Desert Garden Tours and Activities

Desert Garden
Desert Garden
Desert Garden
Desert Garden
Desert Garden


No other garden is as natural to San Diego as this slightly secluded area. Stroll through this green space to see plant species not commonly found in other parks.

San Diego is by all appearances a lush city, but it borders desert, easily observed by driving just outside the city core to visit Desert Garden. Reach the garden by going through sprawling Balboa Park and crossing the pedestrian bridge near the San Diego Natural History Museum.

The garden’s 2.5 acres (1 hectare) has a large collection of cacti, bromeliads and many succulents, with more than 1,300 individual plants. The area is arid in keeping with its desert status, so wear a hat, as you are unlikely to find much shade.

One benefit of including this garden in a visit is appreciating the number of fascinating plant shapes and colors. Visit from January to March when the garden often explodes with brilliant hues such as the yellow blooms on the palo verde, the reddish orange of aloe thraskii or light green foliage of the Queensland bottle tree.

The Joshua tree is shaped very artistically while the weeping Euphorbia ingens is surrealistic, similar to some of the creative drawings of Dr. Seuss. Imagine the symmetric quiver tree as the perfect specimen to have on a front lawn however, it is, once again, a desert plant.

Walk on flat paved pathways through this collection of plants that are sourced both locally and from other arid regions of the world. The setting is particularly photographic at dusk.

Compared to other parts of Balboa Park, which dates back to 1868, Desert Garden is from the mid 1970s and a relative newcomer. Don’t confuse this spot with the much older Cactus Garden in another area of the same park. Visit the nearby Inez Grant Parker Memorial Rose Garden, which is included with free admission and is always open.

Spend a bit more time in Balboa Park to visit other areas with interesting vegetation, including the Japanese Friendship Garden, the Australian Garden and the EthnoBotany Children’s Peace Garden.

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Top Desert Garden Hotel & Accommodation Deals

The Bristol Hotel San Diego
The Bristol Hotel San Diego
3.5 out of 5
1055 1st Ave, San Diego, CA
The Bristol Hotel San Diego
Wyndham San Diego Bayside
Wyndham San Diego Bayside
4 out of 5
1355 N Harbor Drive, San Diego, CA
Wyndham San Diego Bayside
The Dextro, Best Western Premier Collection
The Dextro, Best Western Premier Collection
3 out of 5
1617 1st Avenue, San Diego, CA
The Dextro, Best Western Premier Collection
Omni San Diego Hotel
Omni San Diego Hotel
4 out of 5
675 L St, San Diego, CA
Omni San Diego Hotel
Alma San Diego Downtown, a Tribute Portfolio Hotel
Alma San Diego Downtown, a Tribute Portfolio Hotel
4 out of 5
1047 5th Ave, San Diego, CA
Alma San Diego Downtown, a Tribute Portfolio Hotel
San Diego Marriott Gaslamp Quarter
San Diego Marriott Gaslamp Quarter
4 out of 5
660 K St, San Diego, CA
San Diego Marriott Gaslamp Quarter
Best Western Seven Seas
Best Western Seven Seas
3 out of 5
411 Hotel Circle South, San Diego, CA
Best Western Seven Seas
Hotel Indigo San Diego-Gaslamp Quarter, an IHG Hotel
Hotel Indigo San Diego-Gaslamp Quarter, an IHG Hotel
4 out of 5
509 9th Ave, San Diego, CA
Hotel Indigo San Diego-Gaslamp Quarter, an IHG Hotel
Holiday Inn Express San Diego Downtown, an IHG Hotel
Holiday Inn Express San Diego Downtown, an IHG Hotel
2.5 out of 5
1430 7th Ave, San Diego, CA
Holiday Inn Express San Diego Downtown, an IHG Hotel
Lowest nightly price found within the past 24 hours based on a 1 night stay for 2 adults. Prices and availability subject to change. Additional terms may apply.