UBC Botanical Garden
UBC Botanical Garden
4
10:00 AM - 4:30 PM
Tuesday
10:00 AM - 4:30 PM
Wednesday
10:00 AM - 4:30 PM
Thursday
10:00 AM - 4:30 PM
Friday
10:00 AM - 4:30 PM
Saturday
10:00 AM - 4:30 PM
Sunday
10:00 AM - 4:30 PM
About
Tickets are available for sale on our website. ~ Immerse yourself in the world of wild-collected plants! Garden highlights include internationally recognized collections of magnolias and maples. Stroll through our impressive Asian garden with over 400 kinds of rhododendrons, travel the continents in our alpine garden, explore our BC rainforest garden, head back in time in our traditional physic garden overflowing with herbs, discover food growing techniques in the food garden and much more.
Duration: 1-2 hours
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Neighbourhood: University Land Endowments
An area as rich in history as it is in natural beauty, the expansive parkland of the University Land Endowments is protected by the city in cooperation with the University of British Columbia. A large green space studded by rose gardens, Japanese rock gardens, botanic gardens, canopy walks, regional parkland, and hiking trails, the University Land Endowments are a breath of fresh air. Combining a commitment to preserving nature with a similar promise to preserve culture, its valleys are also home to the First Nations heritage museum, the biodiversity museum, and anthropological and memorial exhibitions. From its highest canopies to the sandy shorelines of Wreck Beach, its serenity is preserved by the University buildings that dot it, combining Mother Nature and scholarship.
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Most Recent: Reviews ordered by most recent publish date in descending order.
Detailed Reviews: Reviews ordered by recency and descriptiveness of user-identified themes such as waiting time, length of visit, general tips, and location information.
Popular mentions
4.0
434 reviews
Excellent
196
Very good
154
Average
64
Poor
10
Terrible
10
Mark P
Vancouver Island, Canada3 contributions
Sept 2020
For 5 years now, I have been visiting the UBC Botanical Garden with my sons. We have always enjoyed our visit and our shopping experience at the gift shop. As we are Univeristy Neighbourhood Association (UNA) members (i.e. we live on the UBC campus), our admission has been free. I am surprised and disappointed to see that UNA members are now being asked to pay for their visit. One of the advantages of living at UBC is the access to world class facilities and services. I will be striking the UBC botanical Garden (and gift shop) off my list and will visit the Pacific Spirit Park instead (as it, fortunately, remains free to UNA members).
Written September 6, 2020
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Hello neighbour. We have some good news to share with you. Access to attractions at UBC is paid for by the UNA for their residents through agreements with individual attractions on campus. Although the previous agreement lapsed three years ago the Garden continued to extend access and other benefits to UNA members as long as it was able to.
We are pleased to announce that the UNA has once again made arrangements for residents to have access to UBC Botanical Garden with your community services card. We hope to welcome you back to UBC Botanical Garden and Nitobe Memorial Garden soon. If you have any additional questions about your community services card benefits please contact the UNA for more information.
Written September 10, 2020
This response is the subjective opinion of the management representative and not of Tripadvisor LLC.
Em J
1 contribution
Oct 2024 • Family
Apple Festival specific review.
What a waste of time and money! This event is over hyped and poorly managed. Firstly, trying to find parking was nearly impossible. There's a shuttle to the event from the parkade but it runs every 15 minutes.
The admission booth is at the Botanical Garden entrance but everything worth seeing and doing is on the opposite side of the street, not at all visible and there is no clear signage. You're funneled into the area to BUY things.
It's obviously staffed by volunteers and none of them seemed to know anything. When we finally got to the festival after trying to find parking, then having to walk to walk 15 minutes from having missed the shuttle, we were 15 minutes late for our tasting ticket (which is a separate ticket from the festival ticket).
We were advised they were being strict with the entry time for the tasting (no where on the ticket nor the info email does it say this). We were given tokens and told we could "try to still get in" and then directed into the area where there are food trucks and products for sale. We walked briskly around looking for the tasting tent and couldn't find it anywhere. We stopped to ask a volunteer who had no idea where it was. We got back up to the admission tent and found out it was across the street!!! Common sense would dictate that they could have directed us to the tasting tent instead of ushering us into the wrong area. By this time it was far too late. I asked the same volunteer who admitted us entry why they didn't tell us where the tasting tent was and his response, was "Did you ask?". Are. You. Kidding. Me. A refund wasn't even an option because according to another volunteer, "Once you've been admitted, there's no way for us to know if you did the tasting or not." You literally saw me less than 10 minutes ago when you told me we might be too late to get in, and then directed us to the wrong area. What a nonsense scam. Not to mention the fact that the only way to get into the tasting is to go through the admission tent!
