Connecting People with Plants
The Gardens opened in 1979 with a prominent vision in mind: to create a public garden and a center for horticultural education that celebrates the importance of plants in a sustainable world.
Nestled in over 100 hectares of conservations lands, we bring together cultivation, education, and conservation.
We are grateful to the many hands of staff, volunteers, and students that make The Gardens possible.
HCP was named Canada's Garden of the year in 2017.
We at HCP gratefully acknowledge that the Gardens are located on the ancestral territories of the lak'wanan peoples, represented by the Songhees and Esquimalt Nations, and WSÁNEC peoples, represented by the WJOtEP (Tsartlip), BOKECEN (Pauquachin), STÁUTW (Tsawout), WSIKEM (Tseycum) and MÁLEXEt (Malahat) Nations.
With gratitude, we work and learn where people come together in appreciation of plants and stewardship of the Gardens.
The Bridal Garden
This garden occupies the semi-circular beds edging the Gathering Place.
The HCP Kids Garden
This is where we create and provide hands-on educational experiences.
The Memorial Wreath Garden
This garden was planted in 2019 on the site of the previous Ornamental Grass Garden.
The Permaculture Garden
Permaculture is a set of design principles centered on whole systems thinking.
The Garry Oak Meadow
Flower Garden
The diversity of native plant species in this garden represents two important ecosystems.
The Iris Display Garden
Known as the flower of the Rainbow Goddess, irises bloom in almost every colour and during much of the year.
The Heather Garden
Since Victorian times Heather has been used as an ornamental plant in gardens and containers.
The Drought Tolerant Garden
The garden features five beds separated by gravel edged stone pathways.
The Doris Page Winter Garden
This woodland garden has a full range of light exposures from full sun to full shade.
The Upper Veggie Garden
This garden demonstrates the variety of vegetables, fruits and flowers that can be grown.
The Children's Garden
This is a garden designed for the enjoyment of young children.
The Takata Japanese and
Zen Garden
Named for the Takata family who owned and operated a Japanese garden in Esquimalt from 1907-1942.
The Bonsai Garden
This garden houses over 60 specimens of Bonsai trees
The Rhododendron &
Hosta Garden
A woodland setting demonstrates a harmonious garden with year-round interest.
Ann's Garden
Created as a cottage-style garden in memory of Barbara Ann Jardine (1923-1991).
The Native Plant
Demonstration Garden
A natural setting designed so that plants, indigenous to the Pacific Northwest.
The Mixed Borders Garden
Today's major design trend is a mixed border garden, because it can provide year round interest.
The Mediterranean Garden
Features plants found in the different regions of the world where Mediterranean gardens flourish.
The Lily Garden
True lilies are members of the genus Lilium and are herbaceous multi-scaled bulbs.
The Conservation Park
This spectacular area supports many avian species and the wetlands are a major migratory waterfowl stop.
The Birds, Bees, and
Butterflies Garden
This garden is an ever-changing landscape and an all seasons pollinator garden.
The Cutting Garden
A garden full of flowers.
The Farm Garden
A Garden on Experimenting and Educating
The Urban Garden
In a small setting, it is possible to achieve a degree of self-sustainability using recycling, reclaimed, and repurposed (RRR) materials.
The Hardy Fuchsia Garden
Many hardy fuchsias thrive in our mild summers and wet winters.
The Herb Garden
An educational and historical garden