Toronto Botanical Garden

Take a stroll through the Toronto Botanical Garden, one of Toronto's largest and most stunning parks. With 17 themed gardens featuring over 4,000 different varieties of plants and flowers, sitting on four glorious acres within the Edwards Gardens, there's a lot to explore. Not to mention, the Toronto Botanical Garden also offers free tours (summer only), horticulture classes, an extensive horticultural library, children programs, and special events. And during your visit, you can support the non-profit Toronto Botanical Garden by purchasing a special memento from their garden shop and treat yourself to a delectable morsel at the Bloom Cafe (open seasonally).

Walking through the Toronto Botanical Garden is a journey through an oasis of green, beauty, and tranquility. Welcoming flower aromas float through the air as your eyes feast on the splendid vegetation. Though the gardens are open year round, they burst into a sea of colours in spring and summer. The gardens are always being updated to feature seasonal varieties of plants, both local and exotic. So visiting in different seasons provides a different experience.

But the Toronto Botanical Garden is more than just appreciating the superb plants and flowers. It’s the mission of the gardens to educate visitors about horticultural and tending for individual gardens. This is accomplished through a series of classes offered at the gardens, in-person tours, and audio tours. Many plants found in the garden are those that can flourish in city environments giving inspiration to those with a green thumb. And for kids, there’s the Learning Garden. Featuring a collection of vegetable gardens, it’s the perfect spot to introduce hands-on nurturing for gardens. 

For up-to-date information and details on Toronto Botanical Garden, we recommend you visit their website. For information about other places of interest to explore nearby, keep scrolling to see what Destination Ontario recommends.

A close up of purple wildflowers in front of the Greenhouse

More about Toronto Botanical Garden

Located at 777 Lawrence Avenue East in Toronto, just 16 km north of downtown Toronto, get to the Toronto Botanical Garden by taking the TTC Yonge subway line to Eglinton, and transferring to a TTC bus 51, 54 or take the subway line to Lawrence station and take a TTC bus 162. Alternatively, you can drive to the gardens, but keep in mind that there is only paid parking.

The Toronto Botanical Garden is free to visit, though donations are gladly welcomed. And visitors are free to roam the grounds from dusk to dawn everyday.

Toronto Botanical Garden provides services for visitors with special needs (gardens and public spaces). It has been attracting around 250,000 visitors annually through the manicured landscapes, classes, special events and their Edwards Summer Music Series.

But truly, it is the opulent gardens that attracts visitors. And with the wealth of variety of vegetation you can see, you will certainly want to linger at every corner of the Toronto Botanical Garden. The different themed gardens include carpet beds, a herb garden, a water channel and woodland walk. Many gardens are constantly being updated to showcase perennial favourites.

The Toronto Botanical Gardens opened their doors in 2006 but a garden has existed on the site since 1817. Purchased by Alexander Milne, he built his home and business on the extensive plot of land. The area, now known as Edwards Gardens, began to take its modern shape in 1944 when the property was purchased and revitalized by Rupert Edwards. After only 10 years, Edwards decided to sell the outdoor oasis to the Toronto Council… and the public Edwards Gardens was born.

Last updated: August 18, 2023

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