University of California, Riverside Botanic Gardens, Botanical garden in Riverside, California.

The University of California, Riverside Botanic Gardens cover 40 acres in the eastern foothills of Box Springs Mountain on the UC Riverside campus, holding more than 3,500 plant species. Over four miles of trails cross hilly terrain and several microclimates. Sections are grouped by species, such as the Rose Gardens with over 300 selections and the Cactus Garden, and by origin, from the South African Garden to the Boysie Day Baja California Garden.

The gardens were founded in 1963 as a teaching collection for the university. Over the following decades, they grew into a botanical institution that supports both scientific research and public education.

The gardens began as a teaching collection, and plant material is still gathered here for courses in anthropology, art, biology, ecology, entomology, morphology, ornamental horticulture, plant pathology, photography and taxonomy. The Friends of the UCR Botanic Gardens, formed in 1980, supports the site, and a plant sale held twice a year opens the collection to the wider community.

The grounds have noticeable elevation changes, so sturdy footwear is a good idea since some paths climb or descend steeply. After heavy rain, surfaces can become slippery, so it is worth checking the weather before heading out.

The varied terrain creates several microclimates within a short distance of each other, which allows the Fouquieria columnaris from Baja California to grow here, a plant that is hard to cultivate outside its native range. This makes the garden one of the few places where visitors can see this rare species outside of Mexico.