The Desert Botanical Garden is one of only 35 botanical gardens accredited by the American Alliance of Museums, and a leading center for the study, display, and conservation of desert plants. Located in Phoenix, Arizona, the Garden spans 140 acres with 55 acres under cultivation, showcasing more than 50,000 plant displays and stewarding a Living Collection of 4,818 species — including 520 rare and endangered species.
The Garden’s guiding mission is to bring people together to protect and celebrate the unique wonders of the desert. Its 2040 Vision is to lead the world in desert-plant display and research that delivers real-world benefit and knowledge sharing, with a focus on ex-situ conservation, seed banking, and applied research on the Sonoran Desert and other arid-land ecosystems. The Garden’s herbarium holds 103,250 total specimens, supporting research on desert-plant taxonomy, ecology, and conservation. With more than 650,000 annual attendees, 28,000+ member households, and 550 volunteers contributing 51,480 hours each year, the Garden is also a major public-garden destination and a center for desert-adapted horticulture and education.
Founded in 1939, the Garden operates a robust calendar of public programming — including seasonal light installations, sunrise yoga, sound meditation, and concert series — and serves as a hub for desert-ecology research and a trusted voice on the future of arid lands under climate change. The Garden is supported in part through appropriations from the Phoenix City Council via the Phoenix Office of Arts and Culture.
