United States Botanic Garden
The United States Botanic Garden is a living museum with a plant collection dating back to the 1840s.
The United States Botanic Garden is located on the southwest corner of the U.S. Capitol grounds and is operated by the Architect of the Capitol. It was the brainchild of George Washington, Thomas Jefferson, and James Madison, who wanted to promote the importance of plants to the United States. Although it has gone through several moves, the United States Botanic Garden is the oldest continually operating botanic garden in the country and is a green oasis in the middle of the city.
As you enter the Botanic Garden, you’ll first walk into the Garden Court. This space changes the most throughout the year with special exhibits and rotating plant displays that highlight the beauty of the current season. Straight ahead is the Tropics exhibit, which is the breathtaking. A glass dome and elevated canopy walkway allow you to fully immerse yourself in the rainforest atmosphere. Surrounding the central dome are 10 rooms and two outdoor courtyards showcasing rare and endangered plants, plants that grow in a Mediterranean climate, medicinal plants, world deserts, plants native to Hawaii, a primeval garden (look for the hidden dinosaurs among the plants!), and an entire room full of orchids.
Each section of the United States Botanic Garden is carefully climate controlled to suit the plants they contain. For most of the gardens, this means humid and hot. Therefore it is most pleasant to visit during winter, when the hot gardens are a nice way to warm up after exploring the Capitol grounds and National Mall. When is is nice outside, you can also explore the National Garden, to the right of the entrance, and Bartholdi Park, behind the botanic garden across Independence Avenue.
The United States Botanic Garden is smaller than other botanic gardens across the country, but it is an accredited museum with a focus on education and conservation. It is also a rescue center for endangered and protected plants that are confiscated at the U.S. border; if the plants cannot be returned to their country of origin, the Botanic Garden takes them in and cares for them. Most of the plant collection is stored at a production facility in southwest DC. It is normally not open to the public, but an annual open house invites visitors behind the scenes to meet the gardeners and see where the plants are grown.
From Thanksgiving to New Year’s, the United States Botanic Garden is transformed for Seasons Greenings, a holiday display made from plants and other natural materials with a model train show. It is always one of my favorite Christmas activities. It’s worth checking out their events calendar for other activities throughout the year like cooking classes, yoga, concerts, lectures, and maker workshops. Watch their social media for announcements about the next corpse flower bloom – a unique opportunity to view (and smell) this interesting plant.
The United States Botanic Garden is one of my favorite spots in the city. In every season there is something lovely to look at and smell, and it is a calming break from the busy National Mall. The canopy walk is a great place to escape with a book when it’s too cold outside to get time in nature. Despite being smaller than other botanic gardens, the United States Botanic Garden is a DC gem.
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Address
100 Maryland Ave SW
Metro Station
- Federal Center SW (OR, BL, SV)
- L’Enfant Plaza (OR, BL, SV, GR, YL)
- Capitol South (OR, BL, SV)
- Union Station (RD)
Cost
Free
Hours
Open daily from 10:00 am – 5:00 pm
Length of Adventure
1 hour
