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 3/26/25: Roses are red, violets are blue; but did you know? They come in pink, too! The sweet, distinctive fragrance is recognized in the species name Viola odorata, with odorata meaning “fragrant” or “perfumed” in Latin. This flowering herbaceous perennial, found around the edges of forests or clearings in parts of Eurasia, is not only popular for its strong scent: both the flowers and leaves are edible and have long been enjoyed fresh, candied, in a syrup, and even in marshmallows! Common names include wood violet, sweet violet, common violet, or March violet for their spring flowering season. V. odorata makes a beautiful, low ground cover in shady areas, leaving a blanket of dark green heart-shaped leaves that are semi-evergreen even after the flowering season. 

Violets need a sheltered spot in your garden with dappled sun or shade, and can grow in a variety of fertile soils, as long as they are well-drained. The soil can be allowed to be visibly dry between watering, and then thoroughly saturate them. They can be used in beds, borders, underplanting shrubs and roses, and in containers or pots. They can self-spread by runners at a moderate rate, but can be pruned in late fall. Removing spent flowers may also extend the flowering season, but as the nights warm up  above 40º they will go dormant. Whether you choose traditional blues and purples or a variation in pink or white, violets can bring beautiful color and an attractive aroma to your gardens!

Featured on 3/12/25: There’s hardly a better choice for a low maintenance and water-conscious plant in New Mexico than the many species of cactus and succulents. Echeveria is a large genus of flowering succulents, including nearly 200 species and a wide variety of award-winning hybrids, which are native to Central America, Mexico, and northwestern South America in semi-desert habitats. Some species play a vital role as host plants to butterfly species that rely on them for reproduction. Although the foliage of their compact rosettes are evergreen, the flowering season is typically spring and summer when they sprout arching stalks with small, vibrant bell or star-shaped flowers that may be red, orange, yellow, or white which can last for several weeks. Though they will sometimes produce offsets at the base, they are typically slow-growing and stay low to the ground. 

Tolerance of drought and full sun are part of what makes species and hybrids of Echeveria a popular ornamental choice for even the most casual gardeners, though they are not frost-hardy and should be brought inside for protection against freezing winters. Some species may also need protection from the hottest sun exposure here, so if you have any doubt about which species or cultivar you have the best bet is an east or southeast-facing light exposure. For the ease of relocation according to temperatures, they are best potted in plants whether you keep yours indoors or outdoors. Water Echeveria and other succulents when the soil is dry, which may be weekly depending on factors such as the container size, sun exposure and heating your home in winter, and how many plants are sharing the same pot. They can benefit from fertilizer and a cactus & succulent soil mix, but should have good drainage. You can also check the plant’s needs by gently feeling the bottom leaves: firm leaves means no additional water is needed, whereas softer leaves are thirsty. Succulents provide an easy, but beautiful, southwestern aesthetic to any space!

Featured on 3/5/25: Species, hybrids, and cultivars in the genus Helleborus are also among the first to awaken in late winter or early spring, though some even open pure white flowers in deep winter, earning the common name Christmas rose. Some other common names for the 22 species of Helleborus include winter rose and Lenten rose, though these members of the buttercup family Ranunculaceae are not closely related to true roses of Rosaceae. Species originated in woodlands or rocky slopes in Europe and Asia, with the greatest concentration of native species in the Balkans. The popular garden species, H. orientalis, is native to Greece and Turkey. The flowers of hellebores are actually five sepals, although their shape and color patterns are similar in appearance to petals. Through hybridising, mostly between H. orientalis and closely related species, the color range of the flowers can include near-black, slate gray, deep purples and plums, rich reds and pinks, green, yellow, and white. Some plants are also now double flowered. With a long flowering season around eight to ten weeks, these unique perennial blooms will greet you early and stick around through spring or until the heat here in Albuquerque begins to rise.

Hellebores grow in clumps in partial to full shade, and with their evergreen foliage they can be a great choice to fill in covered empty spaces year-round. It's considered easy to grow in darker areas with protection from high winds in moist, but well-drained, soil with a pH that is neutral to alkaline. As with all early bloomers, pollinators will appreciate the food source. One word of caution: hellebores are poisonous to humans, dogs, cats, and horses, and can also irritate the skin when handling so gloves are recommended. But the good news? Deer and other passing animals generally leave them alone! Find the look that appeals to you and add this striking beauty to your border, patio, woodland garden, cottage garden, under trees or shrubs, or even in containers, and enjoy a long-lasting burst of color.

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!