If you’re planning on travelling in Canada this year and hope to see some gardens, here are 5 beautiful botanical gardens that will spark your garden creativity! Spread across the country, these amazing places will give you the chance to see some amazing collections of flowers, ponds and trees.
Address: 680 Plains Rd W, Burlington, ON L7T 4H4
Located at the border of Burlington and Hamilton, Ontario, the Royal Botanical Garden is Canada’s largest Botanical Garden. The RBG is home to 800 hectares of protected lands and holds many unique trails, gardens, and even a greenhouse. We love the breathtaking landscaping of the Rock Garden which is perfect for reading a book or taking a moment to relax. More recently they added an amazing European style Rose Garden located within the Hendrie Park that will take you back in time to the old world.
What we love the most about the RBG is that they have SO many gardens, and they are all unique and different. And they even have a shuttle bus to take you between the gardens. It’s worth visiting the RBG in different months of the growing season as the flowers change through the season. They also host many unique events like music in the gardens, or winter light shows. If you live nearby, going regularly ensures you don’t miss a thing. However, if you’re travelling in the area, this is definitely a must visit.
Insider Tip: The Laking Garden holds one of Canada’s largest peony collections and has been around since the 1940s. They also have a wide selection of irises that bloom as far as the eye can see (shown in the photo above). Make sure to visit early in the blooming season to experience the amazing blooms.
Each of the different gardens operate with varying hours. They also run special events often that either close the gardens or extend their hours so you’ll definitely want to check out their website for current operating hours or any special events you might want to attend!
Address: 4101 Sherbrooke St E, Montreal, Quebec H1X 2B2
Next on our list is a world recognized botanical gardens located on the beautiful Island of Montreal, the Montreal Botanical Garden. Only minutes away from the downtown, the Montreal Botanical Gardens has 75 hectares of protected greenspace divided into 20 gardens, large indoor greenhouses, and a large arboretum. You’ll want to plan to spend at least half a day here, as this place is packed with amazing plants around every corner. Uniquely, the Montreal Botanical Garden has 3 Culture Gardens (Chinese Garden, First Nations Garden and the Japanese Garden) which will transport you all around the world. Their collection of bonsai trees, and the amazing buildings make this botanical garden one of our absolute favourites.
Insider Tip: If you’re travelling in the winter, the garden is still worth seeing. Because of the beautiful structures in the Japanese and Chinese gardens, the views are still breathtaking. Not only that, they have multiple, massive greenhouses that host over 1,600 different species. Plus, the grounds are free to explore in the winter!
As of February 2025, the Montreal Botanical Garden is undergoing construction work, resulting in the closure of its greenhouses. However, the outdoor gardens remain open and are accessible free of charge until April 30. For the most current information you’ll definitely want to check out the Montreal Botanical Garden website or contact them directly before planning your visit.
Address: 2565 Niagara River Pkwy, Niagara Falls, ON L2E 2S7
The Niagara area holds a 40-hectare garden which is worth a stop during the blooming season. The Niagara Parks Botanical Gardens has a very large tree collection and an impressive rose-collection with over 2,400 plants. We find the vegetable garden’s located within the gardens to be extremely inspiring with such a vast variety of plants. With the School of Horticulture located on the grounds of the garden, don’t forget to find the hanging baskets throughout the growing season designed by students.
Insider tip: We think the butterfly conservatory which is located on site is a worthwhile stop as it provides a super unique experience and is a great winter activity as well. The butterflies will land on you, so be prepared to be surrounded by these beauties. But what we love is that this place will educate you on the many varieties of butterflies in the world and you will see species you’ve never seen before!
For the most current information on operating hours, including any seasonal changes or special events, check the official Niagara Parks website or contact them directly before planning your visit.
