🌿 UBC Botanical Garden: A Century of Biodiversity and Canopy Exploration
Explore UBC Botanical Garden’s diverse plant collections, global research, and the thrilling canopy walk through Vancouver’s coastal rainforest.
WBN News Kitsilano
✍️ By Karalee Greer | WBN News – Kitsilano | May 8, 2025
Tucked into the lush coastal rainforest of Vancouver’s Point Grey, the UBC Botanical Garden is a living archive of global plant life, conservation research, and education. Founded in 1916 by British Columbia’s first provincial botanist, John Davidson, it is Canada’s oldest university botanical garden. Originally dedicated to cataloging native flora, the garden has evolved into a global research institution and family-friendly visitor destination.
I've visited the UBC Botanical Gardens many times and gone on their Greenheart Tree Walk. It is a fun and inspiring way to spend an afternoon with your family or friends!
🌎 Global Collections, Local Roots
Today, the garden curates over 50,000 plants across 7,000 taxa from temperate regions around the world. Its core mission now includes the conservation of endangered plant species and education on sustainable horticulture. While the garden proudly champions native B.C. plants, it also features a global diversity of flora to help visitors understand plant life from Asia, the Americas, and Europe. https://botanicalgarden.ubc.ca/donate/collections/
Key collections include:
- 🌲 David C. Lam Asian Garden – Rare species from temperate East Asia
- ⛰️ E.H. Lohbrunner Alpine Garden – High-altitude plants from five continents
- 🌿 BC Rainforest Garden – Local species from British Columbia’s wet coastal forests
- 🌸 Carolinian Forest Garden – Deciduous hardwood trees from eastern North America
- 🍎 Food Garden – Focused on sustainable agriculture
- 💊 Physic Garden – Historical medicinal plants
- 🌾 Garry Oak Meadow – A critically endangered ecosystem native to the Pacific Northwest
🌳 Greenheart TreeWalk: Walk Among the Giants
Suspended up to 23 meters above the forest floor, the Greenheart TreeWalk offers a 310-meter-long journey through the canopy. This gentle eco-adventure allows guests to experience the upper layers of Vancouver’s rare coastal temperate rainforest without disturbing the ecosystem. Interpretive signage and guided tours are available to educate visitors about tree species, canopy ecology, and biodiversity.
🧪 Leading Plant Research & Global Collaboration
UBC Botanical Garden is more than a public attraction—it’s a vital hub of research. It collaborates with world-leading institutions such as Royal Botanic Gardens, Kew, the Kunming Institute of Botany, and Sichuan University. The garden also supports citizen science projects, plant DNA barcoding, and the conservation of endangered species globally and locally. https://botanicalgarden.ubc.ca/research-collections/research/research-in-the-garden/
🐝 Pollinator-Friendly Advocacy
A core pillar of the garden’s work is educating the public on pollinator health. Research conducted at UBC confirms that native wild-type plants are 37% more likely to attract pollinators than ornamental varieties, which are preferred only 8% of the time. The garden's plantings reflect this insight, offering a habitat that supports local bees, butterflies, and birds. https://botanicalgarden.ubc.ca/pretty-isnt-always-pollinator-friendly-what-a-new-study-shows/
🎓 Education, Accessibility & Family Fun
Visitors can take advantage of self-guided or docent-led tours, seasonal events and lectures, and youth programming and school partnerships.
For ticketing, directions, or TreeWalk bookings, visit:
🔗 https://botanicalgarden.ubc.ca
UBC Botanical Garden is family-friendly, offers year-round access, and has on-site facilities like a plant shop and café during peak season.
Tags: #WBN News Sea to Sky #Karalee Greer #Kitsilano #UBC Botanical Garden #Greenheart Tree Walk #Pollinator Plants #Biodiversity #Native Plants
Members Discussion