I only found out after the fact that there's a festival map. One was not offered to us at the entry tent. We were so irritated at this point we just left. After driving 45 minutes to the event, taking forever to get parking, walking 15 minutes in the rain, tickets and pay parking it was $45 for less than 20 minutes spent at this "festival ".
Do not waste your time on this. There's way better events and festivals to spend your money on.
What a waste of time and money! This event is over hyped and poorly managed. Firstly, trying to find parking was nearly impossible. There's a shuttle to the event from the parkade but it runs every 15 minutes.
The admission booth is at the Botanical Garden entrance but everything worth seeing and doing is on the opposite side of the street, not at all visible and there is no clear signage. You're funneled into the area to BUY things.
It's obviously staffed by volunteers and none of them seemed to know anything. When we finally got to the festival after trying to find parking, then having to walk to walk 15 minutes from having missed the shuttle, we were 15 minutes late for our tasting ticket (which is a separate ticket from the festival ticket).
We were advised they were being strict with the entry time for the tasting (no where on the ticket nor the info email does it say this). We were given tokens and told we could "try to still get in" and then directed into the area where there are food trucks and products for sale. We walked briskly around looking for the tasting tent and couldn't find it anywhere. We stopped to ask a volunteer who had no idea where it was. We got back up to the admission tent and found out it was across the street!!! Common sense would dictate that they could have directed us to the tasting tent instead of ushering us into the wrong area. By this time it was far too late. I asked the same volunteer who admitted us entry why they didn't tell us where the tasting tent was and his response, was "Did you ask?". Are. You. Kidding. Me. A refund wasn't even an option because according to another volunteer, "Once you've been admitted, there's no way for us to know if you did the tasting or not." You literally saw me less than 10 minutes ago when you told me we might be too late to get in, and then directed us to the wrong area. What a nonsense scam. Not to mention the fact that the only way to get into the tasting is to go through the admission tent!
I only found out after the fact that there's a festival map. One was not offered to us at the entry tent. We were so irritated at this point we just left. After driving 45 minutes to the event, taking forever to get parking, walking 15 minutes in the rain, tickets and pay parking it was $45 for less than 20 minutes spent at this "festival ".
Do not waste your time on this. There's way better events and festivals to spend your money on.
Written October 21, 2024
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Kathryn H
22 contributions
Apr 2022 • Couples
Unfortunately I was rather underwhelmed by this garden. The first part is very natural and has many magnolias, some azaleas and rhododendrons planted among the large trees. While they’re beautiful in flower the effect is more of an arboretum with flowering shrubs rather than a garden. Through the tunnel the more formal garden is aptly named but alas at this time of year (late April) most plants are just coming out of dormancy so not much of interest and the productive garden is not even planted. I was disappointed not to see more spring bulbs and hellebores especially as the public displays in Vancouver are so spectacular although perhaps a little too perfect! Am I too picky?!
Written April 20, 2022
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
ted b
9 contributions
Aug 2023
I look at UBC Garden as two different places.
1) The first is the Japanese Garden, which is more of a rainforest atmosphere. That is more trees than garden. And in there you'll find the tree tops adventure, several suspension bridges. Even though they are secure, it can be a workout, keeping your balance while navigating through. For me, more of a workout than Capilano, but it's not difficult.
If you do take the tree top adventure and Ian or someone from the company is there, take a few minutes and start a conversation. The suspension bridges are run by a private company, who has locations all over the world. I'm glad I stopped to talk.
2) The second part is the garden part, as you'll see in the picture above. I was there in August and didn't see a whole lot of flowers in bloom, but still a very nice walk through the park
1) The first is the Japanese Garden, which is more of a rainforest atmosphere. That is more trees than garden. And in there you'll find the tree tops adventure, several suspension bridges. Even though they are secure, it can be a workout, keeping your balance while navigating through. For me, more of a workout than Capilano, but it's not difficult.
If you do take the tree top adventure and Ian or someone from the company is there, take a few minutes and start a conversation. The suspension bridges are run by a private company, who has locations all over the world. I'm glad I stopped to talk.
