The U.S. Botanic Garden inspires people to appreciate, study, and conserve plants. Est. 1820
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The United States Botanic Garden (USBG) is the oldest continuously operating public garden in the United States, established in 1820. The USBG inspires people to appreciate, study, and conserve plants to enrich society locally and globally. The Garden is dedicated to promoting botanical knowledge through the cultivation of an ordered collection of plants; presentation of plant displays, exhibits,
and educational programs; and by fostering sustainability and plant conservation. The Garden is a living plant museum accredited by the American Alliance of Museums and Botanic Gardens Conservation International, serving more than one million visitors per year.
The deep pink bracts lift to expose the male flowers on this dwarf Indian banana (Musa mani), native to Assam. The pale yellow structures in the second are the male flowers with pollen. In the third photo, you can see the bananas developing from the female flowers. This species stays quite short. Find it in our Tropics house.
Red maple (Acer rubrum) is known for brilliant red fall color, but the colors can vary and can show reds, oranges, and golden hues like this tree in our Bartholdi Gardens. Native to central and eastern United States, this popular shade tree can grow 40-60 feet in height and sometimes even up to 100 feet. It will grow in sun to part shade, preferring moist soils.
This week, Ava and others from Applied Imagination were on-site touching up our DC landmarks made from plants as we begin installation for our holiday exhibit opening Thanksgiving Day. Here, Ava is touching up the green roof on the model of our Conservatory — swipe to see the box of small plant parts she’s working with. Our green roof is a science experiment comparing native plants versus traditional sedums used on green roofs. “Season’s Greenings” runs Nov. 23, 2023, - Jan. 1, 2024.
Look at the beautiful drama of this Bulbophyllum inunctum . Native to Borneo and Malaysia, it features striking red-on-gold colors and dramatic curls. Find it blooming in our Orchids house.
Lighting up the sky like fireworks, this sugar maple (Acer saccharum) is showing brilliant fall foliage. It is native to northeastern North America.
With the days getting shorter and the temperatures dropping, many trees are showing more autumn color, including the fan-shaped leaves of Ginkgo biloba. They are changing from green to gold, with a few having fallen to the ground. G. biloba is native to eastern China.
Happy Halloween! Enjoy the beautiful blooms of bat flower (Tacca integrifolia)! This tropical plant receives its name for resembling a bat in flight, and is native to the rainforests of Southeast Asia, India and southern China. In the U.S., it would be winter hardy to USDA zones 8-10, but could grown as an indoor houseplant in areas where it couldn’t winter outdoors. It prefers shade and lots of humidity, so placing it near a humidifier or misting frequently would help. You can find these bat flowers in our Tropics house.
Join us Saturday for a free online art workshop "Drawing and Painting Hummingbirds and Trumpet Flowers" with artist Mary Ellen Carsley, Professional Artist/Illustrator. Register at https://app.livestorm.co/u-s-botanic-garden/drawing-and-painting-hummingbirds-and-trumpet-flowers-online-art-workshop
Warm up your autumn by recalling summer garden beauty. During this online workshop, explore how to draw and paint two beautiful subjects: the trumpet flower and one of its most loved pollinators, the hummingbird. Learn how an understanding of basic botanical and bird anatomy informs drawing practice and makes work more lifelike. The workshop will explore fundamental watercolor techniques, color theory, color mixing, and artistic compositional principles. Mary Ellen will share a few "pro tips" to give your work a bit of artistic flare!
DATE: Saturday, November 4
TIME: 10:30 a.m. to 12:30 p.m. ET
LOCATION: Online
FREE: Pre-registration required. Register at https://app.livestorm.co/u-s-botanic-garden/drawing-and-painting-hummingbirds-and-trumpet-flowers-online-art-workshop
Lots of plants have “spooky” names. This cockscomb is Celosia ‘Dracula.’ Any guesses why it might have been given this name?
As Halloween festivities get underway this weekend, here’s a photo of bat-faced cuphea (Cuphea Ilavea) from our Garden. This species is native to Mexico.
