The Ruth Bancroft Garden
The Ruth Bancroft Garden
4.5
9:00 AM - 4:00 PM
Tuesday
9:00 AM - 4:00 PM
Wednesday
9:00 AM - 4:00 PM
Thursday
9:00 AM - 4:00 PM
Friday
9:00 AM - 4:00 PM
Saturday
9:00 AM - 4:00 PM
Sunday
9:00 AM - 4:00 PM
About
A world-renowned 3.5-acre garden, housing a collection of unique succulents, cacti and drought-tolerant plants from around the world. The Garden’s founder, Ruth Bancroft, lived to be 109 and was a pioneer in drought-tolerant gardening. Open to the public year-round, the Garden showcases fabulous blooms during every season. The retail nursery carries many varieties of Agaves, Aloes, Sedums, Aeoniums, Echeverias, Cacti, and the largest selection of Proteaceae in Northern California. Visitors may take a self guided tour or on weekends, docent led tours are offered. The Garden offers classes and workshops throughout the year in it's new Visitor and Education Center, which is also available to rent for business meetings, weddings and other private special events.
Duration: 1-2 hours
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4.5
150 reviews
Excellent
93
Very good
51
Average
5
Poor
0
Terrible
1
KEdilip
Palghat51 contributions
Sept 2013 • Solo
I read about this garden on the net and went to see it during my stay in California. It was 10-30 in the morning when I reached there and hoped to spend an hour there as I had an appointment at 12. The ladies in the office were very kind and were explaining to me about a paid walking tour of the garden. Suddenly a male voice was heard from inside the office mockingly saying that I was about to ask for a discount! I was shocked and felt insulted. I politely replied that I had no time to accept their offer even if it was 100% free and walked out.
I won't recommend this garden to tourists.
I won't recommend this garden to tourists.
Written 27 September 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.
Sensei
San Francisco, CA35 contributions
July 2019
A friend of mine invited me to the garden as she frequents the nursery and buys succulents for her backyard oasis. The space is over 2 acres and has lots of colorful cactus and many other botanical plants. I was impressed with the art sculptures which are throughout the garden. We did the self-guided tour, took a complimentary booklet and strolled around to enjoy the scenery. We finished in just about an hour. It was a warm day but we were prepared with bottled water, hats, and summer clothing.
An enjoyable experience.
An enjoyable experience.
Written 22 August 2019
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.
Mark -
Thank you for letting us know how much you enjoyed your visit. We hope you are able to come back again soon.
Written 23 August 2019
This response is the subjective opinion of the management representative and not of Tripadvisor LLC.
CA-Traveler1022
Walnut Creek, CA30 contributions
Aug 2017 • Family
Unique display of cactus and succulents. A must do place for visitors staying with us. Walking around it is amazing the various types of these plants that are on display.
They also have a wonderful nursery where you can but plants!
They also have a wonderful nursery where you can but plants!
Written 8 August 2017
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.
JanoCheney
Walnut Creek, CA3 contributions
June 2015 • Solo
Walnut Creek treasure has been here for more than 40 years and it's never looked better. Fabulous nursery for timely drought-tolerant plants, knowledgeable staff will answer all your plant/landscape questions, great workshops and events. In summer, check out the Friday night sunset socials for live music, great food in a lovely garden setting.
Written 30 June 2015
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.
Sharon D
Lafayette396 contributions
Aug 2022 • Friends
One of my favorite places to spend an afternoon. An enormous variety of succulents and cactus from all over the world. Fantastic shopping in their huge nursery and gift area.
You can start a real obsession with succulents here.
Close to 680 and parking is free.
You can start a real obsession with succulents here.
Close to 680 and parking is free.
Written 21 August 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.
Terry H
Seattle, WA760 contributions
Apr 2021
These gardens are an absolute delight. They are beautiful and showcase the myriad flora that warm and dry climes can support.
