U.S. Botanic Garden

U.S. Botanic Garden The U.S. Botanic Garden inspires people to appreciate, study, and conserve plants. Est. 1820
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The United States Botanic Garden (USBG) is the oldest continuously operating public garden in the United States, established in 1820. The USBG inspires people to appreciate, study, and conserve plants to enrich society locally and globally. The Garden is dedicated to promoting botanical knowledge through the cultivation of an ordered collection of plants; presentation of plant displays, exhibits,

and educational programs; and by fostering sustainability and plant conservation. The Garden is a living plant museum accredited by the American Alliance of Museums and Botanic Gardens Conservation International, serving more than one million visitors per year.

Summer Evening Hours return! Immerse yourself in the lush plantings of the United States Botanic Garden with the return ...
06/01/2026

Summer Evening Hours return! Immerse yourself in the lush plantings of the United States Botanic Garden with the return of special summer evening hours each third Thursday in June, July, August, and September of 2026. The Garden will stay open until 8 p.m. for visitors to enjoy golden hour and sunset amidst summer flowers and the USBG’s “America’s State Flowers: An America250 Celebration” exhibit along with live music. All areas of the Garden will stay open until 8 p.m. on June 18, July 16, August 20, and September 17, 2026.

In partnership with the Friends of the U.S. Botanic Garden, local restauranteur Vintage Views Bar will have lemonade, botanical non-alcoholic mocktails, and snacks available for purchase all four extended evenings. Local frozen treat vendor Here's The Scoop of DC will have ice cream and sorbet available for purchase.

Live music will be offered beginning at 5 p.m. each date by:

June: Fuzzy Goldmine, a DMV local funk band with elements of jazz, soul, rock, and a whole lot of flair. This performance will feature storytelling, funky outfits, comedic relief, and music made to move to.

July: Night Hawk, an American indie rock band with delicate guitar work, enchanting harmonies, and clear-eyed lyricism. The band blends mellifluous violin and finger-style guitar with the raw energy of barnstorming indie and alternative rock, creating a sonic palette that is as expansive as it is emotionally precise.

August: Breonna Sharde’, blending soul, jazz, and bossa nova with a vibrant hint of disco in a high-energy performance.

September: Josee Molavi, bringing evocative soul-jazz vocals to center stage in her genre-bending, artful sound – inviting listeners into a sonic universe of alternative R&B, pop, and jazz, rooted in honest storytelling.

The gift shop will stay open during the extended evenings, offering unique USBG-themed items, plants, and other botanical items for purchase. The USBG gift shop is run by local business REWILD in collaboration with the Friends of the USBG .

Entrance to the USBG is free and tickets are not required. Learn more and plan your visit at www.USBG.gov.

Register to join us online Friday at noon for a free presentation “Growing Roses Organically” - Register at https://usbg...
05/27/2026

Register to join us online Friday at noon for a free presentation “Growing Roses Organically” - Register at https://usbg.swoogo.com/GrowingRoses_May26

Join Kathy Jentz, host of the award winning GardenDC Podcast for a practical and engaging conversation around growing beautiful, resilient roses. From pruning and maintenance to common challenges, Kathy shares her personal organic approach to rose care along with her favorite disease-resistant varieties that thrive in our region.

This program is connected to our current display “America’s State Flowers: An America250 Celebration.”

Presenter: Kathy Jentz, Author, Gardener

Intended Audience: Adult All Levels

Friday, May 29, 2026
12:00 PM to 1:00 PM Eastern
Location: Online
FREE: Pre-registration required. Register at https://usbg.swoogo.com/GrowingRoses_May26

The Garden is a respite for humans and wildlife alike! The plants offer an oasis in the city and provide food and shelte...
05/27/2026

The Garden is a respite for humans and wildlife alike! The plants offer an oasis in the city and provide food and shelter to many birds, like this mourning dove sitting in front of an oakleaf hydrangea (Hydrangea quercifolia) this morning. More than 130 species have been recorded in the Garden.

On this Memorial Day, we spotlight peonies (Paeonia), which have been used in Indiana to decorate cemeteries on this day...
05/25/2026

On this Memorial Day, we spotlight peonies (Paeonia), which have been used in Indiana to decorate cemeteries on this day for many years. Indiana Rep. Laurence D. Baker and his family grew peonies on four farms to meet local demand for peonies for “Decoration Day,” when families traditionally decorated graves with peonies. Mr. Baker sold peonies at the 1893 Chicago World’s Fair, and his descendants continue to grow peonies for sale. Indiana made the peony the official state flower in 1957, and there is now an Indiana Peony Festival to celebrate this state flower that began as a floral memorial on Memorial Day.