A pink-peach sunrise viewed through the Garden Court
The U.S. Botanic Garden and the are currently accepting applications through Nov. 1, 2023, for a new round of the Urban Agriculture Resilience Program (UARP). Since 2020, the program has provided financial awards to 80 urban agriculture projects nationwide. Through awards of $5K-$20K, UARP supports public gardens and their partners in facilitating collaborative urban agriculture, community gardening, and other food-growing programs. Applications are due November 1, 2023. https://www.publicgardens.org/grow-your-garden/promote/urban-agriculture/
The alleé of musclewood trees (Carpinus caroliniana) provide a beautiful shaded walk in the summer and transition to pretty golden yellow tones in the autumn. This tree is native to eastern to central North America. See the sinewy wood growth in photo 4 that leads to the “muscle” name.
Always fun to show up on Jeopardy! again! Trivia and gardens — two things we love!
Sourwood (Oxydendrum arboreum) is putting on a vibrant red show with its autumn color. Sourwood grows throughout the Piedmont uplands and in some well-drained areas of the Mid-Atlantic Coastal Plain, and it blooms later in the spring than most flowering trees. Its flowers are insect pollinated and a source of highly prized honey. The yellow alongside it is American witch-hazel (Hamamelis virginiana 'Mohonk Red').
It's the season where "spooky" things are on the brain. Have you heard of the skeleton flower? It turns clear when wet! We enjoyed helping with this fun article about them for Martha Stewart.
Strikingly beautiful skeleton flowers get their name from their most unique quality: They turn clear when it rains. Learn how to source, plant, and care for these rare beauties, and add their one-of-a-kind petals to your garden.
The ripening fruits of this American beautyberry (Callicarpa americana ‘Welch’s Pink') create a beautiful ombre color change from green to pink. Soon, the entire bush will be covered with vibrant pink berries.
Almost glowing in the morning light in our Orchids house is Cattleya maxima. This colorful is native to Colombia, Ecuador, Peru, and Venezuela.
Raindrops on roses. The blooms in the Rose Garden are beautiful in the rain.
1. Rosa 'RADrazz' Knockout
2. Rosa 'KORdiagraf' Dark Desire
3. Rosa 'Gruss an Aachen'
4. Rosa 'Savannah'
5. Rosa ‘MElggili’ Peach Drift
6. Rosa ‘BUCbi’ Carefree Beauty
7. Rosa 'Quietness'
8. Rosa 'KORdiagraf' Dark Desire
Check out the beautiful autumnal red colors beginning on this sassafras (Sassafras albidum). This medium-size tree is native to central and eastern United States, growing up to 35-50 feet tall. Roots and bark have been used for oil to flavor root beer and to make tea and perfumed soap. It handles sun to shade and the fragrant flowers attract butterflies. It is a larval host for spicebush, tiger swallowtail, Palamedes, and pale swallowtail butterflies.
Blooming in the canopy walk in the Conservatory Tropics house: Tri-colored passion flower (Passiflora trifasciata). This beautiful flower is native to Peru and Brazil, and the leaves showcase a nice pink-to-burgundy color.
Blooming now: Yadkin River goldenrod (Solidago plumosa) — This rare species of goldenrod is found in the wild only along a short stretch of the Yadkin River in North Carolina. A perennial herb, this plant grows up to three feet tall.
The U.S. Botanic Garden is hiring a Program Support Specialist. Major duties will include Procurement Processing, Budget Ex*****on, Human Resources Management, Travel and Training, and Office Activities Coordination. Applications due Oct. 30, 2023. Learn more and apply at
Explore job, internship, and contractor opportunities
Peanuts (Arachis hypogaea ‘Transkutuku') have been pulled up in our Kitchen Garden! This plant has about 30 peanuts on it. In the third photo, you can see where the flowers lose their petals and then the “peg” grows down into the soil, where the embryo grows and matures into the peanut. Each plant can produce 40 or more mature peanut pods. Peanut plants fix nitrogen, taking it from the air and putting into the soil.
Plant spotlight: rock tassel-fern (Phlegmariurus squarrosus). This spore-bearing plant is a type of clubmoss from Australia that grows as an epiphyte on trees in very damp rainforests. Despite its common names, it is not a true fern or moss, but rather a unique type of vascular plant.
This Miltonia spectabilis var. moreliana is welcoming visitors into the Conservatory with a wonderful fragrance. This large-flowered species is native to Brazil.
A sunflower (Helianthus annuus) stands tall in our Kitchen Garden. This famous flower species is native to North America. It has been cultivated by Native Americans for more than 10,000 years. Today, most are grown for oil from their seeds.
