The “Emerald City” is known for its lush landscapes and colorful gardens. All that rain is good for something, especially the plant life. Therefore, Seattle offers incredible displays of breathtaking botanical gardens. Being a Seattleite and plant lover, I personally explored many of them and enthusiastically share ten of Seattle’s best botanical gardens.
Seattle gets an average of almost 40 inches of precipitation per year over 156 days. Overall, its climate is temperate, classified in the Mediterranean zone. It has cool, wet winters and mild, relatively dry summers. All these factors combine into ideal conditions for incredible plant diversity.
Seattle’s Best Botanical Gardens
Washington Park Arboretum
This pristine sanctuary along the shores of Lake Washington displays more than 230 acres of incredible, unique gardens and walking trails. Graham Visitors Center is a good place to start with trail guides, snacks or water and restrooms. Overall, the Pacific Connections Gardens displays plants from 5 continents: Cascadia, Australia, China, Chile and New Zealand. Azalea Way is especially popular in spring. It is a 3/4 mile walk through the heart of the Arboretum, showcasing azaleas, flowering cherries, magnolias and dogwoods with a backdrop of evergreen trees and second growth conifers.
Just off Azalea Way is Rhododendron Glen or the Woodland Gardens with 2 ponds, a stream and trees and plants from the woodland area. For example, these gardens include one of North America’s largest displays of Japanese Maple Trees. Also, the Waterfront trails along Lake Washington walk through Marsh and Foster Island’s trails and habitat. Plus, there’s the Joseph A Witt Winter Garden featuring winter blooming plants, such as, dogwoods, Chinese witchhazel and winterberry.
Japanese Gardens (Washington Park Arboretum)
Located in the southwest section of the Washington Park Arboretum, this 3.5 acre traditional Japanese Garden is lovely. It is open from March 1 – November 30, Tuesday through Sunday. Overall, there are winding paths through a meditative atmosphere with a pond, streams, trees, flowers, stones, bridges and lanterns. Also, check times for tea ceremonies and garden tours. During spring flower bloom and fall foliage are noteworthy times to visit.
Woodland Park Rose Garden (Woodland Park Zoo)
Adjacent to the Woodland Park Zoo, this picturesque garden displays more than 200 species of roses, as one of the just 24 Rose Test Gardens in the U.S. May – August is the best time to see the colorful roses. The gardens include a gazebo, benches and fountains. Also, the gardens newly added section is the Sensory Gardens so as to provide something for everyone at these beautiful gardens, including a section with sweet wind chimes and resounding bells for relaxation.
Carl S. English Jr. Botanical Garden at Hiram M. Chittenden (Ballard) Locks
Adjacent to the Ballard Locks is this spectacular garden created by its namesake. Charles English was an engineer for the Army Corp and a horticulturist. Through his vision the barren landscape next to the Ballard Locks became display gardens with more than 570 species. Also, through his travels and connections with people transporting through the locks he accrued seedlings for unique plants. He even discovered a plant species called Wenatchee Spring Beauty, Claytonia nivalis with pink stripes on the petals. The botanical collections include a variety of colorful flowers, such as, roses, fuchsias, foxgloves, poppies and rhododendrons.
UW Medicinal Herb Garden, Rainier Vista with Rose Gardens & the Quad’s Cherry Blossoms
The UW campus is spread out over various breathtaking landscapes with many gardens, trees and flowerbeds. The iconic Rainier Vista showcases Mt. Rainer at 14,410 ft high in the background of the refreshing Drumheller Fountain, surrounded by rose gardens. Also, there are plenty of benches to sit and just take in the beauty and tranquility of this setting.
South of Rainier Vista, between Benson Hall and the Botany Greenhouse is the UW Medicinal Herb Garden. Overall, it displays about 1,000 medicinal plants in 7 different sections on 2.5 acres. It’s free and all the plants have plaques with both scientific and common names. At one time, the UW Pharmacy Department utilized the gardens for medicinal research. However, now the gardens are for display and relaxation, showcasing healing plants from every continent.
