A world-renowned 3.5-acre garden, housing a collection of succulents, both unique and beloved, as well as drought-tolerant plants from around the world. The Garden’s founder, Ruth Bancroft, lived to be 109 and was a pioneer in drought-tolerant gardening. Open to the public year-round, the Garden showcases fabulous blooms during every season and highlights plant structure and texture in robust plantings.
The Garden & Nursery are OPEN
Please be advised of the following:
- No advance reservations required. Purchase Garden Admission tickets at our kiosk when you arrive.
- All guests age 2 and older are required to wear a mask at all times when visiting the Garden & Nursery.
- Please maintain 6 ft. of social distancing between you and other guests not from the same household.
- Eating & drinking are now permitted at the Garden when sitting at a table. We suggest bringing your own sanitizing wipes or table covering if planning to picnic. Masks MUST be worn when not eating or drinking.
CLICK HERE here for more details regarding current visitation rules and processes.
FEATURED EVENTS
(Webinar) Mid-size Shrubs in Dry Gardens
Saturday, April 17, 2021 @ 10:00 am - 11:00 am
April Member Coffee back at the Garden – Welcome to the RBG Community
Sunday, April 18, 2021 @ 10:00 am - 11:00 am
(Webinar) Site Analysis & Design Development – Overview (part 1/3)
Saturday, May 1, 2021 @ 10:00 am - 11:00 am
(Webinar) Site Analysis & Design Development – Layout (part 2/3)
Saturday, May 8, 2021 @ 10:00 am - 11:00 am
Billy Hopper Memorial Fund
Billie J. Hopper (1944 – 2021)
Volunteer and Co-Executive Director at Ruth Bancroft Garden, 2005 – 2019
Donations in Billie’s memory made to the Ruth Bancroft Garden & Nursery will help purchase and maintain a bench in her memory, so that she may continue to be an important part of the Garden for many years to come.
Private Rentals at the Garden
The Garden is a perfect venue for weddings, corporate events, birthdays and other special occasions. Our unique collection of mature trees, succulents and cacti provide a stunning backdrop to make your occasion unforgettable. Indoor and outdoor options available so you can have your event any time of year.
Voted “Best Wedding Venue in the East Bay” by Diablo Magazine editors and readers, June 2020
View our Rental Calendar | Send us an Inquiry
Learn More
Landscape Design Services
Available Now Virtually
Want to convert from lawn to garden but not sure where to start? We now offer landscape design consultation services ranging from a little advice to a complete plan for a whole new garden!
Background Images for Zoom
Enjoy being in the Garden while you’re on Zoom! Check out and download one of our RBG Zoom background images to use during your next call.
What’s In Bloom
April 2021
Preview the plants blooming in the Garden right now. Discover which ones are for sale in the Nursery. Print this guide at home or pick one up at the Garden when you visit.
Latest Plant Highlight: Euphorbia polygona var. nivea
Euphorbia is a very large genus, including many succulents as well as many non-succulent plants, from tiny annuals to large trees. Among the succulent species, there are spineless ones and also many spiny ones that look a great deal like cactus plants, including the Euphorbia polygona var. nivea.
