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Intermountain Region

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Rio Grande Conservatory -
Rio Grande Botanical Garden,
Albuquerque, New Mexico

The Rio Grande Botanic Garden, showcasing plants of the southwest and other climates, features a 10,000 square foot conservatory comprised of two houses very different in nature.

The Desert Conservatory is approximately 2700 square feet and houses a collection of 900 species. It features plants from the lower Chihuahuan and Sonoran Deserts and includes unique species from Baja California in a naturalized setting. The Desert Pavilion emphasizes education, alternative ways of gardening and the medicinal uses of plants.

The Mediterranean Pavilion exhibits the Mediterranean collection of over100 species and includes many spectacular exotic species from around the world. These remarkable plants are native to Mediterranean climates such as southern California, South Africa, Australia, coastal Chile and the Mediterranean Basin. A fully computerized climate control system regulates the humidity in this pavilion to counter Albuquerque's normally arid climate. All of these areas share one thing in common . . . that is a climate with cool wet winters and hot dry summers. Many plants of commerce are from these areas. Some that are displayed in the Conservatory include the olive tree, lavenders, sages, an oregano relative from the Middle East, and a host of ornamental plants. Also included in the Conservatory will be several members of the Protea family including Protea, Banksia, Leucadendron, Hakea and Grevillea. This unusual group of plants is native to the southern hemisphere especially South Africa and Australia.

Learn more about the Rio Grande Conservatory at , Rio Grande Botanical Garden