The U.S. Botanic Garden and other botanic gardens are working with USDA and other partners to locate and get into growing programs the wild relatives of these and other crop plants. These might display traits such as higher tolerance for heat or drought that could be useful for breeding for resilience.
Thousands of poinsettias (Euphorbia pulcherrima) for our holiday exhibit are growing and looking top notch! “Season’s Greenings” exhibit will run Thanksgiving Day through New Year’s Day. www.USBG.gov/Holiday
This ginger lily (Hedychium ‘Tahitian Flame') is known for its variegated foliage and fragrant, apricot-colored flowers. Stalks up to 5-6 feet tall bear flowers summer through fall. It prefers part shade or shade and is winter hardy zones 8-11.
This stunning beauty is the flower of orchid Bulbopbylum macranthum, native to Southeast Asia. It is one of more than 3,000 orchids in the U.S. Botanic Garden orchid collection. You can find these blooms high in the canopy walk in our Tropics house.
A sweet fragrance is filling the air of the Garden Court from these white ginger (Hedychium coronarium). The tall stalks sport creamy white flowers rich with scent. They are native to Nepal and India (Himalayan region).
Come escape to the Tropics right here in Washington, D.C! Find a new favorite tropical houseplant in the understory or peer up at the majestic palms. No tickets required, open daily except Dec. 25.
Lamiaceae, commonly known as the mint family, includes more culinary herbs than any other family. Native to the Mediterranean region, lavender, oregano, thyme, sage, savory, and rosemary are some of the aromatic herbs in this family. These herbs are also used for medicinal properties and extracting essential oils. Known for being easily grown and propagated, today they are cultivated worldwide. Many mint family plants are on display in the Terrace Gardens special display showcasing the geographic origins of many agricultural crops. This is part of our “Cultivate: Growing Food in a Changing World” exhibit all about agriculture.
Check out this fun story about some "underrated" plants. It was a pleasure to share some of our favorites!
The multiple colors of sweet potato vines (Ipomoea batatas) are looking beautiful in the Kitchen Garden. It’s just about time to harvest the sweet potatoes, which will be donated to Food Rescue US.
Happy National Coffee Day! Coffee is a caffeinated beverage made from the fermented and roasted seeds of coffee trees (Coffea spp.). Coffee is the fourth most consumed beverage in the world after water, beer, and tea. In 2022, 22.5 billion lbs of coffee beans were consumed globally. Coffee plants are small evergreen trees that produce fruit (“cherries”), which usually contain two seeds, aka “beans”. Coffea arabica shown here is the most commonly cultivated species, used for approximately 70% of coffee production. Coffee plants produce caffeine as a chemical defense against insect herbivores.
Coffea arabica is self-pollinating and starts producing fruits after 3-4 years. The fruit starts as green and ripens to a crimson red. Arabica coffee, native to Ethiopia, is now grown in tropical regions around the world. Brazil is the number one producer of coffee in the world. You can find coffee plants growing in our Conservatory.
Coffea arabica is struggling to cope with high temperatures and erratic precipitation caused by global climate change. By understanding the diversity of plants in the Coffea genus, we may be able to mitigate these negative effects and save coffee cultivation. There are over 120 wild species of coffee - plant scientists call these “crop wild relatives”. Found in Africa and Madagascar, these wild coffee relatives could be the key to saving coffee cultivation. Some wild coffee species exhibit stronger resilience to high temperatures, drought, pests, and disease than their agricultural counterparts. From these wild species, new hybrid crops are being developed that could potentially replace or enhance climate-sensitive Coffea arabica.
Three cheers for coffee!
We’re starting to see fall color in a few places in the Garden, like the red tips of this cutleaf smooth sumac (Rhus glabra ‘Laciniata'). R. glabra is native throughout almost the entirety of the United States. Are you starting to see any fall color on any plants?
Our popular annual holiday display “Season’s Greenings” will run from Thanksgiving Day, Nov. 23, 2023, through New Year’s Day, Jan. 1, 2024, closed on Dec. 25. G-gauge model trains will run between 10:00 a.m. and 5:00 p.m. each day in the gated outdoor gardens, and the Conservatory will feature poinsettias, holiday decor, and D.C. landmarks made from plants.
