Branching Out

Our work is conducted primarily through three centers:

1. The Center for Biodiversity & Evolution focuses on the origins, patterns, and conservation of global plant and fungal diversity, with data generated providing a critical basis for conservation assessments worldwide.
2. At the Center for Plants, People, and Culture, research focuses on useful plants with global economic impact, as well as species used regionally by indigenous peoples and local communities.
3. Scientists at the Center for Conservation & Restoration Ecology are interested in wide-scale conservation action through local, regional, and international collaboration and partnerships.

Three core resources support this work: the William & Lynda Steere Herbarium, which houses nearly 8 million plant specimens; the Laboratory for Integrative Biodiversity Research where cutting-edge experimentation and discovery take place; and the LuEsther T. Mertz Library, with collections that span ten centuries.

NYBG is also dedicated to training the next generation of plant scientists. The Commodore Matthew Perry Graduate Studies Program, in collaboration with leading universities, hosts PhD students who integrate data from collections, laboratory, and field work, with guidance and support from Garden scientists. The program has produced 300+ Master’s and PhD scientists.

It is imperative that we make all possible efforts to study plants and understand how they might benefit our fragile environment and all its inhabitants, including us! NYBG has an important role to play in plant study and conservation, especially with regard to endangered species. Plants and fungi are inspiring teachers in their own right, and we have much to learn from these varied and enduring life forms.

The Garden’s location in New York City makes it both singular and indispensable as a center for plant science, public education, and the direct experience of nature, all necessary elements of environmental action. In the Garden, in nearby locations, and around the globe, our researchers study critical ecosystems such as our own Thain Family Forest, the coastal zones along New York Harbor, and ecosystems in dozens of countries from Ethiopia to Vanuatu.

Unique among the world’s urban botanical gardens, NYBG showcases dramatic natural areas, curated plant collections in 50 gardens, and educational, inspiring displays under glass and outdoors across our home in the Bronx.

We have reached new heights in visitation, exceeding one million visitors for the last several years. Even so, we can continue to attract new audiences, and enhance the experience of existing ones, by elevating the significance of plants and nature in our lives through all facets of the visitor experience.

Although we remain committed to visitors and stakeholders from near and far, NYBG was created within and remains firmly planted in the Bronx. Our 1.4 million Bronx neighbors deserve a safe place to live and recreate, good jobs and opportunities, and a high quality of life.

Our Bronx Green-Up (BGU) outreach program, established in 1988 to assist local grassroots leaders in creating community gardens, now supports a network of more than 2,000 Bronx gardeners. BGU’s community-led ethos has enabled the program to grow and endure over the past 35 years and will continue to guide it forward, and NYBG will continue to evaluate and increase our baseline local economic impact.

The Garden advances the public’s understanding of plants through several key initiatives that include a comprehensive Children’s Education Program. Young learners, families, and school groups find hands-on learning opportunities at the Everett Children’s Adventure Garden where teens in the Explainers Program serve as educators. With a natural ecosystem that hosts diverse plant and animal life serving as the classroom, the Children’s Education Program is inspiring the next generation of nature lovers and environmental stewards. Hands-on programming is especially paramount and impactful for local students, many of whom lack opportunities for outdoor play and learning.

The Children’s Gardening Program in the state-of-the-art Edible Academy allows participants to learn about the joys and benefits of gardening and healthful eating. Meanwhile, the Professional Learning Program for Teachers provides educators and administrators with the advice, tools, and resources needed to make science come to life in the classroom. Learning opportunities abound in the Continuing Education Program which features an array of in-person and online workshops and courses. Topics range from an introduction to plant science, to the history of landscape design, to a workshop on soap-making.

Established in 1932, The School of Professional Horticulture is the oldest and only accredited hands-on horticulture program of its kind in the country. Our students are in high demand for internships and full-time, year-round employment, boasting a 100% placement rate in horticulture careers for over 13 years! The School is committed to educating and training motivated individuals to become horticulturists of the highest caliber, equipped to succeed in green industry leadership positions in both public and private sectors.

Marrying art, nature, and the humanities, exhibitions at NYBG examine interdisciplinary themes, helping visitors delve deeper into the ever-evolving story of plants and people.

NYBG’s profile has expanded around the globe thanks to the popularity and success of special exhibitions like the long-running Holiday Train Show, and blockbuster art and plant exhibitions such as KUSAMA: Cosmic Nature. Other memorable shows have included Frida Kahlo: Art, Garden, Life, Monet’s Garden, and Georgia O’Keeffe: Visions of Hawai‘i to name just a few. We continue to seek collaborations with artists from multiple disciplines to create engaging visual exhibitions for our visitors to enjoy and remember.

This team’s impact can be seen and felt everywhere, and their skill at maintaining over one million plants can be enjoyed in our gardens, conservatories, greenhouses, and natural landscapes.

The Bronx River is a beloved natural feature of the Garden, running for nearly one mile through the eastern side of the Garden. And beyond the Garden walls, it runs for over 23 miles through the forested areas of Southern Westchester. It is also an imperiled ecosystem that supports remarkable plant and animal biodiversity and provides millions of urban and suburban residents with access to nature. We will apply our strengths in sustainable horticulture, biodiversity conservation, and ecological restoration locally to ensure the long-term health of the Bronx River.

Our collections include approximately 30,000 distinguished trees, a microcosmic rain forest under glass in the Haupt Conservatory, more than 130 maples from around the world, nearly 500 lilacs representing about 125 varieties, more than 3,500 azaleas and rhododendrons, thousands of heirloom roses that bloom all at once, and softball-sized peonies – all maintained and lovingly cared for by our Horticulture team.