When you pay for admission you are given a self-guided tour book at guide your meanderings. It was very hot the day we were there, so the chairs and small tables spaced apart in shaded areas was incredibly inviting.
There was even a guide there you could ask questions of - there are no guided tours at the time (covid precautions, I assume) but if you saw one, you could ask questions and get more information than you could really take in. Totally enchanting though.
When you pay for admission you are given a self-guided tour book at guide your meanderings. It was very hot the day we were there, so the chairs and small tables spaced apart in shaded areas was incredibly inviting.
There was even a guide there you could ask questions of - there are no guided tours at the time (covid precautions, I assume) but if you saw one, you could ask questions and get more information than you could really take in. Totally enchanting though.
Written 24 April 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.
Thank you for visiting us! We are so pleased that you enjoyed your trip to the Garden. We hope to be able to offer docent led tours again soon.
Written 3 May 2021
This response is the subjective opinion of the management representative and not of Tripadvisor LLC.
Richard I
Lake Oswego, OR37 contributions
Feb 2018 • Couples
The decades of loving care taken by Ruth and her staff have resulted in a garden of immense value to the gardener and great enjoyment for the person willing to be wowed by nature.
Written 15 March 2018
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.
_juliehshafer
Walnut Creek, CA6 contributions
Nov 2017 • Friends
I recently visited the gardens after several years away, and what a huge difference! It is much better organized and accessible than before. They must have new management, or an influx of money for upgrades. They are currently under construction on a visitors center. I especially enjoyed the expanded plant sale area where you can get plenty of help deciding what to take home after your enjoyable visit to the garden.
Written 22 January 2018
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.
Q9104REronaldd
Walnut Creek, ca, United States6 contributions
Sept 2016 • Friends
Ruth Bancroft Garden (RBG) is located in residential area of Walnut Creek. If you blink twice you could miss it, as something as large as this Garden is not expected to be found amoungust single family homes. Ruth Bancroft Garden has one of the largest living collection of cactus and suculents. When you first enter the Garden from Bancroft street, you see a 100 year old tequila plant surrounded by numerous smaller blooming suculents, seeing this sight is worth coming to RBG even if you don't see anything else.
There is a green house with plants growing there year round. At the Green house located near the exit, you can purchase numerous types of suculents and Cactus at various stages of growth. I purchased a Tequila plant that was growing in a shot glass a few years back, and that plant has been transplanted 3 times due to it out growing the pot it lives in. I was told later that IF I keep giving it more room, it will continue to get larger and larger.
If you are in the Walnut Creek Area, stop by the RBG and be prepared to be amazed, it is an experince that you will remember for a very long time.
There is a green house with plants growing there year round. At the Green house located near the exit, you can purchase numerous types of suculents and Cactus at various stages of growth. I purchased a Tequila plant that was growing in a shot glass a few years back, and that plant has been transplanted 3 times due to it out growing the pot it lives in. I was told later that IF I keep giving it more room, it will continue to get larger and larger.
If you are in the Walnut Creek Area, stop by the RBG and be prepared to be amazed, it is an experince that you will remember for a very long time.
Written 11 July 2017
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.
khub79
Charlotte, NC219 contributions
Mar 2015 • Couples
I just live down the road from this unusual garden. It's unusual if you aren't native to warm weather and low water use plant life.
Since first visiting, we have purchased so many different varieties of succulents.
Walking through the garden you get the sense you are in a prehistoric place where plants are like dinosaurs.
If you think drought tolerant plants are boring and plain, think again. Take a walk through the garden and you will become a fan of succulents.
Since first visiting, we have purchased so many different varieties of succulents.
Walking through the garden you get the sense you are in a prehistoric place where plants are like dinosaurs.
If you think drought tolerant plants are boring and plain, think again. Take a walk through the garden and you will become a fan of succulents.
Written 2 July 2015
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.
Is this site accessible via wheelchair?
Written 6 July 2018
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