2) The second part is the garden part, as you'll see in the picture above. I was there in August and didn't see a whole lot of flowers in bloom, but still a very nice walk through the park
Written August 26, 2023
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
aka_smitty
Woodstock191 contributions
Oct 2021 • Solo
Visited the property in Oct and enjoyed the beautiful colours. Parking meter easy to use. Trails were well labeled and map was accurate and easy to follow. Tree walk was fun addition. Traffic noise makes it hard to hear the birds and GPS directions were inaccurate. I spent 2.5hrs here and didn't see it all. Happy to go back, would love to visit at different times of the year.
Written October 26, 2021
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
twototube
Vancouver, Canada14 contributions
Oct 2013 • Couples
This review is specific to the annual apple festival held each October. I had been to this event more than a decade ago and it now is more popular but has become a cash grab. They don't tell you after paying $4 each to enter that it's another $5 for apple tasting. People do however wait in long lines to pay for this. Also, a majority of the apples were sold out at the start of the second day even though the prices were $6 for a 3lb bag (approx $1/apple). There was bike valet and good musicians who hopefully are paid.
Written October 21, 2013
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Hello, Thanks for your feedback about UBC Botanical Garden's Apple Festival. We take all feedback seriously and will be taking yours into account. If you'd like to follow up directly with us please email garden.marketing@ubc.ca
The festival is a fundraiser for the not-for-profit UBC Botanical Garden organized by the Friends of the Garden volunteer group in conjunction with the Botanical Garden staff. The funds raised from the event supports important research, conservation, education and public outreach work by the botanical garden.
The goal of the festival has been to showcase apples that are grown here in BC, most of which you cannot find in grocery stores. We bring in over 70 varieties to taste and sell over 60 varieties of apples and over 100 varieties of apple trees. We buy these apples in small quantities directly from local growers and then rent a refrigerated truck to transport them from places such as Salmon Arm, the Okanagan and Fraser Valley to our location. Due to us buying smaller quantities, and because this is a volunteer-run event to raise funds for the garden our prices are not as low as some grocery stores but the selection and quality is second to none and it all goes to support a good cause.
Since it is a fundraiser we desire to sell out of apples each year and we tell visitors that if they are interested in buying apples that they should come early for the best selection. There are still many parts of the festival that go on after the apples for sale sell out - tastings (only $5 to taste up to 70 varieties in a 30 minute tasting), a huge children's area, entertainment on two stages and throughout the garden, a vendor market including many food options and access to explore the botanical garden's collections (usually $8 admission) and discounts on the Greenheart Canopy Walkway eco-adventure.
Clear information about costs (admission fees and tasting fees) are outlined on our website.
Thanks again for your review and I hope this information provides a bit more insight into the festival. Thanks.
Written October 24, 2013
This response is the subjective opinion of the management representative and not of Tripadvisor LLC.
Ron m
West Vancouver, Canada1 contribution
Oct 2013 • Friends
FYI: Worst example of a festival to date – today this event charged its own students to attend; elderly and subtly racist volunteers (5) bullied, yelled and attacked those who had dogs – toy dogs, larger etc., and suggested tying up your dog (Lol!), and verbal attacks on fellow child volunteers to shut up and stop suggesting to people/customers/students to hold dogs in their arms and walk in. The rule of no dogs applies to the park area, but they do not allow you to attend the festival. The no dogs rule for a park applies to all of ubc. People were turned down from the north shore, surrey, hope etc.!!!! they took your money and then said sorry you cant come in.
Written October 20, 2013
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
hank you for taking the time to review UBC Botanical Garden's Apple Festival. We take all feedback seriously and your comments will be shared with the Apple Festival organizing committee and Botanical Garden management.
UBC students receive free access to the Botanical Garden throughout the year. The only exception is during Apple Festival, which is the Botanical Garden's largest fundraising event of the year. Revenues accrued through this event offset operating costs and enable us to offer UBC students free admission throughout the rest of the year.
Botanical gardens are catalogued collections of living plants, much like a museum. The majority of plants in our collection are wild-collected from diverse areas around the world, and many are extremely rare and valuable. Some plants may no longer exist in the wild, or wild populations may be severely limited or vulnerable. All of our plants are catalogued and labelled so that they can be used for research, conservation and educational purposes.
