Oak Bay Native Plant Garden

The Oak Bay Native Plant Garden is a historic and ecologically vital sanctuary preserving native species and local heritage beneath a canopy of Garry oaks

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Location

Oak Bay
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About

Nestled at the corner of Beach Drive and Margate Street, the Oak Bay Native Plant Garden is more than just a beautiful green space — it's a cherished local landmark that helps define the character of the neighbourhood.
This garden holds great ecological value as a nature reserve, preserving the native plant species of southern Vancouver Island — many of which are increasingly threatened by urban development.
The roots of the garden are deeply tied to Oak Bay’s early history.
The site was once part of “Arden,” the home and garden designed in 1908 by renowned architect Samuel Maclure for Ada and Hugo Beaven.
Ada, formerly Ada Pemberton, was the daughter of J.D. Pemberton — one of Oak Bay’s original four private landowners and the Surveyor General of British Columbia. Her husband Hugo was the son of Robert Beaven, a former Premier of British Columbia and Mayor of Victoria.
In 1939, Ada Beaven generously donated just over half an acre (0.21 hectares) of her property to the Municipality of Oak Bay, with the wish that it be preserved as a native plant garden.
The garden is home to over 80 native plant species, including camas and erythronium, all thriving beneath the canopy of Garry oaks. Two original stone ponds, part of the garden’s early design, still remain as central features of the landscape.
Thanks to the tireless efforts of the Friends of the Native Plant Garden, the battle against invasive species continues — ensuring this unique piece of local and ecological heritage remains protected for generations to come.