Jump to:
Plan Your Visit
When planning a day out at the garden, it’s best to come prepared – see below for information on our policies, parking, dining, accessibility and more.
- You will need to present your ticket and membership/UBC card (as relevant) on arrival. Tickets may be presented digitally on a mobile device or printed on paper. For sustainability reasons, we encourage digital tickets. Members and UBC Cardholders are required to show their membership or valid UBC card on entry. Friends of the Garden (FOG) volunteers are required to wear their nametag.
- If you have additional questions with purchasing, transferring or cancelling tickets, please contact garden.admissions@ubc.ca or call 604-822-3928. Someone will contact you within the business hours of 10:00am – 4:30pm.
- All children under 13 must be accompanied by a guardian over 18 years of age.
Please see here for garden etiquette expectations.
Please see here for our refund policy.
UBC Botanical Garden is committed to providing a comfortable experience for all.
For guests with accessibility and mobility challenges, select accessible pathways are marked throughout the David C. Lam Asian Garden. A limited number of benches are also available throughout the Garden to support guest needs.
Please email us at garden.admissions@ubc.ca or call 604.822.4208 for more information on accessibility at the Garden and to notify us about your accessibility needs. We will do our best to ensure that we provide a comfortable experience when you visit.
Our current hours can be found on our website here.
You can purchase your ticket in-person or online here.
Once you reserve a ticket, you will receive an e-mail from “UBC Botanical Garden Online Shop” asking you to confirm and subscribe to receive your ticket information email. Please click “Subscribe” to receive confirmation emails to review your order. You will also get a reminder e-mail one day before your booked visit date.
Yes you are welcome to bring food and have a picnic at the Garden. We also have a Garden Cafe that serves coffee, drinks, snacks and ice cream. Please be mindful and sit in designated seating & eating areas in order to preserve our collections.
Paid parking in effect by UBC Parking. Please visit UBC Parking for more info and to pay online.
Membership
Find answers to common questions about our Membership, including admission benefits, discounts and guest access.
A membership gives you unlimited free admission to UBC Botanical Garden and Nitobe Memorial Garden for one year, along with discounts and special member benefits. Click here to learn more.
Only the designated cardholders (the adults named on the membership) may receive daily admission and discounts. These benefits are non-transferable.
Yes. Children and grandchildren 18 and under receive free entry when they are accompanied by a cardholder.
Yes. Members are welcome to bring friends. You’ll also receive a 10% discount on admission for up to six guests per primary cardholder per visit.
Membership includes a 10% discount on selected items in the Shop and Garden Centre. This offer is valid only on selected merchandise and cannot be combined with other offers.
Yes – members receive discounts of 10% on selected educational and outreach programs, excluding the Horticulture Training Program.
Unlimited Membership offers free or discounted admission to selected garden events, excluding Apple Festival & Lunar New Year Market.
Membership information is securely stored on the UBC Botanical Garden website and Shopify databases to administer member benefits and discounts.
Benefits are subject to change without notice. Check back and follow our socials for the latest updates and list of current benefits.
UBC Alumni with a valid UBC Acard receive 50% off a Garden Membership. If you purchase a Garden Membership with Greenheart TreeWalk access, the 50% discount applies only to the base Garden Membership portion. Offer cannot be combined with other promotions or discounts.
To redeem this offer, please bring your UBC Acard on your first visit. A Garden Membership card will be issued for future visits.
For more information, you can call 604.822.4208 or email garden.info@ubc.ca.
Horticulture Training Program (HTP)
Discover what makes our program stand out, as well as important details on Fees, Admission Details, Policies, Logistics and Future Opportunities.
The UBC Horticulture Training Program (HTP) is the only full-time horticulture training program in Metro Vancouver north of the Fraser River. UBC Botanical Garden provides a rich training environment for the program. Instruction is fully integrated with horticultural activities in the garden and garden staff participate in training and mentoring.
UBC Botanical Garden’s wide range of facilities provide learning opportunities on the Botanical Garden grounds, Botanical Garden Nursery, Nitobe Memorial Garden, Totem Research Fields and Horticulture Greenhouses. The gardens and facilities are beautiful environments for practical learning and the program provides excellent opportunities for students to train alongside our industry-leading horticulturists.
- Proof of graduation from high school, with a minimum average of 70% in each of the final two years.
- Proof of meeting UBC’s English language admission standards.
