The UC Riverside Botanic Gardens occupy 40 acres in the eastern foothills of Box Springs Mountain on the University of California, Riverside campus, where more than 3,500 plant species grow along over four miles of trails through varied microclimates. Established primarily as a teaching resource, the gardens support courses, research, and public display while highlighting plants suited to Southern California’s arid inland conditions. Their collections are arranged by plant type and geographic origin, with areas devoted to gardens, orchards, deserts, regional floras, and habitat recreations. The site also serves as important wildlife habitat and has long connected the university with the Riverside community through organized support and plant sales.