Address: 6804 SW Marine Dr, Vancouver, BC V6T 1Z4
The oldest University owned botanical gardens, the UBC Botanical Gardens, is located on the University of British Columbia grounds. With a heavy focus on research from it’s early days, the garden focuses on education, research and conservation amount other things. What we loved about it is that you get the opportunity to walk through different styles of forest. They have accumulated trees and plants from all over the world, and you can walk through these forested areas. The GreenHeart Tree Walk is highly recommended to those who want to experience the canopy of 100-year-old trees and experience something extremely unique. The size of these trees are so incredible, especially if you haven’t seen century-old trees in the past.
Insider tip: The Nitobe Memorial Garden located minutes from the UBC gardens is known to be one of the finest Japanese gardens located outside of Japan in the world. Make sure you give your self time to explore this hidden gem.
You will want to check their website for the most current information on operating hours or contact them directly before planning your visit.
Address: 777 Lawrence Avenue East. Toronto, ON M3C 1P2
The Toronto Botanical Garden is a beautiful urban oasis that’s definitely worth a visit, whether you’re a plant lover, photographer, or just looking for a peaceful escape. A small creek runs through the gardens which allows you to enjoy your lunch or some relaxation by the water. There’s even a mini waterfall to give you that beautiful sound of water. Overall, we found this botanic garden to have the smallest collection of blooming flowers, but it’s still worth a visit.
For the most current information on operating hours and admission, check the official Toronto Botanical Garden website or contact them directly before planning your visit.
Here are a few smaller Botanic gardens and Arboretums that I wanted to mention just in case you’re nearby these places! Because going out into nature and seeing collections of flowers or trees is always such a great outing. We actually haven’t been to most of these but they are now on our bucket list for this upcoming summer! Stay tuned. When pictures show up, you know we’ve visited!
Address: 75 National Capital Commission Scenic Driveway, Ottawa, ON K1A 0Z2
Ottawa has a surprisingly large area dedicated to gardens and trees, however they are separated in name so they look like smaller areas than they are. The Dominion Arboretum is the largest portion and is the most recognizable. Located on Dows Lake you can enjoy a large park with walking trails and a small collection of flowering fruit trees, magnolias and lilacs. If you visit in spring when the fruit trees are blooming, you may be treated to views of the Baltimore Oriole who are passing through. Beside the arboretum is the Fletcher Wildlife Garden which is a small garden that you can visit to see some native plants. And across the street from the Arboretum are the Ornamental Gardens which are a small, but beautiful collection of flowering plants with some walking trails.
For more information on operating hours and parking, check out their website to plan your visit!
Address: 205 Humber College Blvd. Etobicoke, ON M9W 5L7
The Humber Arboretum is located on the grounds of Humber College. The gardens and trails are open to the public seven days a week, free of charge. Please note that the Arboretum is closed between 12:01 AM and 5:30 AM.
Address: 155 Arena Street, Oshawa, ON L1J 4E8
The Oshawa Valley Botanical Gardens operate on seasonal hours. Admission is free, and the gardens offer a variety of features, including stunning gardens, architectural elements, serene water features, and winding pathways.
Address: 51227 AB-60 Spruce Grove, AB T7Y 1C5
The University of Alberta Botanic Garden is a 240-acre park that hosts a rose garden, Japanese gardens and walking trails. The gardens are open seasonally, so it’s important to check the operating hours before visiting. From what we can see, this park looks incredibly massive and is high on our list of places to visit next time we go out West!
In the winter, the garden hosts special events that you’ll definitely want to keep an eye out for. For the most current information on events and operating hours, it’s advisable to check the official University of Alberta Botanic Garden website or contact them directly before planning your visit.
Address: 200 Arboretum Rd, Guelph, ON N1G 2W1
Located beside the University of Guelph, the Guelph Arboretum has beautiful forested walking trails, a boardwalk, and flower gardens. This is a great place to visit if you happen to be in the area where you can tour the gardens, and immerse yourself in nature.
For the most current information on operating hours and parking, check their website before you visit.
