Plant Profile: Persimmon

The American persimmon (Diospyros virginiana) is a Missouri-native tree known for its edible fruit and cultural connections.

Ynés Mexía: Botanical Groundbreaker

150,000—led to the discovery of dozens of new species and greatly expanded the botanical understanding of the plants of Mexico and parts of South America.

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…

Purple Martins Resume Seasonal Residence at the Garden

Perhaps you have seen them while visiting the Missouri Botanical Garden’s William T. Kemper Center for Home Gardening — large white, multi-compartment birdhouses on poles about 14 feet high. In spring and summer, the housing is fully occupied by purple martins (Progne subis), a swallow species. St. Louis today is possibly home to the largest…

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…

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…

George Washington Carver and the First How-to Manuals for America’s Farmers

Missouri native George Washington Carver is often well remembered as one of America’s greatest agriculture scientists. But he was also a leader in public outreach, writing bulletins that shared how-to information with farmers who hadn’t previously received such guidance. At the Missouri Botanical Garden, Carver’s legacy as an agriculture scientist is commemorated in the Carver…

Growing a Victory Garden

During World War I, Americans were called to help the war effort at home by growing their own vegetables in “Victory Gardens” that aimed to reduce pressure on the public food supply. And they answered that call, not once but twice. By World War II,  more than 20 million Victory Gardens were supplying Americans with…