Ruth Bancroft Garden

Walnut Creek, United States

4.1

Closed now

20 reviews

Accepts Credit Cards

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Telephone:
+1 925-944-9352
Website:
www.ruthbancroftgarden.org
Address:
1552 Bancroft Rd, Walnut Creek, CA, 94598
Nearby public transportation stops & stations:
1.2 miPleasant Hill
2.1 mi1805
2.1 miWalnut Creek
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Accepts Credit Cards
Yes
Good for Kids
Yes

Today

Today 10:00 am – 4:00 pm
Closed now
Local time (Walnut Creek) 22:26 Tuesday, 27 May 2025

Business hours

Monday –
Tuesday 10:00 am – 4:00 pm
Wednesday 10:00 am – 4:00 pm
Thursday 10:00 am – 4:00 pm
Friday 10:00 am – 4:00 pm
Saturday 10:00 am – 4:00 pm
Sunday 10:00 am – 4:00 pm

Description

Specialties

The Ruth Bancroft Garden is well known for its extensive collection of succulents, cacti, California natives, and other drought-​tolerant plants. The Garden was originally planted in 1972 by Mrs. Ruth Bancroft when it was her private, personal garden, but it is now open six days a week for the education and enjoyment of the public.

Self-​guided tours are available every day, and there are regular Docent-​led tours available for the price of admission. April-​October, Docent tours are Friday, Saturday, and Sunday at 11am. November-​March, Docent tours are Saturday and Sunday at 11am.

A large selection of plants are available for purchase whenever the Garden is open in our retail nursery.

The Garden also offers adult education programs, including garden design seminars and hands-​on gardening workshops, and hosts a range of social events, including concerts, festivals, and a month-​long sculpture exhibit every summer.

History

Established in 1972.

Ruth Bancroft began collecting succulent plants in the 1950s, and amassed quite a collection of potted plants. In 1972, she used this collection to plant a new garden on the site of a former walnut orchard.

Ruth created a garden full of dynamic plant combinations using drought-​tolerant plants that very few other gardeners were using at that time. In 1989, her garden was selected by the Garden Conservancy to be its first preservation project, and a conservation easement was established to ensure the preservation of the garden.

The Ruth Bancroft Garden, Inc., a 501©(3) nonprofit organization, now owns the Garden and raises the funds necessary to preserve it for the education and enjoyment of the public. On September 2, 2015, Garden Founder Ruth Bancroft celebrated her 107th birthday.

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«Excellent sandwiches on freshly baked bread, hearty salads, and a free cookie if you call your order in ahead of time. What’s not to love?»

