Planning a visit to the Moorten Botanical Garden and Cactarium in Palm Springs? You will not be disappointed! This garden features the coolest plant life from regional deserts in North America. Read on for everything you need to know before you visit the Moorten Botanical Garden and Cactarium!
Right in the heart of Palm Springs, California is the small but mighty Moorten Botanical Garden and Cactarium.
Featuring over 3,000 examples of desert plant life from the Americas and beyond, this little garden is one of my long time favorite stops on any visit to Palm Springs.
Large cacti, plump succulents, and brightly colored flowers blanket the Botanical Garden, some of them quite rare!
Let’s dive into everything you need to know before you visit the Moorten Botanical Garden in Palm Springs, such as ticket price, hours, and what you’ll see.
Palm Springs Quick Links
- An Essential Palm Springs Experience: Ride the Palm Springs Aerial Tramway. Be sure to book your tickets in advance to avoid long wait times. Reserve your spot here!
- Best Hotel in Palm Springs: El Morocco Inn and Spa
- Best Tour in Palm Springs: Check out the San Andreas Fault Jeep Tour to learn about the the San Andreas Fault Zone and stories about the plants, animals, and history of the California desert.
- Best Day Trip from Palm Springs: You are just one hour away from the incredible Joshua Tree National Park.
- 5 Essential Items for Palm Springs: A wide-brim hat; a reusable water bottle; plenty of sunscreen; a chic bathing suit; trekking sandals for the trails.
Visiting the Moorten Botanical Garden and Cactarium in Palm Springs
The Moorten Botanical Garden is a family-owned operation.
Chester Moorten opened this one-acre garden back in 1938 after collecting countless cacti and desert plant life from around the world.
On a visit to the garden, you can see cacti from over a dozen desert regions, including the Baja California Peninsula, South Africa, the Mojave Desert and beyond.
Today, Chester’s son Clark Moorten runs the business, and is often on site when you visit. Having grown up with a green thumb myself, I absolutely love this not-so-hidden gem in Palm Springs!
Visitors can explore everything from agave, cacti of all sizes aloe plants, and plump succulents. You will also see a collection of crystals, rocks, and gold-mining paraphernalia around the desert displays.
So let’s talk about all of the practical information so that you can visit the Moorten Botanical Garden, too!
Moorten Botanical Garden And Cactarium Location
Located just 1.5 miles from the heart of downtown Palm Springs, the Moorten Botanical Garden is super easy to visit from anywhere in town.
Parking Details
There is a fairly large gravel lot just next to the garden, across a small side street.
Though the garden can greet up to 200 visitors per day, I have never had an issue finding a parking spot. People come and go, so something is bound to open up.
Moorten Botanical Garden And Cactarium Hours
The Moorten Botanical Garden And Cactarium changes operating hours due to the seasons. This is because Palm Springs slows down in the summer due to its hot desert climate.
Here is what to expect:
- SUMMER (June 5th – Sept 28th): 9am – 1pm, Friday, Saturday, Sunday only.
- FALL / WINTER / SPRING (Sept 29th– June 4th): 10am – 4pm daily, closed Wednesdays.
Hours are subject to change! Feel free to verify here before you visit.
Moorten Botanical Garden And Cactarium Tickets
Tickets to the Moorten Botanical Garden and Cactarium are very reasonably priced!
- Adults | $5
- Children 15 & Under | $2
- Children 5 & Under | Free
You will pay your admission at the sales counter as you enter. No advance tickets are offered, nor are they necessary.
Upon paying, you will get a Moorten Botanical Garden map if you would like to understand more about the layout.
What To Pack
If you have never hung out in an extreme desert environment, I have some tips on what to pack for your trip. As the self-proclaimed desert queen X I have my desert packing list down to a science.
A Reusable Water Bottle
I recently got this Hydroflask and I absolutely love it for the desert! It is double walled so it keeps your beverage ice-cold even in the heat. Get yours here!
A Wide Brim Hat
This is my go-to desert hat. The wide brim keeps the sun off of your face and neck, which is ideal for exploring the outdoor Botanical Garden. Bonus, it is crushable and packable. Get yours here!
Sunscreen
Don’t forget the sunscreen in Palm Springs! The sun here is no joke. I prefer brands safe for sun and swim as I use them all over the world. Get yours here!
