Tucson Botanical Gardens

Disappointed… Had we not used the buy 1 get 1 free, I would have been upset. It almost felt like someone opened up their backyard to admission to make money from their backyard gardening interest. If you do go, make sure you go see the butterfly house, that is worth 20 min of your time. I did like that they used part of the garden to educate on composting techniques, that was interesting and beneficial. I was hoping for more of a relaxing walk through somewhere you could kind if get lost in and just enjoy the beauty; however, I just found myself continuing on because we paid for it, not because I was lost in its bliss. We would not recommend for your Tuscon trip. Sorry… Keep gardening though, and consider opening to admission for donations only.

Small, easy to walk around. The butterfly exhibit was good. However, beware of the café. Service was horrible. Waiters (yes plural) forgot our order, then forgot other items requested (bread and water). Eat before or after, never at the garden.

I will start this review off by stating that I had a highly different experience at the Tucson Botanical Gardens than the usual. I went for the first time during their Luminaria Nights event, and oh my goodness… it was gorgeous! They sure know how to put on an event! It was serene, smelled wonderful (don’t judge until you experience it yourself), and was just an awesome experience. Something as simple as candles in paper bags truly illuminated the place to give it a magical feel.
I will definitely have to head back here in the daytime… but for now, my opinion is a five (and beyond) for this lovely little gem.

I spent a very pleasant morning here with my boyfriend last weekend. There is an incredible variety of plants here! I was super impressed with the cactus garden. I’ve lived in Tucson for 15 years, and there were still dozens of other-​worldly cacti I’d never seen before.
The lego exhibit is very cool – we were impressed by the variety and size there. I think our favorite was the bird-​bath, complete with squirrel crawling up the side.
But the star of the show here is the butterfly garden. The greenhouse is packed with beautiful exotic orchids, and butterflies are EVERYWHERE. Go in the morning to see freshly hatched creatures drying their wings. There are so many species on display, and the staff are very helpful with answering questions.
I think the only downside is the price of admission. It’s a little steep for a grad student like myself. But worth it, at least once, to see those butterflies.

This is a lovely desert oasis in suburban Tucson, which is why I chose to hold a surprise 50^th wedding anniversary party here. Maryann is the event director and, being that I planned the party from Southern California, she was very helpful and easy to contact and helped advise me all summer with the things I needed to get done. The day of the party when it was threatening to rain, she reassured me that we could move from the Xeriscape garden to an indoor location on the grounds. It ultimately did not rain and the party was perfect. As evening fell, with the trees in the garden lit, it looked lovely. The caterer that they use was also amazing. I will review her separately but I have only good to say about the Gallery of Food. Let’s sum it up to say that even the pickiest guests raved about the food! I would not hesitate to recommend the Botanical Gardens or the Gallery of Food for a wedding or other party.

Checked in on Unilocal and got a free admission. Even without the free admission, I would have gone though. It was my first time there and it was a lovely trip. The gardens are so beautiful and peaceful and the Lego sculptures were a neat addition. We went on a Friday afternoon and there weren’t many people around. The only down side was the mosquitos.

Just saw the Nature Connect Exhibit — it’s fantastic! Also the new Welcome Center, Gift Shop and gallery is amazing. Make sure you grab a bite in Café Botanica– the food is fresh and locally sourced.

A gem in Tucson. They have areas that foster plants that need more humidity. They are always expanding. The butterfly display is amazing, but seasonal. The negative reviews are not valid. This place is a jewel…

They really need an area for kids under 3, Its not to kid friendly for the age of my kids. I understand its a garden, and have all native plants, but I think they would have more people come if they had a place for the kids to run.
There are some good things the little sitting areas were pretty cool to look at unfortunately we missed out on the butterfly exhibit oh well there is next year!

This place shouldn’t even be on the Tucson attraction list. A total waste of time and money. They literally put a big fence around a piece of desert land and called it botanical gardens.
The place look like a desert too because we were the only ones there. I’m not surprised at all. I’m so shocked to see people giving 4 stars to this wakeful place.
Avoid at all cost.

These gardens are so beautiful and are well maintained. The docents are knowledgeable and friendly. The paths and exhibits are also very kid friendly. I highly recommend this garden for the whole family.

This garden center is nothing like I’ve ever seen before. There are so many animals and plants; it’s endless! Everything is unique and interesting. This place is perfect if your rowdy kids need a nature break. We used the buy one get one free coupon so it was cheaper. Spring and summer are the best times to go because everything is in bloom! I will definitely come back to this charming and magical place. But keep in mind that young children could get hurt by the cacti.

The Tucson botanical gardens are definitely a must see. The gardens are gorgeous and there are so many varieties of plants– it’s beautiful!
We saw the butterfly exhibit which was really neat but very humid. I was only able to stay in there for 10 minutes before I nearly died. After I wished that I had brought a WATER BOTTLE.
Make sure you CHECK IN on Unilocal when you go because there’s the buy one get one free admission.
We went to the café there and the scones were delicious and so was the prickly pear ice tea.
This place was probably my favorite thing in Tuscon besides the free Red Lobster biscuits.
Visit here and you won’t be disappointed

I loved Luminaria nights.
It inspired me to purchase a membership. I wish I had more time this holiday season to go back for more nighttime twinkle lights. I’m a sucker for that much festive spirit in one place.
The event is great people watching, and I was pleasantly surprised by the number of musical acts offering performances around the gardens. Strings, choir, hand bells, Renaissance woodwinds, multiple accordion players stroking their keys to Christmas carols…
The shops are open, which is great when you’re in the spirit for Christmas gifts, and several food vendors inside as well with everything from a kind of doughnut from Hokkaido to chili to posole. Those vendors charged for their treats but many had samples, as well. Trader Joe’s had a table where they gave out free cups of cider and pfeffernusse.
Food trucks meet you as you exit the gardens. There were cupcakes and crepes and Mexican food options ready to catch the hungry visitors.
Worry not if you have little ones with you: we had a three year-​old with us who found plenty to be pleased by between the trains and the Zen sandbox. He wasn’t as impressed by Santa but we got great pictures nonetheless. (And Santa was a very good St. Nick.)