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Christine Hsia

20 reviews of Ruth Bancroft Garden

No registration required
Place rating: 2
Berkeley, CA
This review is for the plant sale, the garden looks quite nice to me and could be a pleasant visit.
I was looking for succulents in particular and their prices are ridiculous. What you would pay for $ 2 – 3 in homedepot or ace, they charge $ 6 – 10!!! I suppose part of the money goes to support the garden, but I must say thanks but no thanks.
Place rating: 5
San Francisco, CA
Loved it! The garden is beautiful and the folks who work there are interesting and clearly passionate about what they do. We had a nice visit and bought an awesome shrub. Highly recommend it!
Place rating: 5
Palmdale, CA
I love this place. Its smaller, so you can really explore the whole garden in detail in a long afternoon or morning. There are so many different plants to look at, both as individuals and in striking planting combinations. I always find something that I want to remember for my own garden — a combo, a plant, a way to treat a bed… The art is nice, although for me it takes a back seat to the plants. The new, expanded nursery is great too, although I wish they had more of the really unique plants for sale more often. The only downside is that there is no food/​drinks on the property, and it would be great to have that, so I could stay longer!
Place rating: 5
Brentwood, CA
The Ruth Bancroft Garden is nothing short of spectacular. Recently introduced to gardening and horticulture, I’ve been scoping out local nurseries and gardens, such as this one, to be more in tune with plants native to California.
~Luckily, the Contra Costa County Library has a special feature (Discover & Go) that allowed me to enter the garden with the $ 10 fee waived for myself and another adult. ~
After parking, there are helpful signs all around to direct you to their admin office where you would pay! After doing so, you’re given a map of the garden and informational guides to help you identify what kind of plants you are looking at. This is especially unique because it feels like you’re on a scavenger hunt, and at each of the 20+ stations you’re unlocking a new piece of information!
The garden is beautifully maintained and dressed up with pieces of art work (sculptures and decorative figures for your gardens). All of these things combined adds a mystical feel as you’re walking through it. Their are pathways leading in to and around the garden so it’s almost like a maze, and there are a lot of places to sit (small benches/​coffee tables etc.)
The plants grown in this garden have been cared for and growing for years… you can tell by the sizes they’ve gotten! And also at the end of your little scavenger hunt, you can visit their nursery to purchase plants for your own home-​gardens.
I recommend coming with your significant other or your kids! It’s a great activity to do with someone.
Place rating: 5
Culver City, CA
I visited this garden with my daughter at the end of June. My daughter and I brought our lunch and after we strolled through the gardens, we sat in the shade and enjoyed our lunch.
If I lived in Walnut Creek, I would come here regularly! There are so many excellent landscaping ideas for native plants and low water plants. It is «eye candy» to come here.
I’m going to make sure my daughter and I visit here every time I come to Walnut Creek! You are so lucky to have this garden!
Place rating: 3
STANFORD, CA
small and nice
Place rating: 5
Concord, CA
educational and knowledgeable staff. i learnt about plants and cactus and stuff.
Place rating: 1
Santa Monica, CA
As long as June Krueger is employed there, do not visit. My first mother’s day was ruined when she was arguing with me over admissions. According to June, they are not honoring this offer
.
As I paid the admissions fee she interrogated me and accused of making up the deal. I was so insulted I ended up leaving without even setting foot in the gardens. Time wasted and money down the drain. So sad to have had the poor luck to meet her. The family day I envisioned at the gardens was poisoned by her attitude. We had been looking forward to these gardens and sadly will not be back.
Place rating: 5
Santa Rosa, CA
I brought my mom, and girlfriend here to check out some ideas for a dry garden. We strolled through and admired the beautiful combinations and variety of color, and texture. There were cacti, and succulents of all shapes, sizes, colors, and textures. I enjoyed the lay out of the garden very much.
I enjoyed that they do sell plants as well. I did feel that the prices were a bit high for both admission, and for the plants.
I was amazed at how well manicured the green house garden was, and how well all of the items were placed, and how everything flowed together! In all I felt this was an elegant, and interesting display of cacti, and succulents. I would visit again, and I would recommend this place to others!
Place rating: 4
Concord, CA
Just went there 2 weeks ago for the first time. Really enjoyed the gardens and all the succulents. Staff is very friendly and amazingly knowledgeable. Spoke with Troy and he was very helpful and friendly.
You have to check this place out and you get to support a local cause and business as well.
Place rating: 3
Alameda County, CA
The Ruth Bancroft Garden features succulents and other drought tolerant plants in a desert like setting. They have some very unusual plants that you don’t ordinarily see. I must say that seeing all of these plants in the barren desert ground did give you the distinct feeling that you are in a desert. Makes you wonder if you really want that kind of feeling in your own garden.
Lots of parking, and you go into the trailer to pay your entrance fee. They give you a map so you can self direct yourself around. The path for the tour could be easier to follow.
You can also buy plants in their nursery. I’ll bet lots of landscapers come here for drought tolerant plants.
Place rating: 5
San Francisco Bay Area, CA
Paradise right in my own backyard! This beautiful garden is within a mile of my home and it’s an amazing place for a walk, meditation and education. Today I attended my second workshop on propagating succulents and in 1 ½ hours that went by like a few minutes, I learned so much! This is a beautiful outdoor venue for a workshop and the educators are amazing. Sophie and Walker are great teachers! Membership is so inexpensive, you won’t believe it and there are all kinds of discounts and benefits. If you haven’t ever been there, you need to check it out. Ruth (there really is a Ruth) has an amazing story about this garden and she still lives there… at 106, Ruth has seen a lot of changes in the area and her love of succulents is truly a gift to Walnut Creek and the Bay area. Another plus, they are DOG FRIENDLY as long as your dog is leashed. My dog, Katie, loves to walk with me in the garden. It’s peaceful, naturally beautiful and serene.
Place rating: 5
San Francisco, CA
