The United States Botanic Garden is an institution dedicated to demonstrating the aesthetic, cultural, economic, therapeutic, and ecological importance of plants to the well-being of humankind.
The U.S. Botanic Garden carries out this mission by:
• presenting artistic displays of plants, exhibits, and a program of educational activities;
• promoting botanical knowledge through the cultivation of an ordered collection of plants;
• fostering plant conservation by acting as a repository for endangered species.
Uniquely situated at the heart of the U.S. government, the Botanic Garden seeks to promote the exchange of ideas and information relevant to this mission among national and international visitors and policymakers.
Components of the U.S. Botanic Garden’s Mission
Value of plants to people
Aesthetic
• color
• fragrance
• shape
• patterns
• texture
• flowers/fruit
• landscapes, display
Cultural
• art (painting, photography, sculpture)
• music
• literature
• architecture
• historical events (e.g., “War of the
Roses”)
Economic
• food, beverages
• sugar, starch
• oils, waxes
• spices, perfumes
• dyes, gums, resins, latex
• fibers, textiles
• wood, paper
• other industrial products
Therapeutic
• plant-derived medicines
• aromatherapy
• relaxation, meditation
• horticultural therapy
Value of plants in nature
Environmental
• photosynthesis (oxygen)
• conservation of biodiversity
• erosion control
• air, soil, and water purifiers
• nitrogen fixers
• adaptations
Plant/animal interactions
• pollination
• seed dispersal
• symbiosis
• food
• shelter
• “web of life”