Moorten Botanical Garden, Palm Springs

About Moorten Botanical Garden

Moorten Botanical Garden in Palm Springs is a privately-owned arboretum where visitors walk a nature trail through more than 3,000 varieties of desert plants arranged in concentrated habitats. The garden features desert trees, cacti, and succulents from around the world, ranging from miniature specimens to giants. The world's first Cactarium, a word coined by the Moortens, displays rare plants found nowhere else. Visitors encounter a living museum of desert lore, with glistening crystals, colorful rocks, ancient fossils, and pioneer and gold mining relics integrated throughout the grounds. The gardens are organized geographically, taking visitors through a dozen arid biomes including the Baja California Peninsula, the South African-Succulent Karoo, and the Mojave Desert. The Moorten family home, Cactus Castle, sits in the Palm Grove Oasis area. An on-site nursery offers plants for purchase. Guided tours are available by advance booking, and a typical visit takes about an hour.