Angel’s trumpet (Brugmansia suaveolens) belongs to a family of plants called nightshades, many of which produce compound...
05/23/2026

Angel’s trumpet (Brugmansia suaveolens) belongs to a family of plants called nightshades, many of which produce compounds that affect the central nervous system and can be highly toxic. Angel’s trumpet contains alkaloids such as scopolamine and atropine. In some South American cultures, a tea brewed from the leaves is served as a relaxing beverage, similar to being offered a glass of wine. If brewed too strong, it can be deadly. This species is extinct in the wild, but you can find these beautiful blooms in our Medicinal Plants house.

Sunset glowing through the 93-feet-high Conservatory Tropics house today. That tall room lets us grow full size palms, f...
05/20/2026

Sunset glowing through the 93-feet-high Conservatory Tropics house today. That tall room lets us grow full size palms, ficus, and other tropical trees from Florida to Fiji (and further!) despite D.C.’s cold winters!

Spotlight on “America’s State Flowers!” ALABAMA’s state flower is the camellia (Camellia japonica). The camellia was Ala...
05/18/2026

Spotlight on “America’s State Flowers!” ALABAMA’s state flower is the camellia (Camellia japonica). The camellia was Alabama's second state flower. It was chosen in 1959 after an influential group of nursery owners lobbied for it to replace the native goldenrod (which they mocked as a w**d). This beauty is Camellia ‘Pink Icicle.’

Bloom time: February-April

Swipe to see the full plant plus a custom creation of the flower made for us by artist Emily Paluska !

Find all of the state flowers in our exhibit “America’s State Flowers” in display through Oct. 12, 2026. See the full list of state flowers and a map of their locations in the Garden: www.USBG.gov/AmericasStateFlowers

Spotlight on “America’s State Flowers!” TENNESSEE’s state flower is the iris (Iris spp.). When naming a state flower, Te...
05/17/2026

Spotlight on “America’s State Flowers!” TENNESSEE’s state flower is the iris (Iris spp.). When naming a state flower, Tennessee did not choose a specific species of iris. The blue flag iris is one of the showiest native species — its scientific name, Iris versicolor, means "multicolored." Find many different varieties and colors of irises throughout our outdoor gardens.

Bloom time: May-July

Swipe to see the full plant plus a custom creation of the flower made for us by artist Emily Paluska !

Find all of the state flowers in our exhibit “America’s State Flowers” in display through Oct. 12, 2026. See the full list of state flowers and a map of their locations in the Garden: www.USBG.gov/AmericasStateFlowers

Spotlight on “America’s State Flowers!” INDIANA’s state flower is the peony (Paeonia). In 1957, the peony became Indiana...
05/16/2026

Spotlight on “America’s State Flowers!” INDIANA’s state flower is the peony (Paeonia). In 1957, the peony became Indiana’s state flower, replacing the zinnia.
Peonies are popular in this state for decorating gravesites on Memorial Day, and are celebrated with a peony festival in early May. Find many different varieties and colors of peonies throughout our outdoor gardens.

Bloom time: May

Swipe to see the full plant plus a custom creation of the flower made for us by artist Emily Paluska !

Find all of the state flowers in our exhibit “America’s State Flowers” in display through Oct. 12, 2026. See the full list of state flowers and a map of their locations in the Garden: www.USBG.gov/AmericasStateFlowers

Register to join us online this Thursday at noon for historic photos and stories -- and a new discovery! -- about our hi...
05/11/2026

Register to join us online this Thursday at noon for historic photos and stories -- and a new discovery! -- about our historic 1876 Fountain of Light and Water! Register at https://usbg.swoogo.com/Celebrating-Bartholdi-Fountain_May26

Created for America’s 100th anniversary, the 30-foot-tall “Fountain of Light and Water” — aka the Bartholdi Fountain — is turning 150 this year! To celebrate this milestone anniversary, join Devin for a deep dive into the history of the fountain, how and when it joined the United States Botanic Garden, how we care for this beautiful piece of history, and the story of the sculptor who became internationally famous for another project, the Statue of Liberty. See historic photos from 150 years ago, 3D images, close-ups of the artistic details, and more!

Presenter: Devin Dotson, Senior Communications Specialist, United States Botanic Garden

Thursday, May 14, 2026
12:00 PM to 1:00 PM Eastern
Location: Online
FREE: Pre-registration required. Register at https://usbg.swoogo.com/Celebrating-Bartholdi-Fountain_May26

Address

100 Maryland Avenue SW
Washington D.C., DC
20001

Opening Hours

Monday 10am - 5pm
Tuesday 10am - 5pm
Wednesday 10am - 5pm
Thursday 10am - 5pm
Friday 10am - 5pm
Saturday 10am - 5pm
Sunday 10am - 5pm

Telephone

+12022258333

Website

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