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 10/23/24: Aptly nicknamed, the hummingbird trumpet has a long, narrow flower: just the right shape for their long beaks! This native plant is an important nectar source for hummingbirds in the western U.S. due to its late season blooms that persist through the hot, dry summers and continue into fall when most other nectar sources are scarce. Hummingbirds average 1000 flowers a day; the advantageous shape also keeps out a lot of competing insects, so the hummingbirds can freely dine on around 250 blooms per plant. Epilobium canum is found mainly in the arid and mountainous areas of most of the western and southwestern states including California, Oregon, Nevada, Idaho, Utah, New Mexico, Arizona, and Wyoming.

E. canum is a slender-stemmed perennial subshrub that can grow to be 1-3 feet tall, and spread about 3 feet wide as well, adding both vibrant color and a hummingbird highway to your garden! It can be used as a drought-tolerant ground cover to cool the soil and root zones of larger companion plants and reduce evaporation of moisture in our arid climate. Able to thrive in poor soils with little water (except while actively growing) and searing temperatures, this desert gem can be a low-maintenance choice here in Albuquerque. It will freeze back in the winter, but the roots are hardy to at least 10ºF. One thing it doesn't like is clay soil, but you can till in coarse sand to improve drainage.

E. canum was once classified in the genus Zauschneria, which has essentially been absorbed into Epilobium. There a few reasons that scientific names are sometimes changed. Advances in science allow us to see deeper into DNA and genetics, and sometimes it's discovered that species that were described separately are actually more related than we thought, or that species that looked very similar are actually quite different! Although renaming species can be a passionate topic amongst taxonomists, it's important that we continue to strive to better understand the world around us - and the best way to preserve it!

Featured on 10/16/24: They may not be flowers, but this icon of fall has certainly taken over the Botanic Garden!

Did you know that botanically speaking, pumpkins are a fruit? They are a type of berry called a pepo, which is also the species name for Cucurbita pepo. Cultivars of C. pepo include the common field pumpkins that have become symbols of fall, October, and Halloween.

There is evidence of cultivation of C. pepo dating to between 7000 BCE and 5500 BCE, making it among the oldest known domesticated plants! Although there is debate about the number of accepted species in the genus Cucurbita, ranging from 13 to 30, these herbaceous plants in the gourd family are native to the Andes and Mesoamerica. There are five edible species with varieties and cultivars in many colors, shapes, and sizes.

Typically, jack-o'-lanterns are carved from a variety of C. pepo called the Connecticut field pumpkin which grow more upright, giving them a flatter bottom that's more stable for display. Pumpkin pie filling, on the other hand, is more often made from varieties of C. moschata instead. Since pumpkins can range in size from under one pound to a record-breaking specimen of C. maxima (giant pumpkin) that was recorded at 2,702.9 pounds, there is a LOT to consider if you are thinking of growing your own. Ideal cultivation requires a large area with good airflow and drainage, however, if you’re short on space they can also be grown on a sturdy trellis in a vertical garden. Pumpkins require full sun, even moisture, and regular fertilizer throughout the growing season to reach their full potential. You will need to monitor for squash bugs and powdery mildew; both can ruin a promising crop within days if left untreated.They are a tender warm-season crop and the vine will die back as fall temperatures approach freezing, so be sure to count back from your average frost date to make sure you start your vines early enough in the year to have enough time for the fruit to mature. Pick your favorite variety and plan some pumpkins for next year!

Featured on 10/9/24: Displays throughout the Botanic Garden are bursting with the colors of our fall flower show! Standing tall amongst some of the arrangements are purpletop vervain. Verbena bonariensis is native to tropical South America, but is not the same as the Brazilian verbena which is Verbena brasiliensis. Purpletop vervain is also called tall verbena and can grow up to 6 feet high, ending in a cluster of tiny fragrant purple flowers that bloom from mid-summer to fall frost. Unlike other tall herbaceous plants, its unlikely to tip over thanks to stems that are thin and lightweight, but stiff.

Since it is so airy in habit, it's best planted in masses or columns and can look great in a cottage-style garden among other plants. It can even be in the front or middle of a border, since you can still see through it. Another bonus? These high "floating" attractive clusters are also a favorite of butterflies, hummingbirds, and other pollinators! It is fairly drought tolerant and will grow in full sun or light shade, and well-drained soil. Although it is not considered hardy here in Albuquerque, you may find it will come back year after year if it’s planted in a location that offers some protection in winter like in a courtyard or near walls where it can receive radiant heat.

Featured on 10/2/24: Ceratostigma plumbaginoides has a few common names, among them dwarf plumbago and blue leadwort. The family Plumbaginaceae is referred to as both the leadwort family and the plumbago family, and many species in the genera Ceratostigma and Plumbago include variations of these in their common names. The seven species in Ceratostigma are native to temperate or tropical regions in Africa and Asia, and C. plumbaginoides specifically comes from eastern China, usually found in rocky places such as foothills. This award-winning species boasts a late and long flowering season at the end of summer and into autumn, followed by red or purple leaves before they fall off in winter.

In your garden, it can make a great companion for spring bulbs, as the blanket of bold blue flowers on the ground takes over as the earlier-blooming plants fade out. In addition to keeping color going, its spread across the ground inhibits the growth of weeds or other unwanted plants, and serves as erosion control. In Southwest gardens, dwarf plumbago prefers light shade or dappled sunlight, and will do best when planted in east or north-facing locations. It can thrive in sandy, loamy, or nutritionally poor soil and has medium water needs, but can't be constantly soggy. They are typically pest-free, and low maintenance once established.