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Fighting Fire to Save Threatened Trees in Madagascar

On the night of August 7, 2021, a large fire swept over the landscape and approached the 88-acre Ankafobe forest—one of those remaining sanctuaries for the Sohisika trees.

Pawpaws: America’s Forgotten Fruit

The arrival of September brings the beginning of apple-picking season, but apples aren’t the only fall fruit that’s ripening at this time of year. Here in Missouri, there’s a lesser-known seasonal treat that’s well-loved by those who have encountered it: the pawpaw fruit. The Pawpaw is Native to Missouri Asimina triloba, or pawpaw, is a…

A Visitor’s Guide to Japanese Festival

After a year off due to the COVID-19 pandemic, we couldn’t be more excited for Japanese Festival to return. Celebrating the history, culture, and people of Japan, the Japanese Festival at the Missouri Botanical Garden is one of the largest and oldest festivals of its kind in the United States. Since 1977, the Garden has…

Grafting the Grape: American Grapevine Rootstock in Missouri and the World

Grafting the Grape: American Grapevine Rootstock in Missouri and the World is currently installed in the Stephen and Peter Sachs Museum, which is open for visitors Tuesday-Sunday, 11:30 a.m.–4:30 p.m.; please review current health and safety regulations for visitors. The exhibition content is available online through the Garden YouTube channel and the Museum Twitter account….

Colocasia and Alocasia

Colocasia and Alocasia are two closely-related genera of herbaceous plants in the Araceae—or aroid—family native to the tropical rainforests of Southeast Asia. Commonly called “elephant ears,” these plants are cultivated around the world as ornamentals for their large, showy leaves, and some species are also grown for their edible, bulb-like corms. Colocasia and Alocasia in…

Plants of Japan

Japan has a rich cultural tradition of gardening, and the country is considered a global biodiversity hotspot. But you do not need to build an entire Japanese garden or start planning a trip to Japan to enjoy its diverse flora. Many thrive in our climate and make excellent additions to a St. Louis backyard. The…

Heat Up Your Landscape with Hibiscus

In the heat of the summer, hibiscus are popular ornamental plants that can add a touch of tropical flare to any landscape. The genus Hibiscus includes more than 300 species, including two that are native to Missouri. Hibiscus History These plants have a long history of cultivation, beginning in the 17th century when hibiscus from…

All About Galls

During the spring and summer, the Kemper Center for Home Gardening often get questions about galls, or growths found on trees and other plants. People want to know what they are, and what to do about them. The following information will tell you all you need to know about galls. What are galls? Galls are…

A Commitment to Diversity and Inclusion at the Garden

One year ago this week, Missouri Botanical Garden President Dr. Peter Wyse Jackson shared the commitment of the Garden to create an inclusive and welcoming community within the Garden and the communities we serve and work in in order to further the mission of the Garden, “to discover and share knowledge about plants and their…

Green Living Festival | Sustainable — Useful — Fun! for 20 Years

We celebrate Earth Day every April 22. On a chilly September day in 2001, an Energy Festival in mid-town St. Louis anchored the other side of the year. One “green” event in spring, one in fall. For a while, that was it! On June 2, 3, and 4, 2021, the Green Living Festival carries this…

Dr. Peter Raven Recounts the Creation of the Japanese Garden

In his nearly 40 years as Missouri Botanical Garden President, Dr. Peter Raven oversaw a period of unprecedented growth, including the creation of some of the Garden’s most beloved areas — the Margaret Grigg Nanjing Friendship Garden (Chinese Garden), Blanke Boxwood Garden, and English Woodland Garden among them. In his autobiography Driven by Nature: A…

2021 Plants of Merit

Every year since 1998, the Missouri Botanical Garden has partnered with other regional horticultural institutions to select Plants of Merit. Plants of Merit are chosen for outstanding quality and dependable performance in Missouri, southern and central Illinois, and the Kansas City metro area. To qualify as a Plant of Merit, the plants must be easy…