These lovingly curated gardens and living museum are the enduring legacy of Patricia and Chester "Cactus Slim" Moorten, a married couple who shared a love of the desert. Chester's poor health led him to Palm Springs in the 1930s with his biologist wife Patricia. The couple worked for celebrities such as Walt Disney, helping to design the surroundings of his new amusement park which later became Disneyland. They gradually built up their collection of desert plants at their home that you see today, which opened to the public in 1938.
The gardens continue to be lovingly looked after by the Moorten's son Clark. The family home is known as Cactus Castle and is worth a look for its old-school Palm Springs Mediterranean architecture. The family travelled to all parts of the globe in search of rare cacti, eventually collecting over 3,000 species of desert plants and cacti, yet the 0.4-hectare gardens retain a lovely quiet feel. The plants are found in concentrated habitats along a natural trail, and there is also a special exhibition of rare plants called the World's First Cactarium.
Clark Moorten is usually on hand to answer any questions you may have about the types of plants here, which as well as cacti includes agave, bombax and South African aloe plants. There is also an interesting collection of rocks, crystals, fossils and gold-mining relics to explore. Guided tours of the gardens are usually available – ring or email ahead of your visit.
The Moorten Botanical Garden and Cactarium is located about two kilometres from downtown Palm Springs and parking is available on the nearby streets The gardens are closed on Wednesdays and there is a small charge for admission.