- Proof of completion of either Principles of Mathematics 11, or Foundations of Mathematics 12 (or equivalent course).
Visit our Application Process and Fees page for details on how to apply. Applications for the 2025/26 cohort has been closed on May 15th, 2025.
There is a non-refundable application fee of $50.
2024/2025 rates: Tuition is $4500 CAD and material fees are $1500 CAD. Total cost is $6000 CAD.
In addition, students are responsible for their own hand pruners (Felco secateurs), rain gear, safety boots, work gloves, textbooks, academic supplies, transportation and entry fees for field trips. Please note that although this course is run through UBC Botanical Garden, students do not pay UBC student fees or receive a UBC Student card or benefits.
While there are some different avenues for funding, our program is not approved for government student funding. See HortEd BC‘s website for details on apprenticeship funding.
The Alpine Garden Club of British Columbia (AGCBC) offers a scholarship to horticulture students. Details can be found on their website. There is also apprenticeship funding you can apply for after completing the program, and depending on your eligibility, past students have gone through WorkBC and WorkSafeBC for funding.
Enrolled participants who do not complete the four modules in sequence may be charged an additional application fee if they wish to resume studies.
The HTP is an entry-level program introducing students to the fundamentals of landscape horticulture. The program follows the provincial horticulture apprenticeship, enriching the base curriculum with supplementary materials and practical, hands-on activities and training.
Topics covered include plant identification, plant sciences, soil management, design, park maintenance, aesthetics, business practices and community awareness.
Yes, the HTP is provincially accredited. The University of British Columbia is recognized as a Skilled Trades BC designated training provider in the Landscape Horticulturist Program. The program is endorsed by the Industry Training Organization, HortEducationBC.
Yes. Students are required to register with Skilled Trades BC (ITA) and create an account. Successful completion of the HTP gives credit for the classroom portion of Levels 1 & 2 of the provincial horticulture apprenticeship.
Students are assessed on proficiencies in horticultural knowledge and practice through a variety of methods including oral, written and practical assignments and a complete final evaluation at the end of each course.
Course failure within a module requires the student to repeat the course the next time it is normally offered. Failure of more than three courses within a module requires the student to repeat the entire module. A passing grade of at least 70% is required on all assignments, tests and courses to complete the program successfully.
The HTP consists of four separate eight-week modules. The program begins in August and finishes the following April. Each module is approximately 275 hours of classroom and practical instruction and is composed of a series of 3–5 courses.
The HTP is limited to a maximum of 16 students per cohort. We accept one cohort per year with classes starting in late August. All other qualified students are placed on a waitlist and may be offered a seat should they become available before the start of the cohort year.
HTP is only offered on a full-time basis as classes have been designed to complement each other and build on learning objectives and hands-on activities.
The HTP is a full-time program and students are required to attend from Tuesday to Friday from 9:00 am-4:00 pm. The physical nature of the training, as well as assignments and readings, significantly reduces available time and energy for extra-curricular activities, however, some students work part-time in addition to attending the program.
No, student housing is not available at this time.
Graduates of the HTP are well-prepared to apply for entry-level positions in the following:
Landscape, Park and Garden
- Residential garden design and construction
- Garden maintenance
- Parks horticulture operations
- Botanical garden operations
- College and university campus horticulture operations
- Commercial landscaping
- Golf course operations
- Irrigation technician
- Regional District parks operations
- Urban farming
Indoor Plants
- Interior plant design, installation and maintenance
- Green walls
Plant Production
- Food, ornamental plants, Cannabis
- Greenhouse technician
- Nursery worker
- Assistant/head grower
- Small-scale farming
- Integrated Pest Management Technician
Urban Forestry
- Climbing arborist
- Consulting arborist
- Ground crew
- Plant health technician
Students are expected to abide by UBC policies on Academic Freedom, Respectful Environment, Academic Honesty and Student Conduct. Disability Accommodation Policy, Attendance Policy, Freedom of Information and Protection of Privacy Act (FIPPA), Health and Safety Policy, Retention of Student Records, Gender Diversity, UBC Sexual Misconduct Policy and Resources, Discipline for Non-Academic Misconduct: Student Code of Conduct, Standards of Employee Code of Conduct and Conflict of Interest.