I live in Tucson and every couple of years I visit the Tucson Botanical Gardens. I went last weekend and used my Unilocal check-​in for a great two-​for-​one discount. With the discount the visit for two adults cost $ 13.00. I don’t think I would have visited without the discount because I have already visited the gardens multiple times.
This is the first month for the seasonal butterfly exhibit. The butterfly exhibit is wonderful. It is small and compact but it was the highlight of my visit. It is easy to see and photograph the butterflies. I understand the exhibit includes a few dart frogs. I looked for the small bright frogs but I couldn’t find them. The butterfly exhibit houses some beautiful blooming orchids. The garden volunteers offer a lot of supplemental information. If you are interested in butterflies spend some time with the identification guides.
I also enjoyed the herb garden near the entrance to the gardens. It is nice to see that a large healthy herb garden is possible in Tucson.
The cactus garden is another highlight. Many species and regions are represented in a compact area.
Overall this is a small but manageable botanical garden. It can be difficult to enjoy on a hot day. However, it is nice to be able to see all of the mature plants and trees. It is a real treat.
Even in the fall there was a large variety of blooming plants to enjoy. The plants are clearly marked and labeled. I think the labels add to the enjoyment of the garden. The garden changes with the season.
I love botanical gardens. When I travel I always schedule time to visit gardens. Compared to other gardens I have visited the Tucson Botanical Gardens is well kept, but a small to medium size. It is easy to see everything in two hours. I would recommend it to gardeners and out-​of town guest.

loved everything about this place! I have probably driven by it a hundred times and never noticed it before. gorgeous grounds with really fun paths. feels like you are there by yourself even if a bunch of other people are in the gardens also. café had amazing foods — definitely try their eggs benedict or the quiche — both were incredible!
the butterfly exhibit was just lovely and I enjoyed every minute of it and I am definitely going back for the lumnarias in December

I went to see the botanical gardens last August. I recommend going some other time of the year, though: they have a butterfly house and the butterflies are not there over the summer.
Even though I missed the butterflies, I still enjoyed my visit. I came alone and basically just quietly walked through the gardens on the little paths and took some pictures. It was almost a bit meditative, just walking and enjoying the scenery. When I went, there were not a lot of other visitors, which was nice; however, I am not sure if they are busier during the spring or fall.
I found that the gardens were just lovely. They show you the local fauna, so there are a lot of different cacti (I love cacti). Naturally, in the desert you cannot expect that much juicy green, so if you are a big fan of pompous, colorful flowerbeds, these gardens might not be for you.
I am not sure I would take kids here. On the one hand, you can tell them the different names of the plants and explain plant-​stuff to them. On the other hand, the gardens really have a rather subtle beauty that young kids might not find that entertaining. I think the gardens are great if you just want some quiet time for yourself, love taking pictures of cool plants, want to go for a romantic walk/​part of a date, or take visiting friends or family.

I came at a good time of year during my work trip to Tucson — late March, when many cacti were starting to open up, and a lot of the spring flowers were out in full force. If you are a gardener, timing is nice, but not essential; if you are not a gardener, then you will want to pay attention to the seasons and not make your once-​in-​a-​life-​time trip here in the height of summer or winter.
I did arrive too late for the butterfly garden, but could look inside from a window. Seems like it would be a nice addition to a day at the gardens, but it also seemed small.
Overall, not a particularly large botanical garden. There are several sections, all rather small. Of course, the flip side of that statement is that the entire gardens can be seen without too much exertion on the part of the visitor.
If you visit many botanical gardens, this is exactly like the run of the mill gardnes you would expect — a relatively high entrance price; a series of small, but beautifully tended, gardens; and a couple of places where you can buy butterfly and insect-​themed knick-​knacks. It’s a great cause, and I fully endorse dropping your entertainment cash on ventures like Botanical Gardens. ‘Cuz, if they don’t do this for us, who will?
p. s. I LOVED the train setup.

One star added due to all the wonderful events they host. While sometimes, they think bigger than their physical location may be able to handle, it is always their intention-​at-​heart that is the biggest of all. What a treasure this place brings to our local community!
If you haven’t been before, go for the Luminaria Nights. Lovely outing in the chilly winter months that is guaranteed to get you in the mood for the holidays.

Another wonderful Tucson gem located on the historic Porter Property. I’ve visited the gardens many times over the years and am always humbled and delighted with the time I spend there.
This time of year the Butterfly Magic is open and you really, really need to bring the kids to experience this wonderful happening. Don’t forget your camera. You’ll have butterflies landing all over you!
Yes, it is indeed smaller that The Arizona Sonora Desert Museum but it is so peaceful and has so much to offer for those who love gardens, plants, and the little critters who live there. It’s lovely to visit all during the seasons to witness all the beautiful plants in full bloom. With a sweet little gift shop, expertly groomed grounds and pathways to walk, a dedicated and friendly staff to answer your questions, there’s no reason to put off a visit. While you’re there, maybe consider joining so you can support this wonderful oasis in the heart of Tucson.
Heartfelt thanks to all the volunteers and workers that keep TBG beautiful for us to enjoy year in and year out.