Mildred E. Mathias Botanical Garden

The Mildred E. Mathias Botanical Garden is a seven-acre space at UCLA containing more than 3,000 plant species from around the world. The vegetation includes tropical trees, East Asian plants, and Australian species arranged in dedicated sections.

The garden began in 1929 when UCLA was founded and received its first funding in 1933 through the California State Relief Administration as a work program. This support helped establish the initial areas of the collection.

The garden honors the Gabrielino/Tongva peoples as the original stewards of the Los Angeles basin land where it now stands. This recognition shapes how the space is designed and interpreted for visitors today.

The garden opens at 8 AM on weekdays and 9 AM on weekends, closing at 5 PM each day from February through October. Wear comfortable shoes as the grounds are hilly and have many paths to explore.

The collection features one of the largest Torrey pine trees in the world and a rare specimen of dawn redwood, a species once thought to be extinct. These two trees are botanical rarities that many visitors miss.

Location: Los Angeles County

GPS coordinates: 34.06560,-118.44100

Latest update: December 11, 2025 11:03