Oak Meadow
A new landscape of shade, beauty, and biodiversity
Opening June 2026
Named in honor of our national tree, this expansive landscape will bridge the Virginia Steele Scott Galleries of American Art, the MaryLou and George Boone Gallery, and The Rose Hills Foundation Conservatory for Botanical Science. Designed as a welcoming gathering space, Oak Meadow features California native plants alongside North American species adapted to Southern California’s distinctive climate, as well as iconic American trees.
A Landscape for Regeneration
Oak Meadow brings together California native plants and North American species adapted to Southern California’s distinctive climate, creating a landscape that reflects both regional ecology and iconic American habitats. Designed as a welcoming gathering space, the meadow demonstrates how gardens can respond to limited water resources and a changing climate while supporting biodiversity.
Part of THIS LAND IS …, Oak Meadow contributes to a cross-institutional exploration of how land shapes identity, history, and the American experience—connecting the natural world with the stories held in The Huntington’s library, art, and botanical collections.
Expanded pathways and a shaded lawn anchored by North American oaks—including coast live oak (Quercus agrifolia), Engelmann oak (Q. engelmannii), and valley oak (Q. lobata)—structure the space. These keystone species sustain complex ecosystems, supporting insects, pollinators, birds, mammals, fungi, and lichens, while offering shade, stability, and cultural meaning.
About Our Oak Collection
One of the most globally diverse plant collections of scientific significance, The Huntington’s gardens include an exceptional collection of oaks—species that shape ecosystems, cultures, and landscapes.
At The Huntington, the oak collection reflects both long-term stewardship and ongoing conservation, preserving species of ecological and historical importance while contributing to research, climate adaptation, and the future of sustainable landscapes.
Because oaks are among the 8% to 15% of global plant species that produce seeds which cannot tolerate drying or freezing, acorns cannot be stored in traditional seed banks. Conservation botanists rely on cryopreservation (storing parts of the plant embryo at extremely low temperatures) and micropropagation (using meristems or shoot tips to grow new plants in laboratory conditions). Huntington staff work with about 15 species of oak in the cryobiotechnology lab.
83 species
A globally diverse oak collection represents a wide range of ecological regions.
800+ trees
Mature specimens across the grounds include trees as old as, or older than, the United States.
16 themed gardens
Oaks are integrated across The Huntington’s living collections, connecting landscapes, climates, and histories.
How Do Oak Trees Adapt?
From our digital classroom resource collection for educators, here's a video on how oak trees have adapted to make the best of whatever water, weather, and soil is around them so they can grow almost anywhere.
Visiting Oak Meadow
Coming June 2026
Located at the intersection of the Virginia Steele Scott Galleries of American Art, the MaryLou and George Boone Gallery, and The Rose Hills Foundation Conservatory for Botanical Science, Oak Meadow will serve as a central gathering space within The Huntington’s landscape.
Shaded by North American oaks and designed for movement and reflection, the meadow offers a place to experience the connections between art, science, and the natural world—whether passing through between galleries or lingering beneath the canopy.
Book Tickets
A must-see for every visitor to Los Angeles, The Huntington offers 130 acres of beautiful and biodiverse gardens; iconic collections of art, history, and literature; and dynamic programs that provide transformative experiences for a community of the curious.
Hours and Directions
See our hours, parking information, and more as you plan your visit.
About This Land Is …
Reflections for America at 250
THIS LAND IS … is a sweeping multiyear initiative that invites visitors to reflect on the American story through the lens of land. Anchored by the tagline “Reflections for America at 250,” the initiative draws on The Huntington’s library, art, and botanical collections to spotlight relationships between land, United States history, and American identities. Discover a season of exhibitions, experiences, and conversations across the campus: www.huntington.org/this-land-is