Sunglasses
You will absolutely want a pair of sunglasses for your visit. These ones are super comfy. Need I say more? Get yours here!
A Good Camera
Definitely pack a good camera for your visit! There is so much to see not only in the garden but also all around Palm Springs. Get yours here!
A Small Day Pack
I always carry a foldable day pack just like this. You can stash everything above inside for easy carrying. And this one folds down smaller than a baseball. Get yours here!
Best Time to Visit the Moorten Botanical Garden
The best time of year to visit the Moorten Botanical Garden and Cactarium is basically any time outside of summer.
However, if you pack the items I mentioned above, you will be fine even in the hot months.
In terms of time of day, I always recommend visiting right after they open, at 9am or 10am. This will help you avoid the heat and the crowds.
Note that crowds are the heaviest on weekends (the garden may be closed on major holidays.)
The Cactus Garden
Take your time exploring the outdoor Cactus Garden and really look closely at the plant life. Much of it is absolutely fascinating!
The property is fairly small, so it can be easy to rush through the more than 3,000 plants. But, that would be a mistake.
Take your time, take photos, and look closely.
Take a self-guided tour along the winding dirt paths to enjoy the plants on display and discover more about the Sonoran, Mojave, and South African Deserts.
Pro Tip: The major collections are labeled but the map has even more details.
The Cactarium
Many people, myself included, would say that the small cactarium is the highlight of any visit here.
Said to be the world’s first Cactarium, this tiny greenhouse is filled with some of the cutest and smallest, not to mention rarest, plant, cacti, and succulent specimens.
Look for the curved white roof of the greenhouse in the back of the outdoor Cactus Garden to locate the cactarium.
The Nursery
Guess what. You can even bring your own baby cactus home to love and care for!
Back near the entrance, you can search through the potted pots, garden sculptures, and many types of tiny cacti that are available for sale.
Where To Stay Near Moorten Botanical Garden and Cactarium
Palm Springs has every type of hotel you could want, from stylish, or retro, to budget. There is something for everyone here!
1. El Morocco Inn and Spa
The El Morocco Inn and Spa is my top choice! It is a colorful hotel that instantly transports you to Morocco with its gorgeous decor. They also have mineral rich thermal waters in the on-site swimming pool and jacuzzi, which is my absolute favorite part. Decadent, colorful, and soothing, this hotel is an experience!
2. Sagewater Spa
I’m probably biased, but when I’m visiting Palm Springs, I love staying at a hotel or resort with a pool or mineral baths. You will surely appreciate it after experiencing the hote desert sun!
The calm and serene Sagewater Spa is an adults-only hotel with an outdoor swimming pool, hot spring bath and even a shared kitchen for cooking.
3. Delos Reyes Hotel
The Delos Reyes Hotel is my top recommendation for anyone traveling on a budget. The recently renovated rooms have everything you could need, including comfy beds, air conditioning, and a small fridge. The rooms wrap around a central swimming pool and outdoor hot tub. This hotel is consistently one of the cheapest stays in Palm Springs!
What To See Next?
After exploring the Moorten Botanica Garden and Cactarium, there is a lot more you can see and do in the area.
First, you must try out the Palm Springs Aerial Tramway for the best views around! This is a quintessential Palm Springs activity and a fun experience. Note that on busy days you could wait hours if you don’t book your ticket in advance. Take my advice, you’ll thank me later!
If you like to hike, you need to check out my favorite trail in Palm Springs: The Andreas Palm Canyon Trail found within Indian Canyons.
And of course, you absolutely need to see the incredible Joshua Tree National Park, one of my favorite places on the planet.
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I hope that this post helps you plan a perfect visit to the Moorten Botanical Garden and Cactarium! I have a feeling you will love it almost as much as I do.
More Palm Springs Resources:
- A Palm Springs Day Trip: What To See in 24 Hours
- The Best Palm Springs Activities and Things To Do
- The Best Day Trips from Palm Springs
- The Andreas Canyon Trail Hike in Palm Springs
- Hiking Palm Canyon Trail in Palm Springs
- Moorten Botanical Garden and Cactarium in Palm Springs
- A Weekend in Palm Springs Itinerary
- Desert Wear and Hiking Essentials for the American Southwest
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