Botanic Garden

Opened in 1996, the Botanic Garden has grown to 32 acres of exhibits, and showcases plants from the American Southwest and around the world.

The Botanic Garden’s BUGarium is one of the most elaborate exhibits dedicated to bugs and arthropods in the country.

The Travel Channel cites ABQ BioPark Botanic Garden as one of the top 12 in the country!

Seasonal Update:

Learn more about featured seasonal plants!

Featured on 2/19/25: Among the rainbow of around 310 iris species, Iris reticulata is a beautiful little gem that provides a blanket of brilliant blooms along the ground. Sometimes called dwarf iris, they are small flowers only an inch or so across and around four inches tall. It can be found in the wild in temperate regions of western Asia from eastern Turkey to Iran. Like last week's crocus, their early spring blooms provide some of the first meals to pollinators after winter. Though each individual flower is only around for three to seven days, the gradual succession of buds means their flowering season lasts about three weeks total. Flowers can be white, yellow, purple, or the royal blue of the cultivar Iris 'Harmony', but all have a gold crest on each fall (the petal that falls downwards) and a delicate fragrance.

Though it may look exotic, I. reticulata is one of the easiest irises to grow. Not only is it a great choice for novice gardeners, but their need to stay dry when dormant and drought tolerance makes them a water-conscious choice for Albuquerque's climate. They can be planted in rocky soil in a sunny spot with good drainage, and can tolerate partial shade as well. They do need more consistent moisture during spring, but can rot with bad drainage or heavy soil that stays too wet. Due to their small size, small groups may get lost in your landscape so mass them on border fronts, along walking paths, or in your smaller garden to enjoy a vibrant welcome to spring each year!

Featured on 2/12/25: These aptly-named heralds of spring are almost always the first flower in the garden each year, sometimes even emerging through snow. Even the scientific name, Crocus vernus, references the season! In addition to providing a beautiful burst of color, they are also an important source of nectar for newly-awakened pollinators after their winter rest. The genus Crocus contains around 100 species (and their hybrids) whose flower stems remain underground, giving the appearance that the blooms sprout directly from the soil. Flowers may appear in autumn, winter, or spring depending on the species. Crocus is one of the most ancient plant names, described as early as 4th century BC by Greek philosopher and naturalist Theophrastus. Most specifically Crocus sativus, which has been harvested for saffron since at least the Bronze Age. Saffron is made from the dried stigma of this autumn-blooming species, and has long been used for dye as well as being one of the most expensive spices in the world. It may even have been used in embalming in Ancient Egypt!

It's easy to see how they have persisted over their long history. Crocuses are generally low-maintenance and naturalize well, thanks to their wide native range in a variety of habitats from woodlands and meadows to deserts at altitudes from sea level to subalpine (9000-11,000 feet). You can grow your own in well-drained, medium moisture soils in full sun to partial shade. Plant new corms, a type of plant stem that resembles bulbs, in fall after the soil is 60º or colder and water well, once. During blooming season, water if there hasn't been rain for 3-5 days. After the flowering season, leave the foliage in place until it's completely withered and yellow as it will continue to gather sunlight to feed the plant during it's dormant period so it can return year after year. Crocuses make a great sustainable choice for desert gardens since they conserve energy to use when conditions aren't ideal, and are dormant in the hottest parts of summer. If you pair a spring crocus with an autumn-flowering crocus species, they can serve as great season extenders to feed local pollinators before other plants "wake up" and after they've gone to sleep for winter. All in all, these beginner-friendly perennials can make a vivid addition to lawns, borders, rock gardens, beds, containers, or even indoors in pots!

Featured on 12/4/24: Did you know that if you looked at a photo of one species of orchid every day, it would take you almost 80 years to see them all? There are around 28,000 accepted species in the family Orchidaceae, organized into almost 800 genera. And that doesn't even begin to consider all the possible hybrids! Orchid species hybridize readily and even between different genera, so the potential is practically limitless. In the wild, they are found in almost every habitat in the world except for glaciers, although the highest diversity is in the tropics. Many countries in Central America, and cities and states around the world use a species of orchid as their national, city, or state flower respectively.

The genus Phalaenopsis, commonly called moth orchids or abbreviated in cultivation to Phal, are known as one of the easiest orchids to grow in homes and have become one of the most popular choices for potted orchids. Unfortunately, habitat loss in their native ranges has left many species highly threatened, one even believed to be extinct in the wild and has been a subject of research for Ex situ (off-site) conservation efforts.

Moth orchids were one of the first tropical orchids in Victorian collections and though it used to be thought of as very difficult to maintain, advances in research and methods of culture have now made it an accessible orchid for beginners. They are also deemed safe for pets, making them a beautiful addition to any home. They should be in indirect light, but in a window with direct light can work if there is a sheer curtain to diffuse it. The color of the foliage can help you determine the right amount: dark green means not enough, red-tinged leaves mean too much, and olive is just right. They need temperatures no lower than 50º at night and no higher than 95º during the day, but they do need a noticeable difference from night to day of 10º-20º, and prefer a humidity at 50% or higher. They are often planted in bark, as good drainage is paramount, and need fertilizer once a week or three weeks out of four. Natural moth orchids tend to bloom from winter to spring with the flowers lasting an average of four months, but some hybrids are less seasonal. Because there are so many options who's parent plants can span different genera and species; be sure to research any care variations for the individual plant you choose. You can see these classic white moth orchids as part of the winter flower show arrangements in the High Desert Rose Garden Atrium at the Botanic Garden now!

Featured on 11/27/24: As pretty as the little flowers of the Sapindus saponaria var. drummondii are from late spring to summer; the unique berries are sure to catch your eye in fall and winter! The yellow-orange fruit contains a single black seed and becomes translucent as it matures around October. Although these fruits are inedible to humans - so far as to be considered poisonous - they do have another use indicated by the common name: western soapberry. When crushed and agitated with water, the berries make a soapy lather which has been used to launder clothes throughout its native range across the southern U.S. and Mexico. It typically is found in stream banks, wood margins, and rocky hillsides - including here in New Mexico!

Being a native species, you can expect that established trees have good drought tolerance. They can grow in a wide variety of soils including heavy clay, silty clay, sandstone, limestone, dry and well-draining, or moist. Averaging between 20-50 feet tall, it can be used as a shade tree or ornamental and the attractive berries provide winter interest as they often persist all the way through until the next flowering season, in addition to providing food for birds who can stomach the berries that we can't. Other native pollinators will love the clusters of creamy white flowers during blooming season, and one butterfly uses it as a larval host, earning it the name soapberry hairstreak. In optimal growing conditions, they may self-seed and can have a habit of forming groves or thickets, so space and/or management in your selected garden should be considered.