Every March hundreds of enthusiastic spectators visit the UW Liberal Arts Quad to see the beautiful Yoshino cherry blossoms. The “Quad” area near Suzzallo Library has about 30 cherry trees. Overall, there are approximately 100 cherry trees on the entire campus. Going early in the morning is best to avoid the crowds.
Bastyr University Medicinal Herb Garden, Kenmore
Just 20 minutes north of Seattle in Kenmore is this special garden at the pristine Bastyr University for Naturopathic Medicine. Immersed amongst the trees of Saint Edwards State Park this sanctuary displays a garden for the students to learn first hand about the medicinal plants. Furthermore, the plants are used for students to make tinctures, salves and culinary purposes.
Significant themes for the sections display the vast array of medicinal purposes and traditions for healing, such as, East Asian and Ayurvedic, Body Systems (Nervous, Digestive, Respiratory, etc.), Four Elements (Fire, Earth, Air, Water) from Greeks and Shade. In addition, there is a ¾ mile long Ethnobotanical Trail displaying plants in a restored meadow habitat and in the authentic rainforest (behind the gardens). Also, there is even a small Reflexology path to walk along elevated stones for a therapeutic foot massage.
Seattle Chinese Garden / Arboretum at South Seattle College
This Sichuan-style garden at South Seattle College celebrates the Chinese culture with expressions, such as, architecture, paintings, calligraphy, tea and natural elements of water, stone and plants. The Seattle Chinese Garden Society created this garden as a bridge to connect with Seattle’s sister city, Chongqing and China. Festival highlights include the Kite and Bamboo Festival in June. Adjacent to the Chinese Garden is the Arboretum at South Seattle College. Overall, this former rock quarry is prolific with botanical life created and cultivated by students for 40 years. There are pathways through picturesque sections, such as the Rose Garden, Native Garden, Conifers Garden and Sequoia Grove.
Kruckeberg Botanic Garden, Shoreline
This incredible sanctuary was created and nurtured for 50 years by Dr. Arthur Kruckeberg and his wife, who both are no longer with us. The incredible gardens of a mostly woodlands setting are in northern Seattle’s Shoreline area. It’s open to the public for free on Friday, Saturday and Sunday. This 4-acre paradise is home to more than 2,000 species of plants. Most are either native to the Pacific Northwest or brought here from temperate climates, such as Japan and Chile. For example, there are various conifers, hardwoods, magnolias, rhododendrons, ferns, bamboo and even a nursery.
Various sections and ecosystems also include a rain garden, oak collection, winter garden, a bog, stream, serpentine rockery beds and a children’s discovery area. Also, uniquely displayed is a stunning sculpture, “Wood Wave” made from redwood and copper plus the Bug Hotel.
Bellevue Botanical Gardens
East of Bellevue’s downtown is the 53-acre refuge of Bellevue Botanical Garden. Among flower gardens, woodlands and wetlands is the labyrinth of walking trails through this natural landscape. It comprises of various sections, such as, the Urban Meadow, Yao Japanese Garden, Dahlia Display, Waterwise Garden, Fuchsia Garden, Native Discovery Garden and Perennial Border.
Bloedel Reserve, Bainbridge Island
A ferry ride across Puget Sound will take you to Bainbridge Island’s Bloedel Reserve. This is a public garden and forest reserve. It consists of 150 acres displaying a lush collection of 12 gardens with diverse landscapes, such as, a rhododendron glen, Japanese Garden and moss garden. Also, there is a 2-mile loop takes you on a botanical tour of its extraordinary gardens.
Overall, Seattle Botanical Gardens
Because Seattle is a temperate climate, there are beautiful plants to see all year round. Every season has its unique horticulture and gardens. And it takes time, so don’t wait because each garden and season has something unique to inspire and awaken the senses.
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