Desert Botanical Garden

A rare cristate Saguaro cactus.

The Desert Botanical Garden is a 140 acres (57 ha) botanical garden located within Papago Park in Phoenix, Arizona, USA. Founded by the Arizona Cactus and Native Flora Society in 1937^[1] and established at this site in 1939, the garden now has more than 21,000 plants, in more than 4000 taxa, one-third of which are native to the area, including 139 species which are rare, threatened or endangered. Of special note are the rich collections of agave (176 taxa) and cacti (10,350 plants in 1,350 taxa), especially the Opuntia sub-family. Plants from less extreme climate conditions are protected under shadehouses. There is an Australian collection, a Baja California collection and a South American collection, all of plants adapted to desert conditions. Several ecosystems are represented: a mesquite bosque, semidesert grassland, and upland chaparral

The Desert Botanical Garden has been designated as a Phoenix Point of Pride.^[2]

See also

• List of botanical gardens in the United States

References

1. ^ Deborah A. Starr, "Desert Botanical Garden", Horticulture, March 1994:48-54.
2. ^ "Phoenix Points of Pride". http://phoenix.gov/ARTS/pridepts.html. Retrieved October 18, 2006. 

External links

• Official Desert Botanical Garden website

Coordinates: 33°27′47″N 111°56′38″W / 33.463°N 111.944°W / 33.463; -111.944