The city has some incredible parks to enjoy (on cooler days of course), but there’s nowhere that highlights the beauty of nature like the Houston Botanic Garden, which officially opened to the public in September 2020. Drive just 20 minutes southeast from downtown and feast your eyes on the 132-acre outdoor museum of natural ecosystems, plant species, walking trails, and wildlife. As a nonprofit, the garden prides itself on plant conservation and education.

There are over 2.5 miles of walking trails, a waterfront, hundreds of plants to admire, picnic space for lunching, rotating exhibits throughout the year—last fall, Sean Kenney’s Nature Connects Made with LEGO Bricks was very popular—and so much more. With all that there is to see and do, you’ll likely be visiting more than once. Here’s your comprehensive guide to the Houston Botanic Garden.

What can I expect as a first-time visitor?

There are a few different areas to explore. The Global Collection Garden is a three-acre area with approximately 350 different plant varieties from tropical, subtropical, and arid climate zones from around the world: visit South America’s rainforests, the savanna of Africa, the subtropical regions of East Asia, the deserts of Mexico, and many other areas, all in this one portion of the garden. There’s the Susan Garver Family Discovery Garden, which features a boardwalk maze, lagoon, and water play areas with dams and pumps for children to play and stimulate their senses. Then there’s the Woodland Glade, a shadier area that gets rented out for weddings and events.

One of the most popular areas to explore is the Culinary Garden, a full plate of plant diversity that mirrors Houston’s food scene. Every plant in this section can be grown at home and eaten for dinner. There’s also an apothecary corner that showcases herbs used for healing and therapy. For more inspiration visit the Community Garden, an area where the public can rent a spot and grow plants for a fee. The area offers a garden plot, supplies like dirt and fertilizer, and classes for learning about the nutritional properties of plants and how to grow organic produce. Even if you don’t sign up, meandering through the space will give you ideas on how a sustainable garden works.

Insider tip: download this scavenger hunt sheet to get your children more engaged with the plants.

What types of plants and wildlife can I see?

While it varies by season, expect to see a lot of Camellia sasanqua on the Asian Hillside in the Global Collection area and in the Woodland Glade, typically blooming from October through February. From late winter to early spring, Hippeastrum (amaryllis) can be seen in multiple spots within the Woodland Glade and the Global Collection, including the Bamboo Forest and Cerrado, where they grow among a sea of Liriope, a low, grass-like perennial ground cover. Iris hexagona (Louisiana iris) is a sight for sore eyes that can be seen along the Boardwalk Maze in the Susan Garver Family Discovery Garden around mid-March. Another unique plant includes the Brazilian grape nut tree. To see what’s in bloom for the season, visit the website.

According to the garden’s in-house entomologist and education manager, Erin Mills, the annual bird migration takes place in the fall, with hummingbirds being the star of the show. They arrive as early as August and can be seen through November. Fall is also the time for big swarms of dragonflies. Mills suggests watching out for asps (flannel moth caterpillars), which are abundant and have a very painful sting. Visitors and anyone out in nature in general should keep their hands out of woody shrubs and trees as a precaution (that goes for your furry friends too).

Monarch butterflies migrate south through Texas during the first few weeks of October, and while there aren't swarms of monarchs at the garden, you will see a lot more than at other times of year. Like many places in the winter, the garden can be a bit quiet, but according to Mills, there are over-wintering bird populations and local, nonmigratory monarch populations that thrive this time of year due to the lack of predators.

In the spring, monarchs start heading back to the garden to fly north. Mills says you can tell which butterflies are migrants “as they do look a bit weathered.” Birds also come through again from March through May, and peak bird-watching season is the last week of April. Be on the lookout for toads and turtles in and around the lagoon, too.

Besides looking at plants, what else can I do?

The botanic garden hosts five recurring events annually. In late afternoons in October there’s an adult-only Mixology Tour where you can sip and stroll with tasty cocktails infused with herbs, flowers, and other foliage from the garden. Tickets sell out quickly so purchase in advance on the website. March for Monarchs is an educational event for the entire family that’s designed to mimic conditions of migrating monarchs from the 3,000-mile route from Mexico to the north. You’ll also learn what you can do to help protect the endangered butterflies.

The Sunday Concert Series happens in April and May and features an array of local artists. The family-friendly event is a great cultural experience due to the wide range of diverse music, from Tejano and Irish rock to blues. In May, Nurtured by Nature is a day-long festival of discovery and celebration that focuses on healthy eating, personal fitness, and mental health. Go Bananas! in June is another all-day festival celebrating the world’s most popular tropical fruit (the garden has 11 varieties in its plant collections) via banana-related discussions, workshops, cooking demonstrations, tastings of banana and plantain-inspired dishes, and more.

For more happenings throughout the year, check their events page.

What is ROCO on the Go?

The River Oaks Chamber Orchestra and Houston Botanic Garden collaborate for this eclectic music experience. ROCO on the Go enhances a garden visit by placing 16 QR codes throughout the Global Collection Garden that feature live performances of ethereal, nature soundscapes. Bring your headphones!

What temporary exhibits are on now or coming soon?

The garden has begun hosting rotating exhibitions on a regular basis. They are typically included in the cost of general admission, with the exception of the evening holiday light show. Currently, Steve Tobin’s Intertwined: Exploring Nature’s Networks, is on view until mid-September. On October 21, Glass in Flight, an exhibition of more than 20 steel and hand-cut Dalle de Verre glass sculptures of large, realistic insects such as butterflies, dragonflies, and beetles, will be on display.

The nonprofit Open Dance Project and the garden are partnering for two days (September 30 and October 1) to present Flutter: The Monarch Butterfly Project, a family-friendly, site-specific performance that celebrates the annual fall monarch butterfly migration south.

After two years of presenting Lightscape during the holidays, something new is brewing this holiday season and will run beyond the traditional holiday light show: A lantern festival called Radiant Nature: See the Garden Glow will take place in November and continue into late February to encompass Lunar New Year (February 10) and the Chinese Lantern Festival (February 24). There are no official dates announced just yet but check the garden’s website in the coming months.

How much does it cost to visit?

Tickets on weekends (Friday to Sunday) are $15 for adults, $10 for students with valid student ID and for children ages three to 15. On weekdays (Monday to Thursday), tickets are $12.50 for adults, and $8 for students and children. The garden is open daily from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m.

Is there anything to eat and drink? 

The garden offers cold drinks and snacks, including tasty Kicpops in the Garden Shop. Taste My Flavias and Constellation Coffee are on-site on weekends. Since there are two water refill stations (adjacent to restrooms in the Welcome Pavilion and at the Susan Garver Family Discovery Garden), visitors are encouraged to bring their own refillable water bottles.

How’s the parking situation?

With the exception of the holiday light show, parking is free.

Are there any rules I should know before visiting?

Yes, in fact there are a few very important things to know before you go. Except for service animals, no other pets are allowed. Leave plant life as is and as tempting as it may be, do not pick or pull any flowers out of the gardens. Stay on designated pathways, there is no smoking of any kind, and food is allowed in the picnic area, but not within the gardens. You can also enjoy lunch at Charlton Park next to the entrance on Park Place Boulevard.

Are there memberships?

Just like a zoo or museum membership, the Houston Botanic Garden memberships are a great value, allowing you the freedom to come as often as you’d like to see the garden throughout the changing seasons. There are other perks like discounts on classes, events, and the gift shop. The garden also participates in the American Horticultural Society’s Reciprocal Admissions Program, so you can use your Houston Botanic Garden membership at more than 340 other gardens around North America.