Drought tolerant plants and low water usage gardens are our future here in California. Ruth Bancroft realized this 40 years ago. This garden is a wonderful resource to Bay Area gardeners. My friend and I had a great time there. We packed a picnic lunch (there is no food service) and enjoyed our repast at one of he many protected seating areas. We then spent two hours wandering through the pathways and displays. We happened to go when during a yearly sculpture show which added to the beauty of the garden. It is, like California herself, a coastal desert. If you are are planning a trip from San Francisco, as we did, bring a hat, sunscreen and plenty of water. The plants available for sale are inexpensive, healthy and unusual. Definitely worth the $ 10 ticket price, cheaper for students, seniors and students,
Place rating: 4
Auckland CBD, Auckland, New Zealand
If you’re looking for some ideas or inspiration for your own garden, I would definitely recommend giving this place a try. Make observations, take some pictures, write up some notes, and put some thought into it. Admission is $ 10 per visit. Students and seniors (65+), $ 7. But they also offer various memberships starting at $ 20 and up.
Upon entering, you gaze with «awww» around the overall plant collection, and then stop and wonder where to start. Well, I recommend just doing the self-​guided tour. Helpful booklets are at the entrance. Or you can tour with a staff member, but you’d have to make reservations.
There were so many bright and colorful plants that my amazement came about with almost every marker numbered on the map. It was impressive to see the various cacti, like the medusoid and the prickly-​pear. From large succulents towering above your head to tiny bulb-​like ones laying along the ground as coverage; These were all just a site to see. To me, it was worth the admission. They even have a huge oak tree providing home to a bee hive, as well as ample shade. And one of my personal favorite highlights was the pond with dragonflies buzzin’ around it. Really cool!
Although I wanted to give this place a perfect five stars, I just couldn’t as there were just a lot of areas that needed work, or more clean up if anything. But still, I like it here, and I believe you will too.
Coming up from June 13 — July 13: The 20th Annual Sculpture in the Garden. An outdoor art gallery event that should be interesting!
Tips:
~ Bring sunglasses, a hat, or wear sunscreen on sunny days.
~ Shop at the nursery, as it helps in supporting the maintenance of the garden.
~ Unwind and enjoy!
Place rating: 5
Modesto, CA
Beautiful serene day at the Ruth Bancroft Garden. My daughter took me there today for a Mother’s Day/​Birthday outing. The employees were so kind and informative. Thank you for letting us use your sunscreen :) I took so many lovely pictures. We purchased a few little plants before we left. We were assisted by a nice lady who was took the time to explain to us about the different plants… until we finally made our selections. Just had a very nice peaceful day. Thank you all.
Place rating: 2
Walnut Creek, CA
Folks at Ruth Bancroft garden wrote back a month ago offering a complimentary docent led tour this time around.
Sounds like our party caught the visit at a time when their self-​guided tour book was in much need of an upgrade, and the best way to get something out of a visit to this place was if you had a docent-​led tour after-​all.
Really pleased with their due diligence in trying to respond to customer comments, and know they are trying. I’d probably still be a little leery of bringing visitors right away next time to this place, because it sounds like they are not really ready for prime-​time, unless you did your homework in knowing the tour schedules.
Also, while I am all up for supporting home-​grown businesses, I still think the $ 10 entry fee is steep, especially when you go there as a group.
Hoping to rate it higher in the near future.
Place rating: 5
Walnut Creek, CA
Excellent garden — lots of species you don’t see elsewhere.
Staff were knowledgeable and helpful.
I’ve visited several times and always enjoy it.
Place rating: 4
Pleasant Hill, CA
I discovered the Ruth Bancroft Garden during one of Mayor Bob’s monthly Walnut Creek Walks. The Garden is a 2.5 acre dry botanical garden containing more than 2,000 cactus, succulents, trees, and shrubs native to various sundry parts of the World. The Garden began in the early 1950s as a private collection within Bancroft Farm (a former provider of prize pears), when Ruth brought home a single succulent, an Aeonium grown by a Ms. Glenn Davidson. By 1972, the collection had outgrown its location and was moved to its current site, then an orchard of dying walnut trees. The Aeonium «Glenn Davidson» is still growing in the Garden.
In 1989, it became the first garden in the United States to be preserved by The Garden Conservancy, and has been open to the public since 1992. Today the Garden is an outstanding landscape of xerophytes (dry-​growing plants) and a tribute to Ruth Bancroft who is still hanging in there at the ripe age of 103.
Gayle and I were among the 40 or so people who stopped by last Saturday as part of Mayor Bob’s monthly Saturday walks through various open spaces and neighborhoods in Walnut Creek. This 4.5 mile stroll was a Garden Walk and besides the Ruth Bancroft Garden, we saw the future home of the Community Garden in the Shadelands and ended up at Heather Farm. While at the Ruth Bancroft Garden, we were given a nice tour and enjoyed our too short stroll through the gardens. I’m all for coming back during one of the Sunset Socials for a little music and further admiring the succulents.
Place rating: 5
Boston, MA
This garden is absolutely amazing. It’s $ 10 for admission, which I believe you simply put in a drop box, but I may be mistaken. I don’t think I’d pay that much to come here, but I make sure to definitely go for their annual plant sale! There is free admission to the grounds during plant sales and you can walk the spacious property. I also just found out on the website that there’s free admission on the first Tuesday of every month! I will definitely be going more often then! I love taking photos in the garden of the plants.
There are gigantic succulents, nothing like I ever seen before. This is truly a unique garden and it’s clear this has been a lifelong passion of Ruth Bancroft. This garden is absolutely worth seeing!
Place rating: 4
Sausalito, CA
I love gardens and this is one of them. As the brochure says (something similar to), this is not an English garden, so don’t expect hummingbirds and romantic walks. If you don’t have an appreciation of cacti and succulents, you will not enjoy your time here. If you are a self-​navigator who loves a good price, you will surely go home with a new prickly or prickless friend and memories of a wonderfully laid garden.
Check out this mission statement:
The mission of the Ruth Bancroft Garden, Inc. is to preserve this exceptional example of garden design and to continue to develop its collection of water-​conserving plants for the education and enjoyment of the public.
Check out the website for very cool events. The one currently catching my eye is Fruit Tasting. Mmmm… prickly pears and jelly palms. I’m there!