To limit the risk of transmitting COVID-19 coronavirus, the United States Botanic Garden (USBG) has changed its operations. The Conservatory and gated outdoor gardens are temporarily closed to the public while Bartholdi Park and the Terrace Gardens remain open. Please monitor this website for updates to operating status. Many resources can be accessed online, including educational materials, virtual tours, informational videos, and our fall programs will all be online. Connect with resources from home at www.USBG.gov/AtHome.
Media Resources
Education is core to the mission of the U.S. Botanic Garden and we welcome media inquiries that help demonstrate the aesthetic, cultural, economic, therapeutic and ecological importance of plants.
For questions, to schedule an interview with staff, request photos for editorial use, or connect about a possible news/educational filming about the U.S. Botanic Garden, please contact Devin Dotson, below. The Garden is not available for photo-/videoshoots of topics not related to the Garden.
Devin Dotson
United States Botanic Garden
245 First Street, SW
Washington, D.C. 20515
Phone: 202-226-4145
Recent Press Releases
- Urban Agriculture Programs at 28 Public Gardens Awarded Funds for Use During COVID-19, June 2020
- "Discover the World of Orchids" exhibit celebrates plant exploration and technology, February 2020
- U.S. Botanic Garden Announces 200th Anniversary Events for 2020, February 2020
- New Greenhouse Manual released for Educators Across the Nation, January 2020
- Holiday Show Celebrating America's Gardens Opens Thanksgiving Day at U.S. Botanic Garden, November 2019
- Bicentennial kicks off with stickwork sculpture installation by renowned artist Patrick Dougherty, October 2019
- New exhibit celebrates 21 public gardens across the USA flamingo topiaries, barrio gardens, pollinator gardens included, May 2019
- New exhibit Celebrating New American Gardens opens at U.S. Botanic Garden, January 2019
- Holiday show celebrating America's train stations opens Thanksgiving Day at U.S. Botanic Garden, October 2018
- Renovated Bartholdi Park showcases sustainable gardening, achieves SITES Gold certification, June 2018
- Saharah Moon Chapotin named new U.S. Botanic Garden Executive Director, February 2018
- Large-scale art in Wall Flowers: Botanical Murals opens at U.S. Botanic Garden, January 2018
- Season's Greenings: Roadside Attractions opens Thanksgiving Day at U.S. Botanic Garden, November 2017
- Three corpse flowers to bloom at U.S. Botanic Garden, August 2017
- Updated Children's Garden opens at U.S. Botanic Garden, June 2017
- You Can Grow It! at U.S. Botanic Garden answers visitors' top plant care questions, February 2017
- Season's Greenings: National Parks and Historic Sites to open Thanksgiving Day at U.S. Botanic Garden, September 2016
- Corpse flower to bloom at U.S. Botanic Garden, July 2016
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Quick Facts
In 1820, the U.S. Congress granted land for a national botanic garden, and it is the oldest continuously operating botanic garden in the country. It is part of the Legislative Branch of government, and has been administered through the Architect of the Capitol since 1934.
The U.S. Botanic Garden is a living plant museum and accredited by the American Association of Museums and Botanical Garden Conservation International. There are three public components of the U.S. Botanic Garden:
- The Conservatory houses the following displays and exhibits: Garden Court, The Tropics, Plant Adaptations, Garden Primeval, Hawaii, World Deserts, Medicinal Plants, Orchids, Mediterranean, Rare and Endangered Species, Southern Exposure (seasonally), Children's Garden (seasonally), and temporary exhibits in the East and West Galleries.
- The National Garden features a Regional Garden of Mid-Atlantic native plants, a Rose Garden devoted to the national flower, a Butterfly Garden, a First Ladies Water Garden, and an Amphitheater.
- Bartholdi Park houses historic Bartholdi Fountain with gardens is a showcase of beautiful, sustainable, and accessible landscape design. It was renovated in 2016 using the principles of the Sustainable SITES Initiative. The accessible garden design features native plants, water-conserving rain gardens, wildlife habitat, greater accessibility, and Frederic Auguste Bartholdi's historic Fountain of Light and Water.
The U.S. Botanic Garden maintains more than 12,000 accessions, comprising about 65,000 plants for exhibition, study, conservation and exchange with other institutions. Noteworthy collections include economic plants, medicinal plants, orchids, carnivorous plants, cacti and succulents, Mid-Atlantic native plants and ferns. Several specimen date from the U.S. Exploring Expedition (1838-1842).
The U.S. Botanic Garden also serves as a rescue center for plants confiscated at U.S. borders in cooperation with CITES, the Convention on International Trade in Endangered Species of Wild Fauna and Flora.