About

About UBC Botanical Garden

Read about the story, purpose, and people behind UBC Botanical Garden, a living place where plants, research, and community come together.

Who we are

UBC Botanical Garden is Canada’s oldest university botanical garden and a vital academic and community hub on the western edge of Vancouver. Spanning 20 hectares and home to more than 5,300 different kinds of plants, the Garden offers a unique balance of tranquility and discovery, supporting research, learning, and public engagement within a richly diverse landscape.

Grounded in over a century of botanical science and horticultural excellence, the Garden connects people to plants through interdisciplinary research, education, and community partnerships. Our living collections support biodiversity and conservation, while our programs invite curiosity, foster environmental literacy, and inspire care for the natural world—today and for generations to come.

Our Garden Statistics

These figures showcase how UBC Botanical Garden grows and evolves, using data to reflect our impact on conservation, learning, and community year after year.

73 K

Garden Visitors In 2024

11 K

Labeled plants in the Garden

2600 Lbs

Fresh Food donated to AMS Food bank

In 2024

7538 hours

Contributed to assist

with Sustainable

Community programs

and events In 2024

Vision & Mission

These guiding principles shape how we care for plants, engage communities, and contribute to a resilient, biodiverse future.

Vision

UBC Botanical Garden’s living plant collections, landscapes and people inspire communities, ideas and actions for a resilient, biodiverse world.

Mission

UBC Botanical Garden’s foundational work in documented plant collections, innovative horticulture and engaging education invites curiosity and learning. We connect communities with science through research, exceptional visitor experiences and academic service. We conserve biodiversity, demonstrate sustainable practices and provide spaces to encourage health and wellbeing.

Our Role Today

UBC Botanical Garden is more than a collection of plants, it is a living classroom, a research centre and a hub for public connection to biodiversity. As an academic institution, we are committed to bridging science and society by offering opportunities for people of all ages to learn, reflect and engage with the natural world.

From interpretive tours and seasonal events, to volunteer opportunities and school programs, the Garden offers accessible and inclusive ways for the public to explore the role of plants in sustaining life. Each year, thousands of students, educators and visitors deepen their understanding of ecology, sustainability and the importance of plant conservation through our programming.

Our Values

Our values guide how we care for plants, engage communities, and make decisions that support conservation, education, and meaningful collaboration.

Connect

Connect people to plants, so everyone understands their importance.

Grow

Sustain and grow our plant collections to support conservation and biodiversity.

Educate

Share knowledge and offer impactful, hopeful education.

Include

Make decisions guided by the principles of reconciliation, EDI, climate change, biodiversity and societal benefit.

Collaborate

Collaborate across many levels to facilitate research and achieve impact.

Growing into the Future

UBC Botanical Garden and Nitobe Memorial Garden’s future plan outlines a forward-looking path for growth, sustainability, and community impact. The Garden will focus on strengthening its foundational work in plant collections, horticulture, education and engagement, advancing research partnerships, expanding experiential learning, supporting biodiversity and fostering community wellbeing.

Our History

Explore the Garden’s rich history with a timeline celebrating the last 100 years.

Learn More

Meet the Team

Meet the passionate team behind UBC Botanical Garden, whose expertise and dedication bring our plants, programs, and mission to life.