For nearly 75 years, the Garden has been teaching and inspiring visitors to understand, protect and preserve the desert’s natural beauty for future generations.

A compelling attraction that brings to life the many wonders of the desert, the Desert Botanical Garden is one of 20 botanical gardens in the United States accredited by the American Association of Museums. It’s the only one in the world whose mission is to focus solely on desert plants and one of only a few whose collections include a library, herbarium, living specimens as well as rare and endangered plants.
Sitting on 140 acres in the Sonoran desert in Papago Park, the Garden offers more than 50,000 desert and desert adaptive plants on display. It’s home to one of the finest and most diverse collections of succulent plants including rare, threatened and endangered species from around the Southwest.

The Living Collection contains over 21,000 accessioned plants including some in danger of extinction from the world’s deserts.

A collection of preserved plant specimens, the Garden’s herbarium serves to house reference material, to provide means of plant identification, as an arbiter of correct names, and as a databank of the diversity and distribution of regional vegetation. It contains over 51,000 accessioned specimens and houses important collections of early Arizona botanists as well as current research staff.

In addition to permanent exhibits and seasonal programs, special events and specialized tours, the Garden also offers a variety of lectures and workshops on desert landscaping and horticulture, nature art and photography, botanical art and illustration, health and wellness as well as natural history.

Stop by and take in the amazing facilities, enjoy any of the five thematic tours, grab a bite at Gertrude’s, browse the gift and plant shops, or take part in any of the many captivating activities or events.