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!

Vinca, featured 8/6/25: The plants in El Jardín de la Curandera, or the Curandera Garden, have uses ranging from herbs for cooking like rosemary to plants used for salves, oils, and teas. One plant blooming in the containers right now is a particularly heavy hitter – used in life-saving treatment of childhood leukemia! Catharanthus roseus is one of tens of thousands of unique and extraordinary species that developed in the isolated ecosystem of the island of Madagascar. That evolution included the alkaloids vinblastine and vincristine in C. roseus, commonly called vinca or sometimes Madagascar periwinkle, found in its leaves and discovered in Canada in the 1950s. Single or double-flowering hybrids and cultivars in colors ranging from white and peach tones to pinks and reds, sometimes multi-colored as well, make beautiful ornamental plants with a long flowering period and hardiness in dry and nutritionally-deficient conditions. 

Known to be low maintenance and easy to grow, vincas can do well in our hot and dry climate as an annual outside. Soil should be well-drained and not over-watered, and it may benefit from some shade in the hottest part of the day but will produce fewer flowers with too much shade. When mature, they can form a bush about 18 inches tall and up to around 24 inches wide. Whether you’re taking a break in the serene seating area in the Curandera Garden or admiring it in your own backyard, let the subtle strength and beauty of the vinca remind you of the magic of nature that lies hidden in the world all around us! Pictured: hybrid cultivar Soiree® Double Appleblossom

Yellow bells, featured 7/30/25: The shape of the bright yellow blooms of Tecoma stans lends itself to common names such as yellow bell and yellow trumpetbush, but it may also be called yellow elder or esperanza. Tecoma is a small genus containing only seven species, all native to parts of the Americas. T. stans can be found from the southern United States, including New Mexico, through Central America, the Antilles, and down the Andes mountain range to northern Argentina. It has been introduced in other parts of the world, and in old Pakistani medicine a paste made from the leaves was found to be a potent topical treatment for cobra bites, binding with the enzymes and inhibiting the venom. Yellow bells is more than just a fast-growing, drought-tolerant, and pollinator-supporting pretty face! 

But it is all of those things as well and as always, native plants make for water-wise additions to your own garden. Yellow bells can be a striking part of your landscape in southern New Mexico, while in central New Mexico it does best in a container that can be moved indoors over winter or grown as an annual. They are semi-evergreen shrubs or small trees that are typically between 3-6 feet tall and the flowers bloom continuously from spring to fall. In winter, long, thin seed pods dangle like Christmas ornaments. Not only does the long blooming season make it a sustained food source for pollinators, but the plant also serves as the larval host for the plebeian sphinx moth. They’ll have the best flower production in full sun and need well-drained soil, enough to dry out between waterings. It can tolerate rocky, sandy, or clay soil but benefits from organically rich soil or added fertilizer. Yellow bells can make a vibrant, beginner-friendly addition to your home garden!

Crown-of-thorns, featured on 7/16/25: This succulent shrub from the island of Madagascar is sometimes mistakenly referred to as a cactus due to its spiny stems. And yes, it’s name refers to that crown of thorns, as it’s rumored to have been made of the stems of Euphorbia milii, which is believed to have been introduced in the Middle East in ancient times. These plants are in the spurge family, and the genus Euphorbia is one of the largest genera of flowering plants with around 2,000 species, including the well-known poinsettia! The crown-of-thorns is evergreen and can flower all year long, but it thrives in spring and summer. Like the related poinsettia, the typically pink, red, or white “petals” are actually special colored leaves called bracts that surround the small, yellow true flower.

These plants need temperatures that stay above 50º F, so they are more commonly potted as an ornamental houseplant. When indoors they can be a lower-profile 2 ft tall shrub, but given room and proper temperatures, it can also grow more vertically to around 5-6 ft or in the case of one specimen in the Desert Conservatory: upwards of 15 ft! It can be resilient and easy to grow indoors even in sandy or rocky soil, preferring dry to medium moisture, good drainage, and a sunny location. Although they may drop some leaves during the winter resting season, these plants are beautiful all year long and make a decently water-wise choice in our New Mexico climate. This beauty does have a bit of a bite, gloves are recommended for handling and it can be toxic to pets and should be in a safe location.

Vitex, featured on 7/9/25: Have you ever wondered how the Vitex Plaza, situated at the end of the Festival Green before the Conservatories, got its name? It’s because the plaza is encircled by lovely vitex trees! These Mediterranean natives not only provide a shady place to rest during your visit, but the clusters of small lavender flowers are a favorite of bees and butterflies. Vitex agnus-castus can also be grown as a shrub, like some of the other vitex around the Garden’s grounds. This deciduous plant has been known since the Stone Age and the name “vitex”, derived from the Latin vieo meaning “to weave” or “to tie up”, illustrates the long-time use of its flexible limbs in basket weaving. Another common name for them is the chaste tree, for the historic medicinal use of the berries in Western, Mediterranean, Traditional Chinese, and Ayurvedic practices dating to before medieval times.

This heat-loving and resilient plant can grow around 15 feet as a shrub and up to 20 feet tall as a tree. Given enough space, they can make a great choice for a home landscape especially as a property border or lining a driveway. It’s fast growing and low-maintenace with a naturally balanced shape that doesn’t require pruning, as well as good drought tolerance when established. With a long blooming season and a long lifespan, vitex will add both color and fragrance to your summer year after year!