Berry Botanic Garden

The Berry Botanic Garden was a botanical garden in Portland, Oregon, known for its extensive plant collections and pioneering conservation efforts. Although the physical garden closed in 2011, its vital legacy continues through the Rae Selling Berry Seed Bank & Plant Conservation Program at Portland State University. This program carries forward the garden's mission of preserving rare and endangered plants of the Pacific Northwest.

The garden, spanning 6.5 acres, was celebrated for its diverse plant collections, including a significant array of primulas, rhododendrons, alpine plants, and native Pacific Northwest species. Visitors could explore woodland paths, a damp garden, perennial and shrub beds, and what was considered the largest public rock garden on the West Coast. Rae Selling Berry, the garden's founder, was an avid plant collector, cultivating unique varieties and creating specialized environments like log beds and an alpine bog to showcase her rare specimens.

While the physical garden is no longer open to the public, its enduring impact on plant conservation is profound. The Rae Selling Berry Seed Bank actively preserves seeds from Oregon's rare, endangered, and culturally significant plant species, contributing to ecological restoration efforts. The spirit of discovery and preservation that defined the Berry Botanic Garden continues to thrive through research, education, and the ongoing safeguarding of invaluable genetic resources. Turn your visit into a safari! Use the Snappit app to scan and log wildlife sightings here.