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National Geographic Honors Garden Researcher for Conservation Work in Madagascar

Jeannie Raharimampionona has dedicated her life to conserving the flora of her native Madagascar. With more than half of plant species facing extinction in Madagascar, some may find the never-ending work to save them to be too daunting. But Raharimampionona can’t imagine doing anything else. “Sometimes I think of each plant species as a gorgeous,…

Take Our Tree ID Quiz

These thorny questions may leaf you feeling nuts, but see if you can conquer these ten questions about trees.

Garden Study on Biodiversity Helps Focus Conservation Efforts

Around the world, tropical forests are disappearing at alarming rates. As conservations race against time to protect these ecosystems, it’s crucial to know where it would be most fruitful to focus their efforts. Key to that is data. While it has long been understood that Latin America is richer in plant species than tropical Africa, scientists…

All About Pumpkins

From pumpkin spice lattes to jack-o-lanterns, pumpkins have become a universal symbol of fall. Pumpkins also come from an enormously diverse plant family, Cucurbitaceae, which contains more than 100 genera and over 700 species. In the U.S., any round, orange squash is likely to be called a pumpkin, but the term “pumpkin” has no real…

The Botanizing Presidential Candidate

The Missouri Botanical Garden is home to more than seven million plant specimens. In addition to its role as a research tool for botanists, it is also a window into history. Each specimen tells a story—connecting people, plants, and places. The Garden’s herbarium can tell us about the early career of groundbreaking botanist George Washington…

Scroll Through the Garden: September

September is the final month of summer, and its autumnal equinox ushers in the fall season. Take a scroll through the bright blooms of late summer and the first hints of fall color.

30 Things You Might Not Know About the Climatron

The Climatron® is an architectural marvel filled to the brim with tropical plants from all over the world. A lot has happened in the 60 years since it first opened to the public. From history to pop culture, and even an alligator encounter, here are 30 things you might not know about the Climatron. In…

Overwintering Plants

When fall approaches and temperatures begin to dip, many home gardeners wonder when it’s time to bring houseplants indoors. As a general rule of thumb, the Garden’s Kemper Center for Home Gardening recommends tropical houseplants be moved inside once temperatures drop below 50°F. If left outside, most indoor plants will suffer from cold damage. Growing…

Claude Monet: the Visionary, the Painter, and the Gardener

Nymphs of the Garden: The Water Lilies by Arslan, an exhibit inspired by Monet’s water lily paintings, Les Nymphéas, is currently installed in the Stephen and Peter Sachs Museum; though the Garden is open to the public, the Museum is currently closed due to the COVID-19 pandemic, but the exhibition will be interpreted via several digital…

Fighting for the Future of Plants in Mauritius

Ten-thousand miles from home, soaked in the relentless downpour of the Mauritian rainy season, and splattered with the mud of mountain trails, Kayla Flamm, Jean Claude Sevathian, Becky Sucher, and Andrew Wyatt found themselves peering over the edge of a 500-foot waterfall in search of any hint of the delicate, pale blue flowers of the Nesocodon.

St. Louis Teachers Leading on Sustainability

Leading on research in plant biology, ecology, conservation, and preservation is what the Missouri Botanical Garden is best known for. Less well known is the impact the Garden is having in the St. Louis community. Many teams at the Garden work in partnership with organizations around the St. Louis region to support initiatives around native…

Nymphs of the Garden: The Water Lilies by Arslan

Nymphs of the Garden: The Water Lilies by Arslan is currently installed in the Stephen and Peter Sachs Museum; though the Garden is open to the public, the Museum is currently closed due to the COVID-19 pandemic, but the exhibition will be interpreted via several digital offerings coming soon. Please check the Museum site for…