ave #100, Santa Cruz, CA 95062
Phone: (831) 475-9900
Website: https://www.thegrowbiz.com/
Hidden Villa
Located in the Los Altos Hills, it’s worth the drive to visit this real working farm. Its mission is to educate, and that it does with its organic gardens and animals. Children love to get up close and personal with chickens, cows, pigs and much more…
Address: 26870 Moody Road, Los Altos Hills, CA 94022
Phone: (650) 949-8650
Website: https://www.hiddenvilla.org/
Redwood Nursery
Redwood Nursery specializes in locally grown trees and shrubs for your garden in the Santa Cruz Mountains and surrounding areas.
Address: 2800 El Rancho Dr, Santa Cruz, CA 95060
Phone: (831) 438-2844
Website: https://redwoodnursery.biz/
Roses of Yesterday and Today
The Roses of Yesterday and Today Garden, which has developed with the help of four generations of the Wiley/Stemler family, has more than 230 rose varieties on display. Picnic tables are available.
Address: 803 Browns Valley Rd, Watsonville, CA 95076
Phone: (831) 728-1901
Website: http://rosesofyesterday.com/
Scarborough Gardens
Whether you’re a professional landscaper or a weekend gardener, Scarborough Gardens Nursery has something for everyone.
Address: 33 El Pueblo Rd, Scotts Valley, CA 95066
Phone: (831) 438-4106
Website: http://www.scarboroughgardens.com/
Sierra Azul Nursery
Plants for California’s Mediterranean Climate – 2 beautiful acres of demonstration gardens
Address: 2660 E Lake Ave, Watsonville, CA 95076
Phone: (831) 728-2532
Website: https://sierraazul.com/
Upstarts-Organic Seedlings
Upstarts has been providing Quality Gourmet Vegetable starts to the Greater San Francisco Bay Area sense 1987.
Phone: 831-722-4522
Website: https://www.upstartsorganicseedlings.com/
Santa Cruz Wine Tasting and Wineries
A directory of local wineries
Click here to search Half Moon Bay (45 miles north) or Monterey (40 miles south).