St Andrews Botanic Garden
St Andrews Botanic Garden, The Canongate, St Andrews, Fife, KY16 8RT
An 18-acre botanic garden on the wooded banks of the Kinness Burn in St Andrews, with rock garden, ponds, dune and meadow zones and borders of Chinese and Chilean plants.
Visit information checked 22 October 2026
Garden UK guide
Why visit St Andrews Botanic Garden?
St Andrews Botanic Garden covers 18 acres on the banks of the wooded Kinness Burn, in the Canongate area on the southern edge of the town. It holds several thousand species of native and non-native plants, laid out in zones of woodland, meadow, herbaceous beds, sand dunes, a large rockery and a series of ponds, so it is a good place to see how plants from very different habitats are grown.
As you walk round, look out for the borders devoted to Chinese and Chilean plants, which mix woody and herbaceous species to suggest the full environment of those regions. The garden also has significant collections of cotoneaster, berberis and sorbus, all useful shrubs and small trees for home gardens, so it is worth noting which ones catch your eye. The large rockery and the sand dune area are particularly helpful if you garden on free-draining or coastal soil.
The design of the garden is a lesson in itself for anyone gardening in an exposed spot. When the site was laid out in the 1960s, a dense barrier of pine trees was planted along the western edge, with many shrubs and understorey trees around the site to give extra shelter from the Scottish weather. The garden is supported by the University of St Andrews, Fife Council and admission charges, and it is on the Inventory of Gardens and Designed Landscapes in Scotland. Its edge-of-town setting means it fits well into a day exploring St Andrews.
What to see
- Borders of Chinese and Chilean plants, mixing woody and herbaceous species.
- A large rockery and a series of ponds.
- Sand dune, meadow and woodland zones.
- Significant collections of cotoneaster, berberis and sorbus.
- The setting on the wooded banks of the Kinness Burn.
St Andrews Botanic Garden through the year
- spring
- Woodland and meadow zones wake up, and the rockery comes into flower.
- summer
- Herbaceous beds and the Chinese and Chilean borders are at their fullest.
- autumn
- Sorbus, berberis and cotoneaster bring berries and autumn colour.
- winter
- The pine shelter belts and evergreen structure show how the garden is protected from the weather, but check opening before travelling.
The story behind the garden
The garden was founded by the University of St Andrews in 1889 on a different site, within the grounds of St Mary's College. The principal founder was the botanist Dr John Hardie Wilson. The early garden consisted of 78 similar beds laid out according to the Bentham and Hooker system of plant classification.
That town-centre site grew from a quarter of an acre to almost seven acres, but in the early 1960s the university bought the present site, then farmland, to allow for future development. The new garden was designed to cope with the Scottish climate, with pine shelter belts and shrub planting for protection. The garden also houses an algal herbarium based on seaweed specimens collected by the phycologist Margaret Gatty.
Plan your visit
- Best for
- Plant enthusiasts and students, gardeners on coastal or exposed sites, and visitors to St Andrews wanting a quieter outing.
- Getting there
- The garden is on the Canongate, on the southern edge of St Andrews in Fife, beside the Kinness Burn.
- Before you go
- Admission charges help support the garden, so expect to pay on entry. Check the garden's own website for current opening times and tickets.
Questions about visiting St Andrews Botanic Garden
How big is St Andrews Botanic Garden?
The garden covers 18 acres on the banks of the Kinness Burn. It holds several thousand species of native and non-native plants laid out in zones such as woodland, meadow, dunes, rockery and ponds.
Who runs St Andrews Botanic Garden?
The garden is supported by the University of St Andrews, Fife Council and admission charges. It was founded by the university in 1889 and moved to its present site in the 1960s.
Where is St Andrews Botanic Garden?
It is in the Canongate area on the southern edge of St Andrews, Fife, on the banks of the wooded Kinness Burn. It is on the edge of the town rather than in the centre.
What plant collections are at St Andrews Botanic Garden?
There are significant collections of cotoneaster, berberis and sorbus, plus borders of Chinese and Chilean plants. The garden also houses an algal herbarium based on Margaret Gatty's seaweed collection.
Garden features
Location
St Andrews Botanic Garden, The Canongate, St Andrews, Fife, KY16 8RT
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