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!

Garden valerian, featured on 5/27/26: Valerian officinalis is the “type species” of the genus Valerian, which means it’s used as a permanent example to distinguish it from other genera. The species name “officinalis” is often used to denote species that historically had medicinal or culinary uses. Some now-extinct species of Valeriana, a name derived from Latin “to be strong,healthy”, have been discovered in the fossil record from the Late Miocene in southern Ukraine, and references to living species in traditional herbal medicine have been found as far back as ancient Greece and Rome, as well as medieval Sweden and 16th century Germany. Garden valerian can be grown as part of herb gardens, or ornamentally in naturalized or cottage aesthetic gardens that will attract bees and butterflies, often serving as food for butterfly and moth larvae. The fragrance released in the early evening attracts nighttime pollinators, too!

Garden valerian stands around three to five feet tall, with clusters of tiny flowers in white to pale pink that bloom in the summer. Too much shade will cause the stems to flop, and it will need more consistent moisture than other more desert-adapted plants. It also prefers loamy soils, as it’s naturally found in wet meadows, woodlands and marshes, but it can handle average garden soils. Using drip or bubbler irrigations will help keep its self-seeding tendencies under control. You can see it growing near the Winter fountain, pictured, and in the Curandera Garden at the ABQ BioPark Botanic Garden.

Star cactus, featured on 5/20/26: The Desert Conservatory is home to desert plants from near and far, including the star cactus species Astrophytum ornatum! This species is only found in the wild on the Central Plateau of Mexico, where habitat loss and illegal collection have left them listed as Vulnerable on the IUCN’s Red List of Threatened Species. Their common name comes from their shape when viewed from above, something they share with some of the other six species in the genus Atrophytum, or “star plant”. A. ornatum is the largest of them and can grow up to an amazing six feet high in its native range, but they are slow growing and in cultivation they tend to be around 20 inches tall. The pale yellow flowers that bloom from the top center from late spring to early fall can be around five inches across, drawing your attention contrasted against the mottled dark green “body”. 

Species and cultivars of Astrophytum need at least 6 hours of sun and to be kept dry in winter, so they will do best here in a container of well-draining soil placed where they can have some protection from our most intense afternoon sun and then moved inside for the winter. In cultivation, they appreciate occasional water during the growing season but should be allowed to dry out completely in between. While their spines provide natural protection from deer and rabbits, small mammals and birds may eat their fruit and they are attractive to bees and butterflies. With over 100 cultivars of Astrophytum species, one of them is bound to be the perfect water-wise choice for your space!

Chocolate flower, featured on 5/13/26: Many flowers smell pretty, but some smell downright delicious…

Outside of the Desert Conservatory, one such species blooms throughout the summer: the chocolate flower, also called a chocolate daisy! Berlandiera lyrata, as they’re scientifically known, look like their yellow daisy “cousins” but fill the morning air with the scent of chocolate, especially on warm days. They have adapted to bloom at night from late spring until frost sets in, feeding nighttime pollinators and others until they close or drop later in the day. As the flowers age, they may turn white before dropping off, and seeds left to dry become a meal for goldfinches and other small birds. As a New Mexico native, not only can they stand up (at a height around two feet!) to our heat and drought, they play an important ecological role for a variety of local species. 

They will thrive in a sunny spot in dry, rocky, and shallow soils that have good drainage. With too much moisture, they are susceptible to root rot and drooping. This hardy perennial can even withstand being mowed, though preferably after the first wave of blooms in the summer. They make a great low-maintenance and water-wise choice for many different garden aesthetics, adding a pop of bright yellow and a heavenly aroma wherever you plant them!

Eastern bluestar, featured on 5/6/26: When you take a moment to slow down and look closer, you’ll find that many plant species with smaller, less conspicuous flowers are uniquely beautiful! Amsonia tabernaemontana is a great example, with clusters of thin periwinkle petals in the shape of a five-pointed star, less than an inch across. Naturally occurring shades of blue are less common in the world of flowers, so the profusely-blooming and hardy eastern bluestars are a popular ornamental choice for many native gardens. You’ll find a blanket of Amsonia ‘Storm Cloud’ along the path by the Railroad Garden, and the Botanic Garden is also home to two rare species in the same genus, both of which are native to New Mexico. While eastern bluestar, with a range extending from southern New York down to northern Florida and westward to eastern Texas, and its various cultivars have thrived after advancements in seed propagation techniques reduced the need to harvest it from the wild, species like the native Amsonia longiflora and the endangered Amsonia tharpii (found in only three locations in New Mexico and one in Texas) have more limited native ranges. Subspecies evolve to be specialized in their environment and factors like development for roads, oils, and gas as well as erosion, overgrazing, and competing invasive species can eradicate once-abundant plants. The Botanic Garden is a Participating Institution in the Center for Plant Conservation, dedicated to protecting and preserving around 200 rare and endangered New Mexican plants as well as many other species from around the world. 

To protect themselves, Amsonia species produce a milky sap when cut that deters herbivores and may irritate your skin, but they attract many different pollinators. They will need more moisture until established, but do well in average, neutral soil with good drainage. They also do best in full sun, with too much shade they may become floppy and need staking or more pruning. These perennials will bloom for four to six weeks beginning around April and may rebloom after, followed by foliage that turns a rich golden-yellow in the fall. Plant them in mass in beds or along your borders for a natural and water-conscious flash of uncommon color in your home garden!