On the lawn in the gated outdoor gardens, G-gauge model trains will circulate through displays of pollinators made from plant parts. These scenes will range from oversized models of native U.S. flowers, butterflies, bats, and hummingbirds to an orchid bee pollinating a vanilla orchid flower, a chocolate midge pollinating a cacao flower, a lemur pollinating a traveler’s tree flower, and more! About 75% of all flowering plant species need animal pollinators for reproduction. As a result, pollinators contribute to ecosystem health and a sustainable food supply.
Inside the Conservatory, holiday decorations will include nearly 2,000 colorful poinsettias and the Garden’s collection of D.C. monuments and landmarks, such as the U.S. Capitol building and the Lincoln Memorial, all made from plant parts. Recent additions to the collection will return, including the Martin Luther King Jr. Memorial, the USBG’s historic 1800s Conservatory and Palm House interior, and the National Gallery of Art East Wing.
Throughout the outdoor gardens, discover trees and shrubs lit with string lights, festive evergreens and decorations, and six large plant-based sculptures of pollinators on display.
A gift store run by the Friends of the U.S. Botanic Garden and local D.C. small business REWILD will offer botanically themed gifts for purchase in the Conservatory's West Gallery. Zeke's Coffee of DC will offer coffee, hot chocolate, and snacks for sale near the trains on select days.
The Conservatory is open 10:00 a.m. to 5:00 p.m. daily, the gated outdoor gardens are open from 7:30 a.m. to 5:00 p.m. daily, and the Terrace Gardens and Bartholdi Gardens are open dawn to dusk daily. The Garden will be closed Dec. 25. Tickets are not required to view the trains or any part of the USBG. The trains will run between 10:00 a.m. and 5:00 p.m. each day and may not operate during inclement weather.
The Garden will offer extended evening hours on three Thursdays, Dec. 14, Dec. 21, and Dec. 28. The Conservatory and train display will be open until 8:00 p.m. these evenings, with live seasonal music to enjoy while exploring the holiday displays and plants in the Conservatory.
Plan your visit at www.USBG.gov/SeasonsGreenings.
Plant Science Conversations break down cutting-edge plant science during casual conversations with fascinating researchers. During this online discussion, join Dr. Heather Grab in conversation with botanist and USBG Executive Director Dr. Susan Pell as they discuss Dr. Grab's research on the diverse and innovative products sourced from h**p and how one crop can have far-reaching impact.
Presenters: Dr. Susan Pell, Executive Director of the U.S. Botanic Garden; Dr. Heather Grab, Senior Lecturer, School of Integrative Plant Science at Cornell University
This program was recorded on Friday, August 25, 2023. Find upcoming programs at www.USBG.gov/Programs
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This past Saturday, the USBG welcomed the return of the Hawai‘i State Society of Washington D.C. `Ukulele Hui to share songs and dances about the beautiful flowers of Hawai‘i with USBG visitors for our program "Songs and Dances of the Pua (Flowers) of Hawai‘i"
Cattleya maxima is showing off its large, vibrant flowers that bloom each fall. Gardener Zach shares about the different forms of this orchid species native from Ecuador to Peru. You can find it blooming in our Orchids house in our Conservatory.
Plant Science Conversations break down cutting-edge plant science during casual conversations with fascinating researchers. During this online discussion, join Dr. Heather Grab in conversation with botanist and USBG Executive Director Dr. Susan Pell as they discuss Dr. Grab's research on the diverse and innovative products sourced from hemp and how one crop can have far-reaching impact. Presenters: Dr. Susan Pell, Executive Director of the U.S. Botanic Garden; Dr. Heather Grab, Senior Lecturer, School of Integrative Plant Science at Cornell University This program was recorded on Friday, August 25, 2023. Find upcoming programs at www.USBG.gov/Programs
Join Katherine to learn about the multi-faceted benefits of community forest gardens! Community forest gardens, often called food forests, have multiple vertical layers of mostly perennial vegetation, designed to mirror the structure and function of an early-succession forest. Community forest gardens strengthen communities by increasing access to fresh food, teaching people how to grow their own food, and providing a space for people to connect with nature and each other. Community forest gardens foster environmental resilience by providing habitat for wildlife, reducing the heat island effect, sequestering carbon dioxide from the atmosphere, and more. You will learn about the benefits of community forest gardens, the ecological design principles to think about, and steps for starting a community forest garden in your area. Presenter: Katherine Favor, Agroforestry and Sustainable Agriculture Specialist, National Center for Appropriate Technology (NCAT) This program was recorded on Friday, September 1, 2023. Find upcoming programs at www.USBG.gov/Programs
In our local chef series, we explore recipes from here at home to around the world and the plants that bring these recipes to life. This month, Chef Kendra demonstrates vegan cooking through a summer salad and a refresher beverage, highlighting the use of seasonal vegetables! Join us to discover dishes and cuisines that celebrate how plants shape our food and culture. Presenter: Kendra Hazel, Founder and Owner of Green Things Work This program was recorded July 21, 2023. Find upcoming programs at www.USBG.gov/Programs
Sauromatum venosum, also known as voodoo lily. This is in the same family as the corpse flower (Amorphophallus titanum) and smells like it too! (Our gardener Emily compares it more to the smell of bad breath than rotting meat). Similar to the corpse flower. this plant is also known to emit heat to spread the smell far and wide to attract pollinators. It is native to Africa and Asia.
