Butchart GardensAbout Butchart Gardens
Butchart Gardens is a large, privately developed floral garden complex near Brentwood Bay, just north of Victoria on Vancouver Island, British Columbia. The gardens were created from a former limestone quarry beginning in the early 20th century by Jennie Butchart and opened to the public in the 1920s.
The site contains several distinct garden rooms and landscapes, including the signature Sunken Garden, a Rose Garden, a Japanese Garden and an Italian/Mediterranean section; the total site area is about 55 acres. Visitors come to see extensive seasonal bedding displays, specimen trees and formal garden layouts across a network of paths and ponds.
The gardens evolved from an industrial quarry into a planned ornamental landscape in the first decades of the 20th century and have been maintained as a tourist attraction and horticultural collection since then.
Butchart Gardens sits on Vancouver Island near the town of Brentwood Bay, roughly a 30-minute drive north of downtown Victoria, and is accessible by road and public shuttle services from Victoria.
- Origins and size: Originally developed from a decommissioned limestone quarry by Jennie Butchart beginning in the early 1900s and opened to visitors in the 1920s, the gardens cover roughly 55 acres.
- Visiting times: Located near Victoria on Vancouver Island, the gardens are open year-round with peak floral displays in late spring through early autumn and special evening events in summer.
What to See#
- Sunken Garden: A recessed, former limestone quarry transformed into the Sunken Garden, featuring dense perennial bedding and specialty plantings organised in formal terraces and pathways.
- Rose Garden: A formal rose garden with beds arranged for seasonal display and a large collection of heritage and modern roses.
- Japanese Garden: A Japanese Garden with ponds, bridges and maples designed for contemplative viewing, reflecting Edwardian garden styles.
- Italian and Mediterranean Gardens: An Italian Garden with clipped hedges, statuary and symmetrical beds, and a Mediterranean Garden showcasing drought-tolerant and subtropical species.
Best Time to Visit Butchart Gardens
Best from late spring through summer for full displays, though spring and early autumn offer fewer crowds.
Weather & Climate near Butchart Gardens
Butchart Gardens's climate is classified as Warm-Summer Mediterranean - Warm-Summer Mediterranean climate with mild summers (peaking in August) and cold winters (coldest in January). Temperatures range from 1°C to 22°C. Moderate rainfall (895 mm/year).
| Month | Comfort | Temp | Feels | Rain | Sky | Humidity | Wind | UV | Daylight |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| January | Poor | 1° - 6° | 0° | 143 mm | overcast | 90% | 3.6 m/s | 0.1 low | 8.6h |
| February | Poor | 2° - 8° | 2° | 103 mm | overcast | 87% | 3.4 m/s | 0.2 low | 10.0h |
| March | Acceptable | 3° - 10° | 4° | 77 mm | overcast | 85% | 3.6 m/s | 0.5 low | 11.7h |
| April | Acceptable | 5° - 13° | 7° | 50 mm | overcast | 82% | 3.5 m/s | 0.9 moderate | 13.5h |
| May | Very Good | 7° - 16° | 12° | 37 mm | partly cloudy | 81% | 3.4 m/s | 1.3 high | 15.0h |
| June | Very Good | 10° - 19° | 14° | 31 mm | partly cloudy | 80% | 3.5 m/s | 1.6 very high | 15.8h |
| July | Excellent | 12° - 22° | 17° | 19 mm | some cloud | 77% | 3.3 m/s | 1.8 very high | 15.5h |
| August | Ideal | 12° - 22° | 17° | 25 mm | some cloud | 77% | 3.0 m/s | 1.4 high | 14.1h |
| September | Very Good | 10° - 19° | 15° | 32 mm | partly cloudy | 80% | 2.7 m/s | 0.9 moderate | 12.4h |
| October | Acceptable | 7° - 14° | 10° | 77 mm | overcast | 86% | 2.9 m/s | 0.4 low | 10.7h |
| November | Poor | 4° - 9° | 4° | 151 mm | overcast | 89% | 3.6 m/s | 0.1 low | 9.1h |
| December | Poor | 1° - 6° | 1° | 150 mm | overcast | 90% | 3.7 m/s | 0.1 low | 8.2h |
How to Get to Butchart Gardens
Butchart Gardens is about 25 minutes’ drive north of downtown Victoria, British Columbia. Visitors can drive via the Patricia Bay Highway (Highway 17) and follow signs to Brentwood Bay, or arrive by tourist boat shuttle from the Inner Harbour in Victoria during summer months.
Tips for Visiting Butchart Gardens
- Arrive at opening to avoid crowds and catch gardens in the soft morning light.
- Take the boat shuttle from Victoria during summer to avoid driving and enjoy a scenic approach.
- Allow at least two hours to see the major garden rooms - the Sunken Garden, Rose Garden and Japanese Garden are not to be rushed.