A gorgeous 35-acre garden along Wilket Creek in North York. Rock gardens, perennial beds, a sensory garden for the visually impaired, and thousands of roses at peak summer. Deeply underrated.
Neighbourhood: North York · Address: 755 Lawrence Ave E, Toronto, ON · Hours: Mon–Sun 10:00 AM – 8:30 PM · Phone: (416) 392-8188
Why Visit
You can wander through sprawling flower beds, cross wooden bridges, and stumble upon a surprisingly wild-feeling ravine trail—all without leaving North York.
What Makes It Unique
Unlike Toronto’s better-known parks, Edwards Gardens isn’t just lawns: it’s packed with curated rock gardens, rare perennials, accessible sensory areas, and seriously impressive rose displays. The blend of designed landscapes and natural creekside trails feels more immersive than most public gardens in the city.
Edwards Gardens is the premier horticultural destination in North York and one of the finest public gardens in Toronto — a 35-acre landscape along Wilket Creek that combines formal garden rooms, a sensory garden, rock gardens constructed with quarried stone, and a ravine creek trail system that connects the gardens to the larger Don Valley park network. The site operates in partnership with the Toronto Botanical Garden, whose administrative and educational facilities are housed in a pavilion at the garden's entrance, making Edwards Gardens the only public garden in Toronto with a dedicated horticultural education program running alongside the public landscape.
The rock garden is the most striking element: a series of cascading water features, planted crevices, and stone terraces that creates a convincing naturalistic landscape despite its deliberate construction. In late spring, when the rock garden's alpines and ground-cover perennials are in bloom, it is as beautiful as any garden feature in the city. The sensory garden, one of the few in Ontario specifically designed for visitors with visual impairments, features textured paths, plants selected for fragrance and touch, and labels in both print and Braille.
The rose garden reaches peak bloom in late June, with over 1,500 roses in a mix of hybrid teas, floribundas, climbing roses, and historical varieties. The perennial borders running along the Wilket Creek ravine edge are designed for continuous interest from April through October, with early bulbs giving way to summer perennials and then fall asters and ornamental grasses.
For visitors, the most rewarding way to spend time at Edwards Gardens is to move between the formal garden sections and the adjacent ravine trail along Wilket Creek, which extends northward through Sunnybrook Park and southward toward the Don River. The combination of formal garden beauty and wild ravine landscape, accessible from the same site, is rare in the Toronto park system. The Toronto Botanical Garden runs workshops, plant sales, and children's horticultural education that enhances the visit beyond simple aesthetic enjoyment.
Frequently Asked Questions
Is Edwards Gardens free to visit?
Yes — Edwards Gardens is a free City of Toronto public park open year-round from dawn to dusk. The Toronto Botanical Garden's display gardens are also free to access during daylight hours. The TBG does offer paid programming including workshops and tours. Parking at the gardens is available and free.
When do the roses bloom at Edwards Gardens?
The rose garden at Edwards Gardens peaks in late June, typically the last two weeks of the month and extending into early July. The collection includes over 1,500 roses in hybrid tea, floribunda, climbing, and heritage varieties. The rock garden alpines peak earlier, in May.
How do I get to Edwards Gardens in Toronto?
Edwards Gardens is at 755 Lawrence Avenue East, North York. By TTC, take the 54 Lawrence East bus east from Lawrence Station on the Yonge line to Leslie Street, then walk south. By car from downtown, take the Don Valley Parkway north to Lawrence Avenue East exit, then east to the gardens. Free parking is available on site.
What is the Toronto Botanical Garden at Edwards Gardens?
The Toronto Botanical Garden is a horticultural education organization whose facilities are located at the Edwards Gardens site. The TBG operates educational programming, a library, a gift shop, and demonstration gardens. The TBG hosts plant sales, design workshops, and public lectures throughout the growing season.