Few locations in the world can boast as many horticultural habitats as the Quail Botanical Gardens located on over 35 acres in Encinitas 30 miles north of San Diego. The gardens have been designed to guide the visitor from the high desert to a tropical rainforest, and through different geographical areas where a vast array of plant life is on display.
The gardens include almost 3,000 varieties of tropical, subtropical, and California native plants. There are climate-based gardens such as the New World and Old World deserts, Sub-Tropical Fruit, Coastal Sage Scrub, a Pinetum, i.e. a palm canyon. In addition, some gardens are organized geographically to represent Africa, Australia, Madagascar South America, the Canary Islands, Cape South Africa, Central America, the Himalayas, the Mediterranean, the Middle East, New Zealand, the Pan-Tropical Rainforest, and the Pacific.
Among the gardens' most famous displays are the bamboos, considered the largest North American bamboo collection. In addition, the palms and cycad collections are extensive.
Volunteers maintain the garden and a botanical library is onsite for study and research. Tours are free Saturdays at 10am, and a gift shop and nursery are both on the grounds.
Attraction Information
- Hours:
- 9am to 5pm daily, except Thanksgiving, Christmas, and New Years Day
- Admission:
- Adults: $12
- Seniors, students, active military: $8
- Children ages 3-12: $6
- Members; children ages 2 & under: Free
- Contact:
- Address: 230 Quail Gardens Drive, Encinitas CA
- Phone: 760-436-3036
- Website: www.sdbgarden.org
