UC Irvine Arboretum

Irvine, California, United States

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The UC Irvine Arboretum, established in the 1960s on the university’s North Campus, is a 12.5-acre botanical garden and research facility specializing in plants native to the California Floristic Province and Mediterranean climates around the world, including a significant collection of South African flora.

The arboretum is dedicated to conservation, education, and research, supporting faculty, students, and the public with plant collections, walking trails, and habitat restoration projects. It features diverse plant communities such as coastal sage scrub, oak woodland, chaparral, and grasslands, offering a natural setting for visitors to explore.

The arboretum began with founding efforts by UC Irvine’s first chancellor, Daniel Aldrich, who envisioned the campus landscaping to reflect regional ecology and aesthetics, and it continues to serve as an important site for studying and preserving native and Mediterranean-climate plants while providing green space on campus.