Gardens & Smarty Plants

Over 160 years of nurturing and gardening artistry has established 12 acres of rare beauty and outstanding variety. Apart from the fascination of the animals, the gardens provide botanical and educational interest as well as an enjoyable horticultural experience for all.

The gardens at the Zoo are one of Bristol’s most important collections of plants. They contain unusual and rare trees, shrubs and plants from around the world, such as the monkey puzzle tree, (Araucaria sp.), Kashmir cypress, (Cupressus cashmiriana), the oblong woodsia, (Woodsia ivensis) and the purple-berried flax lily, (Dianella tasmanica).

Carefully chosen combinations of colour and texture are used to stunning effect all year round. This can best be seen in the formal setting of the spring and summer beds and borders, and the less formal arrangements of the rock gardens and exotic sub-tropical displays.

The tree collection is as broad as it is tall, ranging from ornamental Acers to centuries old Cedars.

Animal enclosures are enhanced wherever possible. See rare species like 'moth orchids' from the Philippines or the more unusual native plants, like the bath asparagus which are endangered in the wild.

Smarty Plants

Smarty Plants
Don’t miss the Zoo’s interactive exhibit ‘Smarty Plants’ and find out how plants use and manipulate animals to survive and flourish.

National collections
Bristol Zoo Gardens is also home to the NCCPG (National Council for the Conservation of Plants and Gardens) collections of Caryopteris and Hedychiums. By providing these species with ideal growing conditions and the right kind of care, we hope that future generations will be able to enjoy their unique beauty. Your visit will help us to achieve this goal.