Experts' Choice Award Moorten Botanical Garden
What the experts agree on
This 1938 family-owned desert botanical garden showcases an unmatched collection of cacti and succulents from around the world, with rare specimens like the African welwitschia alongside local flora in an intimate, historic setting.
“Explore the wide world of desert plants at this unique Palm Springs botanical garden. ”
– Atlas Obscura
Fodor's "Take a stroll through the Cactarium to spot rare finds such as the welwitschia, which originated in the Namib Desert in southwestern Africa." Full review
Lonely Planet "Chester ‘Cactus Slim’ Moorten, one of the original Keystone Cops, and his wife Patricia channeled their passion for plants into this compact garden founded in 1938." Full review
Afar Magazine "If you like succulents you are going to want to pay Moorten's a visit. They have the largest variety I have ever seen." Full review
Travel + Leisure "This privately owned arboretum features desert trees, plants, and cacti from around the world set in the family's residence estate"
Palm Springs Travel Guide
March 1, 2021
Travel + Leisure "Explore local flora at the Moorten Botanical Garden. The garden is described as a “living museum of desert lore,” and it has something for everyone"
19 Best Things to Do in Palm Springs, California
August 11, 2023
Afar Magazine "For decades, the Moorten Botanical Garden and Cactarium operated quietly, visitors referred by word of mouth for strolls through the family-owned one-acre grounds. Then Instagram..." Full review
New York Times "Moorten Botanical Garden is an acre of desert plants, including exotic succulents, cacti and trees. At the one-acre property (the Moorten family's multigenerational labor of love),..."
Lonely Planet "This is strictly a residential neighborhood with the exception of Moorten Botanical Gardens, which was founded by the desert's first horticulturalist. As you enter this garden filled with..."
