8 amazing cactus gardens and shops around L.A.

Like much of the rest of the grounds and collections, the desert garden at the Huntington Library is astounding in its size and specimens. As you wander along a tangle of pathways, you’ll encounter tiny flowering cactuses, hearty golden barrels, yuccas and a tree-like species that weighs in at 20 tons. On Saturdays, an adjoining greenhouse showcases thousands of varieties of succulents.

For some visitors to the Getty, the setting trumps the artwork—and we can’t blame those people. At the southern tip of the travertine and white metal-clad complex, you’ll find a slim walkway that overlooks a small cactus garden perched atop the hill with the cityscape behind it.

This peculiar park turns a dusty intersection median into an off-the-beaten-path cactus garden. Palm trees and cactuses dot the gravelly grounds, which also include archways and cherub sculptures. That handles the what and the where, but as for the why—as best we can tell, the drought-tolerant art park of sorts is an extension of the equally eclectic house next to it (you’ll finding parking near there on Aledo). Only in Topanga, right?

If your taste in desert plantlife leans a little more indie, hit up Echo Park’s hottest—literally—rare cactus emporium. The 3boutqiue specializes in unusual breeds of cactuses too quirky for Pinterest, ranging from modest $25 varietals to near-thousand dollar conversation pieces. Whether or not you’re in the market for a nine-foot Lophocereus schottii, the place is worth a window shop.

For four decades, this family-run speciality nursery has been selling an array of succulents and cactuses on the eastern edge of Pasadena. The open-air shop packs hundreds of varieties into its lot, along with piles of pots.

Even cactus cynics will delight in this Joshua Tree-area emporium, where eccentric decor complements rows and rows of cactuses of all kinds. Simply wander around and admire the flora, or for only 59 cents, dig up your own cactus to take home.

Though only an acre in size, this Palm Springs botanical garden is packed with prickly varieties of cacti and other desert plants. The family-owned garden dates back to the 1930s and harbors over 3,000 specimens of desert plants from around the world, grouped by region.