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!

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!

Peony, featured on 4/15/26: Peonies are one of the most eyecatching blooms in late spring and are a popular choice for many ornamental gardens, with cultivation derived from medicinal plants in China dating back to the sixth or seventh century. There are more than 30 species in the genus Paeonia and they are either herbaceous perennials or deciduous woody shrubs, commonly called tree peonies, that are native to Asia, Europe, and western North America. In horticulture, hybrids of herbaceous and tree peonies are called intersectional or itoh peonies. Each category blooms in succession for 7 to 10 days from late April to June, so by combining all three in your garden you could have about six weeks of continuous blooms!

Peonies grow best in the Albuquerque area with a little afternoon shade, even moisture, and a light application of organic fertilizer during the growing season. They will flower profusely in hot and sunny weather, but the flowers will last longer when it’s cooler. With many hybrids and cultivars available, you can find a wide assortment of colors including yellow, purple, pink, and white. There are several flower types including single, semi-double, or fully double and they are often very fragrant, but for a pollinator-friendly garden, you should choose less of the double flowering varieties. Tree peonies develop a woody stem and may require staking in the windy Southwest. Herbaceous peonies will die back to the ground every fall and emerge with new growing tips each spring; a single plant may live up to 50 years! On that note, they don’t handle being transplanted well so choose your planting location thoughtfully. Whether you choose one type or many, peonies can be a vibrant addition to your landscape as well as a great cut flower that will last up to two weeks in a vase.

Mexican orange, featured on 4/8/26: The Botanic Garden grows more and more lush with the arrival of spring. As you wander through the Sasebo Japanese Garden and explore the paths near the stream that runs adjacent to the pond, you may come across large shrubs with clusters of beautiful white flowers shaped like a five-pointed star. This is Choiysa ternata, an evergreen from Mexico in the family Rutaceae which includes the genus Citrus. Their common name, Mexican orange, comes from the similarity in appearance and fragrance to the blossoms of their orange tree ‘cousin’. After flowering in spring, they may also have a repeat bloom in late summer or fall. Forming a dense mound that can be between four to eight feet in both height and width, the glossy foliage that persists year-round is also aromatic. This makes them a great anchor plant in your landscape design that is drought resistant, pollinator-friendly, and substitutes some of the appeal of a citrus tree with less fuss!

Once established, this desert-adapted evergreen can thrive in Albuquerque in well-draining soil and some shade during the peak of the afternoon heat. While it prefers a mild winter, they can remain outdoors in areas where the temperature doesn’t dip below 10 degrees Fahrenheit too often. For the first year, they should be kept evenly moist, but mature plants can be a part of a water-wise garden where they receive a deep watering infrequently. They are rabbit-resistant and largely free of disease or pests, and don’t require much pruning: all-in-all a relatively low-maintenance choice for your garden. With a number of cultivars available, including the golden-leaved ‘Lich’, could Mexican orange be the next addition to your backyard paradise?