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Garden Visit: Mendocino Coast Botanical Garden

Quarterly Feature Mendocino Coast Botanical Garden is located 2 miles south of Ft Bragg and 7 miles north of the village of Mendocino, straddling

Quarterly Feature

 Mendocino Coast Botanical Garden is located 2 miles south of Ft Bragg and 7 miles north of the village of Mendocino, straddling 47 acres between Highway 1 and the Pacific. The spectacular beauty of the coastline in Mendocino County itself is a feature of the gardens, as the trails that meander through its’ meadows and woodlands terminate at the sea. The garden is in USDA zone 9B, in fact the same zone as Napa Valley. This indicates the limited usefulness of that particular zone map here on the micro-climate laden west coast. Tucson Arizona is likewise in zone 9B and it would be challenge to find any similarity in the climate of the desert southwest and the north coast of California. The Sunset climate zone map classifies this area as zone 17; mild, wet and mostly frostless winters with plenty of summer fog and very little heat. Growing a tomato in Mendocino can be futile, but your Fuchsias can sit out in full sun all day long.

Lush garden scene at the Mendocino Coast Botanical Garden featuring ornamental grasses and a wooden bench.
Wooden bench with plaque in misty coastal garden, surrounded by colorful shrubs and trees at Mendocino Coast Botanical Garden.

 MCBG is worth visiting in any season, the plant collections are varied enough to provide interest year round. These 6 photos below show the perennial borders that open out beyond the entry to the garden and the majority of them were taken in fall. The combinations of large architectural grasses, flowering plants and ground covers are beautifully designed and well maintained and labeled. These borders are dynamic and changing as the seasons progress.  

View of lush, layered plantings at the Mendocino Coast Botanical Garden. Mendocino Coast Botanical Garden display with purple, pink, and variegated green foliage arranged in layered beds. Mendocino Coast Botanical Garden bed with purple flowers, tall yellow stalks, and red-leafed plants in fog. A gravel path winds through colorful garden plants at the Mendocino Coast Botanical Garden. A misty garden path at the Mendocino Coast Botanical Garden, flanked by purple and green perennials. A lush garden bed at the Mendocino Coast Botanical Garden, featuring tall ornamental grasses and purple flowering plants.

The Heather Garden has been designated as a Collection of National Significance by the American Public Gardens Association, a professional organization for public horticulture. The climate conditions on the coast are particularly well suited to the heathers and heaths (the genera Erica and Calluna) planted in the garden and they thrive in the open meadow where the fog and moisture creep in from the sea. The plants mound gracefully like a tapestry of colored muffins; between the blooms and varied foliage the colorful display changes throughout the year.

Lush, undulating beds of lavender and purple heather at the Mendocino Coast Botanical Garden. Mendocino Coast Botanical Garden landscape with pink flowering shrubs in misty foreground and trees in background. Layered garden beds at the Mendocino Coast Botanical Garden feature purple, yellow, and green shrubs. A layered garden bed with purple, yellow, and brown flowering shrubs, backed by silvery-leafed trees.

The garden also is host to over 1,000 Rhododendrons, including species that are extinct or endangered in the wild. Spring is the best time to view these plants in peak bloom, and the annual juried Rhododendron show is typically held in the beginning of May.

White and pink rhododendron blooms with yellow centers and green leaves, shown close-up at the Mendocino Coast Botanical Garden. Yellow rhododendron blooms at Mendocino Coast Botanical Garden against blue sky and green foliage.

Another popular destination is the Dahlia Garden. Located along the trail that leads the visitor to the coastal bluffs, and wind protected by a belt of Cypress, the Dahlias bloom June through October and most years look their best in August and September. This display is both a popular wedding and photography venue.

A vibrant bed of dahlias in red, pink, white, and yellow blooms at Mendocino Coast Botanical Garden, with a forested backdrop. The Mendocino Coast Botanical Garden features a dense arrangement of succulents, cacti, and vibrant purple flowers.

Mendocino Coast Botanical Garden is open year round, and there is much more to see beyond the sampling offered here.  There is also a seasonal café, a gift shop and a small nursery. The gardens are dog friendly and picnickers are welcome. There is an admission fee, however members visit free and receive discounts at the gift shop and nursery. We encourage supporting public gardens so they may continue to provide beauty and inspiration to their communities.  

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