Have you ever wondered why the San Diego area is such a desirable place to live and work? People who already live here have a good idea. Miles of sandy beaches, a natural harbor ideal for water recreation, and, of course, a perfect climate tops the list. Our favorable climate makes going to the beach enjoyable, and it also helps gardeners at the San Diego Zoo grow plants and trees from around the world. People may visit the Zoo with the intention of seeing live animals, but most walk away feeling very impressed by the living plants and trees they encounter.

San Diego has a Mediterranean climate, which means summers are long and dry, often with foggy mornings. Although we don’t get much rain, it does come in the winter, from large moisture-ridden storms off the Pacific. Very mild temperatures can be expected all year round, and attribute for the so-called ” perfect climate.” A quick check of records taken at the airport since 1872 shows that only nine days have ever experienced frost. In fact, 10 to 15 years can pass without once having freezing weather! People back east are shoveling snow in January, while here in San Diego our average winter high is 67 degrees Fahrenheit (19 degrees Celsius). Our climate makes it livable for both humans and exotic flora from arid to subtropical regions.

The thing I hear repeatedly from guests visiting the San Diego Zoo is how beautiful and lush our plants are. Many are amazed to see plants that they grow indoors back home growing outdoors and reaching very large sizes here at the Zoo. Our skilled gardeners use San Diego’s wonderful climate to cultivate plants taken from all points around the globe. Numerous large ficus trees shade areas beneath which we plant a whole other world of exotic under-story plants. Eye-catching orchids hang down from branches, cycads form miniature forests, and coffee plants fill in areas not touched by the sun.

In areas of full sun, countless unique species become priceless specimens, including every color of tropical hibiscus imaginable! Our reliable climate and the lack of extreme weather grants the San Diego Zoo the ability to create a diverse, enticing plantscape for all of our animals and visitors!

Seth Menser is a gardener at the San Diego Zoo.
Visit our Plants at the Zoo and Wild Animal Park section.
Read Seth’s previous blog, Native Hawaiian Plant Garden.

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