In general, it is expected that student concerns will be dealt with as close to the source of concern as possible. This list shows who you can consult during resolution of specific types of problems. If a problem isn’t resolved at the immediate source, you can bring it to a more senior person, as follows:
Courses and course grades:
- Course instructor
- Program advisor
- Head of the department
Status in the program, comprehensive examinations, supervision issues, funding, study/research environment, etc.:
- Student’s supervisor
- Program advisor
If no resolution can be achieved within your program, the problem may be addressed with the help of G+PS and ultimately be taken to UBC Botanical Garden Director.
Students who wish to protest decisions relating to their academic studies may do so. The protest should be made initially as near the source of difficulty as possible, presumably an instructor, and progress to the head of the department concerned and then to the dean of the faculty.
You are welcome to attend one of our Information Sessions. Find out more about the Garden, see past projects that students have completed, and meet alumni and instructors.
Click here to register for the information on April 8th, 2025 at 7:00pm
Click here for a recording of the May 2024 information session.
You can also contact us at garden.htp@ubc.ca or call 604.822.0416 for more information.
Volunteer
Find answers to common questions about volunteering with UBC Botanical Garden, including what opportunities are available, who can volunteer and how to get involved.
We offer a range of roles, from supporting community events and media documentation to helping with harvest programs and seasonal celebrations like the Apple Festival.
For more information on available opportunities, visit here.
Volunteers of all ages and abilities are welcome. Opportunities are designed to match many interests and talents, and training is provided.
Gardening and planting in the Garden are done by our horticultural staff. If you are looking for hands-on gardening projects, consider volunteering with the Friends of the Garden (FOGs) (more info below).
This is a specialized group of volunteers interested in learning and working together to support the Garden. This is an advanced program with special training and unique opportunities to support and plan events, attend lectures and work on horticultural projects in the Garden. Events such as Apple Festival, and Wreath Making as well as Committee and Shop activities keep this robust group active year round. A significant commitment in hours and interest level is required to join this established group of volunteers.
As a FOG volunteer you will have the opportunity to:
- Increase your botanical knowledge at weekly meetings with guest speakers
- Contribute to committees and participate in a wide range of duties
- Make a meaningful impact as part of a historic and invaluable volunteer group
You can register online through our volunteer portal here.
Contact garden.volunteer@ubc.ca if you have questions.
Tours
Find answers to common questions about tours at UBC Botanical Garden, including logistics, timing, and location.
The Garden is beautiful year-round and there is always something to learn. The Greenheart TreeWalk is open from April 1 to October 31, and guided group tours are available Wednesday to Saturday. View our current hours of operation here.
After submitting the booking form, you will receive an invoice once your request is processed (up to two weeks). Payment can be made by credit card or cheque.
UBC Botanical Garden is located on the west end of UBC’s campus at 6804 SW Marine Drive. Nitobe Memorial Garden is located north of the Botanical Garden at 1895 Lower Mall. You can find directions to the UBC Botanical Garden and Nitobe Memorial Garden here.
UBC Botanical Garden has paid parking. You can find more information on parking rates here. School bus drop-off and pick-up is at the drop-off loop in front of the Garden entrance. Bus parking is not available.
Nitobe Memorial Garden has paid parking. Paid parking is available nearby at Fraser River Parkade at 6440 Memorial Rd, Vancouver, BC.
Tours go ahead rain or shine. Our guides are scheduled according to our booked tours. Tours cannot be rebooked at the last minute.
Much of UBC Botanical Garden is accessible for visitors using wheelchairs or motorized carts. However, due to the nature of our landscape, some pathways are irregularly graded or surfaced with wood chips or loose gravel.
Please note that strollers, canes, walkers, and wheelchairs are not permitted on the Greenheart TreeWalk.
Please let us know in the booking form below how we can best support your group’s accessibility needs.
We have limited areas available for groups to eat packed lunches. By request, groups may eat on the slope adjacent to the UBC Botanical Garden parking lot subject to availabilty.
Please plan ahead and indicate your lunch space needs in the booking request form.
UBC Botanical Garden is a zero-waste operation and encourages a “pack it in, pack it out” approach for all lunch waste.
Please note that Nitobe Memorial Garden does not have designated lunch areas.
Drinking fountains are available throughout the garden to ensure groups stay hydrated. We recommend bringing a water bottle and snacks.
We offer indoor facilities equipped with audio/video technology, tables, and chairs. These spaces can be booked in conjunction with your Group Experience. Please indicate your needs in the online booking form.
Get Tickets
Your admission to UBC Botanical Garden supports research, education, and conservation.
Buy tickets