Opening Hours
Daily: 10 A.M.–5 P.M.
Closed on Tuesdays
1151 Oxford Road
San Marino, CA 91108
Botanical Conservation and Research
Plant diversity has been essential at The Huntington from the beginning of the gardens. Henry E. Huntington and his first superintendent of grounds, William Hertrich, were eager to explore how many plants from other parts of the world could be grown in the mild Southern California climate. That focus on discovery and plant diversity continues, taking on new relevance as the planet faces conservation challenges that Huntington and Hertrich could not have anticipated.
Today, the process of importing and exporting plants is highly regulated to protect against the transmission of pests and plant diseases, as well as to prevent the theft of plants in the wild. But during Huntington and Hertrich’s time, plants were acquired liberally from a range of places around the globe. Thus, a botanical garden was born, and it now serves as a haven for plants that are threatened and endangered in their native habitats.
One goal of the United Nations Convention on Biological Diversity is to ensure that at least 75% of threatened plant species are maintained in human care, preferably in collections within their countries of origin, and that a minimum of 20% of these plants are available for potential habitat-restoration programs. To that end, The Huntington hosts an active conservation and research program.
William Hertrich, the first superintendent of grounds, researches cactus fruit at his desk, ca. 1950-1959. Henry E. Huntington Estate Photograph Collection. | The Huntington Library, Art Museum, and Botanical Gardens.
Former directors of The Huntington’s Botanical Gardens, James P. Folsom and Myron Kimnach, plant Cymbidiums with orchid pioneer Ernest Hetherington on the Gardens’ grounds. | The Huntington Library, Art Museum, and Botanical Gardens.
Pollen from Amorphophallus titanum, also known as the “Corpse Flower,” is collected for research and to share with other botanical gardens. Photo by Deborah Miller Marr. | The Huntington Library, Art Museum, and Botanical Gardens.
A large Pachycereus marginatus is transplanted in 1925. Although cacti and succulents are common in gardens today, such plantings were novel in the early days of the Huntington estate. Photo by William Hertrich. | The Huntington Library, Art Museum, and Botanical Gardens.
Golden barrel cacti (Echinocactus grusonii) have been part of The Huntington’s collections since Henry E. Huntington’s day. Today, the oldest specimens may yield interesting genetic information. | The Huntington Library, Art Museum, and Botanical Gardens.
Henry E. Huntington and William Hertrich were interested in discovering if avocados could be grown in Southern California. The Huntington maintains an avocado orchard that features more than 30 varieties, most of which are not commercially grown. Photo by Linnea Stephan. | The Huntington Library, Art Museum, and Botanical Gardens.
