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 5/21/25: From white blooms along the path to the Railroad Garden to a floating carpet of pink on the main pond, it's time for the hardy water lilies to shine at the Botanic Garden. The genus Nymphaea contains over 60 species, plus their hybrids and cultivars, found in freshwater and brackish water throughout the globe. Some species have become Endangered or Critically Endangered in their native ranges due to habitat loss. The flowers of cold-hardy water lilies tend to rest on the water, whereas tropical types typically hold their flowers above the surface. The free-flowering habit makes for a long growing season, sometimes as early as May and as late as the first frost. But they're more than just a pretty "face": water lilies and their broad floating leaves provide shelter to small aquatic life and cast shade that reduces algae growth.

These lilies prefer still water, but are adaptable to different water depths and pool sizes, making it a great choice for a variety of aquatic garden settings. Typically, water lilies need a water depth between 12-30 inches, depending on the mature size of the plant. Miniature lilies can require as little as eight inches of water over the top of the crown, while the largest water lilies can be submerged up to four feet and potentially even deeper as they mature. You should wait to plant them until the water temperature has warmed to 70-75ºF, and although they need a lot of sun it will appreciate partial shade in Albuquerque's 100ºF summers. It will also need protection from too much wind and benefit from an aquatic fertilizer every 2-3 weeks. Visit the Botanic Garden for a peaceful sit or stroll where you can admire the abundance of beautiful lilies surrounded by a border of other flower species in shades of yellow and white along the banks of the pond. Pictured: Water lilies on the main pond

Featured on 5/14/25: Rose lovers rejoice! From shrub roses bordering the Festival Green to the walled gardens to the High Desert Rose Garden, the Botanic Garden is bursting with many colors, sizes, and shapes of roses. It's a delight for your eyes and your nose, complimented by many other types of flowers including a rainbow of irises and water lilies floating on the pond. What better way to celebrate National Public Gardens Week?

Roses are arguably one of the most famous flowers on Earth. The genus Rosa has over three hundred species and tens of thousands of hybrids or cultivars, something humans have been working on for around 5,000 years! There are three main categories that a species or cultivar will fall into: Modern Roses, Old Garden Roses, and Wild Roses. Modern roses are among the most commonly seen today, and they were developed to have larger blooms continuously; while Old Garden varieties predate 1950 and Wild or species roses bloom only once. In addition to a rainbow of colors, there are also variations in growth habits including erect shrubs, climbing, or trailing.

In general, roses do best in sunny locations where they are sheltered from strong winds. They thrive best in well-drained, fertile loam soils. Research the best pH for your chosen cultivar, as some roses have adapted to tolerate soil ranging from moderately acidic to moderately alkaline. Though ramblers and other species aren’t responsive to heavy pruning and it can damage the rose, hybrid climbing roses can be pruned to develop new, vigorous canes and to adjust their size to the trellis, pergola, fence, or place where they are being grown. Adding organic fertilizer regularly will supply slow, steady nourishment to help the roses in your garden flourish!

Featured on 5/7/25: Throughout woodland borders in the eastern half of North America, small columns of pea-like flowers accent the spring landscape in a spectrum of shades of yellows and blues or white. The name of the genus Baptisia means “to dye”, referencing the use of several species for dye production as does the common name “false indigo” due to the use of blue species of Baptisia as a substitute for true indigo (genus Indigofera) from the West Indies. In all, Baptisia contains over 20 species and their hybrids, with Baptisia australis being the most common used in cultivation.

These tough, long-lived plants grow around 2-4 feet tall and root deeply even in poor, dry, or eroded soil. Deep roots help them tolerate drought, and they even fix nitrogen in the soil. Their long blooming period not only provides bold color to a naturalized garden or border, but certain species are excellent for a diverse array of pollinator species, even serving as a crucial host for several butterfly and moth larva and the adult form of the ashgray blister beetle. You can find a species of Baptisia that compliments your garden and add this wild beauty to your own landscape!

Featured on 4/30/25: Meet the Blue flax: This New Mexico native lines the centers of the winding walkway that guides you into the newly-reopened Heritage Farm, with fountains of little blue blooms swaying in the breeze. This wild perennial, scientifically known as Linum lewisii, comes from the flax genus Linum which contains about 200 species. The related Linum usitatissimum, with similar blue flowers, is a cultivated species that is the source of linseed oil and linen. From late spring to midsummer, blue flax flowers throughout western North America open in the morning for one glorious day in the sun. At up to 30 inches tall, this profusely flowering wildflower is already adapted to provide color and movement to your garden while supporting native pollinators!

Each plant will last a few years, but are self-seeding so they will persist in your garden without being overly aggressive to its neighbors. As a native plant it’s naturally heat and drought tolerant and will prefer well-drained to dry soil, including rocky, sandy, and lean soils. In fact, over-rich or over-watered soil will cause them to droop. It also thrives in full sun, making it a perfect choice for rocky gardens, sunny paths, and containers. All in all, using native species in your garden is greatly beneficial to both the gardener (as a low maintenance option that’s already at home here), and to the local ecosystem as a valued food source for the pollinators that share our backyards. Not to mention, natural blue flowers are a rarity and a beautiful accent to the landscape!