Demonstration Gardens

Allan Brooks Nature Centre

250 Allan Brooks Way, Vernon

Situated off Comonage Road, The Centre is open May to September. Nature related classes are available (250-558-4208). Native plant gardens were planted in 2001 and weaned off water in 2003. This excellent challenging test site above the military camp (hot, dry, sunny and windy) has lots of different species. Plants are labelled.
Link to the Allan Brooks Nature Center
Elysium Garden and Nursery

2834 Belgo Road, Kelowna

Magnificent display gardens include xeriscape beds, perennials and ornamental grasses. An entry fee is charged.
Link to Elysium Garden and Nursery
Grasslands Nursery

3615 Gartrell Road, Summerland

A demonstration garden under construction which includes native and xeriscape plants.
Link to Grasslands Nursery in Summerland
Okanagan College Native Plant Garden

Campus alongside Highway 97, Penticton

This garden was planted in the early 1990’s and gives a good example of dry Southern Interior vegetation. Some of the trees are getting quite mature. Plants are labelled and there is good interpretive signage.
Link to the Okanagan College Native Plant Garden
Summerland Research Station Xeriscape and Ornamental Gardens

off Highway 97 south of Summerland

An extensive xeriscape test site was planted in the early 1990’s using natives, common garden plants and many varieties introduced from Colorado and New Mexico. Due to a lack of funding for maintenance, the site was overgrown by Gypsophila paniculata (Common Baby’s Breath), an ornamental that has become a noxious weed in the South Okanagan. It has been partially restored. A xeriscape display garden was planted in 2001.
Link to the Summerland Research Station Xeriscape and Ornamental Garden
The UnH20 Demonstration Garden

4075 Gordon Drive, Kelowna

The OXA's 4,000 square foot demonstration garden has five theme areas- Mediterranean, Butterfly, Native Plant, Ornamental and two Rock Gardens to illustrate the possibilities in a xeriscape landscape.
Link to the Un-H20 Demonstration Garden in Kelowna
Xerindipity Garden

2704 Highway 6, Vernon

Beside the Okanagan Science Centre, this small community-created garden has excellent signage and a very good pamphlet which can be obtained inside the Science Centre.
Link to Xerindipity Garden in Vernon