We invite you to come explore our collections of plants from across the United States and around the world. From outdoor gardens featuring roses, pollinator plants, and native plants to indoor gardens showcasing desert plants, rainforest plants, orchids, and more, there’s something for everyone! Open daily, no admission or tickets required.
Pollinators enjoy Rosa 'Carefree Beauty’ - a USBG Top 10 rose. This rose withstands cold winters and hot, dry summers. It produces deep pink blossoms from spring to frost. Its flowers open flat, some with a decorative white stripe.
Pests can plague gardens big and small, including the collections of the U.S. Botanic Garden. Join Chelsea for a fascinating lecture on how and why the USBG uses a process called Integrated Pest Management (IPM) to battle the bugs and diseases that attack the collection. IPM uses ecological relationships — like predator and prey, or parasite and host — to target and take care of those pesky pests. Presenter: Chelsea McKinley, USBG Plant Health Specialist This program was recorded on Friday, August 4, 2023. Find upcoming programs at www.USBG.gov/Programs
There are thousands of flowers throughout the Garden in these lush summer days. Come explore plants from U.S. native wildflowers to tropical foliage and more! Open daily, no tickets required.
To many gardeners and cooks, summer is the busiest and most exciting time of the year with an abundance of fresh produce. Join the Cook Sisters as they share two recipes that showcase summer’s bounty: a Smacked Cucumber Salad and Fiesta Green Bean Salad. Presenters: Danielle Cook, Nutritionist and Cooking Instructor, and Adrienne Cook, Gardening and Cooking Writer This program was recorded on Friday, August 18, 2023. Find upcoming programs at www.USBG.gov/Programs
Lilies blooming by the dozens!
It was a busy morning among the flowers of the sweet potatoes (Ipomoea batatas 'Murasaki’) in our Kitchen Garden. Lots of bees moving between the flowers.
Looking to grow gorgeous greens and herbs year-round? In this online lecture, learn about hydroponic systems, including which ones might be a good fit for your garden. Niraj will cover growing media, nutrient and fertilizer options, growing environment, water quality properties, and testing equipment. He will also present various methods of vertical farming that can be implemented either indoors or outdoors to help maximize the use of your space. Come with questions to help you design your own hydroponics or vertical farming system! Presenter: Niraj Ray, Founder & CEO, @cultivatethecity This program was recorded on Friday, July 14, 2023. Find upcoming programs at www.USBG.gov/Programs
Beginners and experienced artists can both celebrate the glory of one of nature’s most spectacular flowers by learning how to draw and paint orchids! During this 90-minute online workshop, discover fundamental drawing skills, gain confidence in representing the natural world on paper, learn basic watercolor techniques, and pick up a few pro tips to help you capture the beauty and vividness of these enchanting flowers. Presenter: Mary Ellen Carsley, Professional Artist/Illustrator This program was recorded on Saturday, April 23, 2023. Find upcoming programs at www.USBG.gov/Programs
Friends of the U.S. Botanic Garden
1st Street SW
National Air and Space Museum, Smithsonian In
Independence Avenue At 6th Street
Smithsonian National Museum of Natural Histor
Street & Constitution Avenue NW
Smithsonian's Anacostia Community Museum
Fort Place SE
Hirshhorn Museum and Sculpture Garden
Independence Avenue At Seventh Street
National Law Enforcement Officers Memorial Fu
E Street NW
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