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!

Boat orchid, featured 2/3/26: One of the oldest genera of horticultural orchids in the world is Cymbidium, mentioned in manuscripts from the 200s CE, and remains one of the most popular today. Their common name is boat orchids (the meaning of Cymbidium is also ‘little boat shape’), which references the shape of the labellum, or lip, and includes more than 50 species and 16 natural hybrids that grow wild in parts of Asia and Australia plus many developed cultivars. They are generally divided into three groups that vary in size, blooming season, and conditions, with the standard boasting flowers around 5 inches wide that bloom in winter or early spring. These larger flowers are triggered to bloom when the difference between night and day is about 10 to 15 degrees so while they are one of the least demanding indoor orchids, they should spend time outside in autumn until the night temperatures are near freezing or have this drop replicated. 

As tropical or subtropical plants, they do need humidity around 50%. If your household is below that, placing the pot in a shallow tray of pebbles with water at the bottom can supplement the humidity as long as the bottom of the pot is not submerged to keep the roots from rotting. They should be kept moist but well-drained, and you shouldn’t use cold or salt-softened water. They are susceptible to sunburn quickly in sunlight that is too intense or direct, but do need bright light especially during the growing season. One way to monitor is by the leaf color: in optimal light they will be a medium green, whereas a dark green indicates too much. The stems can be cut back to the base after flowering to allow for new growth, and they should be repotted every two to three years in fresh medium. With a wide variety of flowers in every color except blue and purple, you can find the perfect Cymbidium for you! Be sure to research any individual needs of your chosen cultivar, and enjoy a vibrant addition to your home or garden.

Meyer lemon, featured 1/27/26: Walking into the enclosed Orangerie, part of the new Lebanon & Beyond garden that meets up with the Mediterranean Conservatory, you’re enveloped in warmth and the delightful scent of many blooming citrus flowers. This space provides winter protection for cold-sensitive plants like the various fruits currently growing there, which includes Meyer lemons. This hybrid, scientific name Citrus x meyeri, is native to China and is more round than a true lemon, with a sweeter flavor. They are a small citrus tree that grows six to 10 feet tall and can produce fruit year-round, yielding thousands of lemons in its lifetime. The more compact size lends itself well to growing in a container that can be moved indoors in New Mexico’s colder winter climate. 

They should be in bright sunlight for at least six hours a day, but will benefit from protection from drying winds or intense afternoon summer sun. Well-draining soil that is consistently moist but not soggy is best, although soil can periodically be allowed to dry out a little. Citrus are heavy feeders and should be regularly supplied with a slow-releasing fertilizer that is high in nitrogen. Watch for pests such as aphids, scale, and mealy bugs. These can be treated with horticultural oil or neem oil during cool weather, or insecticidal soap during warmer months. Remember that even these methods can be detrimental to beneficial insects including pollinators, such as the larval swallowtail butterflies that often feed on the leaves of Meyer lemons. You should always start with the least toxic method of control and only treat plants that have pests present. 

When eaten unprepared, Meyer lemons have been compared to tangerines or navel oranges and are often also used in cooking; growing your own at home can be a source of beauty, fragrance, the zen of a little pruning, and a treat for your family!

Rose grape, featured 12/3/25: The High Desert Rose Garden atrium has been transformed into a twinkling wonderland for the Botanic Garden’s holiday flower show! Centered in a shower of cascading blossoms among the palm trees, bromeliads, snake plants, ferns, and peach and gold poinsettias sit the beautiful Medinilla, or rose grape. Medinilla magnifica is a flowering tropical shrub native to the Philippines that naturally grows in the forks of large trees, but does not steal its nutrients from its host like a parasite would. Despite this habit, known as an epiphyte, it can be grown as an ornamental in containers indoors, in greenhouses, or sheltered patios and balconies. In addition to the bright pink flower clusters, its glossy dark green leaves are up to a foot long and evergreen as long as its kept warm. With an average overall size of two to four feet tall and up to three feet wide, this beauty will catch your eye all year. 

The rose grape can’t tolerate temperatures below 59º F, or our scorching New Mexico sun, so grow yours indoors in bright but filtered light, similar to how you would grow an orchid. Insufficient light will reduce flowering, so keep this in mind when choosing a location. Medinilla will benefit from added humidity, especially when heaters are running in the winter. You can use a humidifier or set your plant on a deep tray filled with gravel or small pebbles and keep water in the tray at all times to raise humidity levels around the plant. Don’t skip the gravel as it is crucial to prevent the plant from becoming waterlogged. Medinilla can be moved outside in summer and placed in partial shade or indirect sun. However, sudden changes in temperature, light, or watering habits may cause leaf drop. Add a balanced fertilizer every month or so during the growing season to rich, well-draining soil to keep them happy, but stop in the dormant winter months as too much can cause the leaves to brown. Rose grapes require more maintenance than beginner-friendly plants, but they will enhance the indoor air quality and make a vibrant addition to any living space!

Chinese pistache, featured on 11/12/25: When you’re looking for a new tree for your city landscape, you’ll hardly find a better fit than the Chinese pistache, more precisely known as Pistacia chinensis. Native to much of Mainland China, this relative of the commonly eaten pistachio (Pistacio vera) is on the climate-ready tree list for Albuquerque and is a favorite for urban settings because in addition to many other wonderful attributes, its roots typically won’t lift concrete. Back to those other wonderful attributes…these medium-sized trees mature at around 30 feet tall and are tolerant of drought, heat, and pollution as well as being adaptable to most soils, long-lived, and even fire resistant! It doesn’t even end there: they are the most frost-tolerant of the Pistacia genus and are treasured for their dramatic fall leaf colors and scaly bark that gives way to a rich salmon color when it flakes off. The only thing they don’t do is provide edible nuts for humans like P. vera, but the fruit provided by the female tree that ripens from a rich red to a soft blue-green are a treat for birds who then help propagate the tree by spreading the seeds. So in trade, they will attract native wildlife to your home garden! 

Though they make a great shade tree, they don’t want any for themselves and thrive in full sun. To get good form and a symmetrical tree, pruning is recommended in the early years, ending up with a rounded umbrella-like canopy when it matures. Both male and female trees bloom with small flowers in spring, but only the females will produce the small berries come fall. Some gardeners prefer the tidier male tree for that reason alone, but no matter which you choose you are guaranteed an eye-catching addition to your home! The festive holiday color palette is on full display outside the entrance to the Spanish-Moorish Garden on the female Chinese pistache pictured.