Damage to the collections by pets may jeopardize research projects or the conservation efforts of endangered species. Botanical gardens across the world commonly maintain "no pets" policies in order to safeguard these invaluable resources. For these reasons we do not allow animals, with the exception of service animals, to access UBC Botanical Garden. In response to your feedback we have moved the information about this policy to the top of our Apple Festival webpage and will be considering other ways to make this clearer for next year.
If you have any other suggestions or feedback you'd like to share with us please contact us at garden.marketing@ubc.ca.
Thank you.
Written October 28, 2013
This response is the subjective opinion of the management representative and not of Tripadvisor LLC.
Janice L
Richmond, Canada199 contributions
The walk ways are well sign posted so take your comfy walking shoes and spend some time admiring the beauty that is so miraculously found in nature - it's worth it.
Written January 22, 2012
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
LoveWailea
Vancouver45 contributions
Aug 2013 • Couples
Recognizing that keen gardeners often visit UBC Botanical Gardens, I imagine that many are like me who love to visit special nurseries in cities I travel to. UBC Botanical Gardens has many unusual and interesting plants- it's a great walk. They also have a small nursery that has unusual plant often propagated from seed and cuttings from the Botanical Gardens itself. (You can go to the nursery without paying admission) If you are a gardener who likes to explore nurseries, Southlands Nursery is a 3 minute drive from UBC and is a charming nursery. Fun to see the range of plants that can be grown and purchased in a city with many passionate gardeners. If you want to drive further afield, Phoenix Perennials in Richmond (Google maps estimates 16 minute drive from UBC) has many special and unusual plants. While some chain nurseries have big-box- hardware-store types of plants, Gardenworks is a chain of nurseries that carries excellent plants. They must have some committed and highly knowledgeable buyers who source great plants for them; I've bought some collectible trees and shrubs from them. If you go out to Phoenix Perennials, the Gardenworks Mandeville Centre is 7 minutes away. Feel free to email me via Tripadvisor if you are interested in other nurseries- Vancouver has some gems (and I'll trade you for your list of favourite nurseries in your area.) I don't work for any gardening-related business or nursery, I just love plants and always struggle to find names of great nurseries in areas we travel to.
Written September 22, 2013
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
AuntieRene
Burnaby, British Columbia, Canada30 contributions
Jul 2014 • Family
We took our three grandchildren, 7, 9 and 11. The 7 year old grandson didn't want to go to "a garden" however once we arrived he will thrilled. There are many nature paths that have little "story signs" for kids to read along the way. The highlight was the canopy walk which is a suspension bridge that just keeps going and going. It's very narrow and wobbly, maybe not for elderly people but the kids loved it so much that we had to do it "once more before we leave". We would definitely recommend this place to families or visitors to Vancouver. Next time we will pack a picnic lunch.
Written July 23, 2014
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Are open toe walking sandals ok to wear on the tree walk?
Written July 27, 2018
I always wear hiking boots during my travels.
Written August 6, 2018
free2eatcandy
Loveland, Colorado
What are the gardens like during the end of October? Have most of the plants died back? We're visiting at the end of the month and I really want to go to the gardens but if there isn't much to see then I'll wait to revisit in the spring/ summer. Thanks!
Written October 3, 2017
There will not be much to see in October apart from the changing colour of the leaves of course. June is usually the best month for the flowering bushes and perennials. The Butchart Gardens are better but expensive. You do have to pay to enter the UBC Gardens.
Written October 6, 2017
BloomsPollinaters
Davis, California
Is April and/or May a good time to visit for many blooms this year (2017)? If not, would later be better for this area? Was curious when most flowers might be in bloom for this year or generally in this climate/region.
Thank you for your time and expertise! Excited to visit for the first time.
Written March 27, 2017
UBCgarden
Vancouver, Canada
Magnolias and rhododendrons have just started to bloom! We've had an incredibly cold and snowy winter, so we are far behind what we've been experiencing in the past few years. While you could certainly see blooms in April, you will likely see more in May and/or throughout the summer. Excited to have you come visit!
Written March 27, 2017
Hi! I would like to ask about pricing in this botanocal garden. Visiting is for free or not? Thank you very much
Written February 21, 2015
UBCgarden
Vancouver, Canada
Hello and thank you for your interest in our garden. We have different rates for different age ranges and categories and you can find all of our rates on our website page on our website (unfortunately I cannot link it here because trip advisor does not allow links). An adult entry for the garden without canopy walkway access starts at just $9.
~ UBC Botanical Garden staff member
Written April 20, 2015
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