Desert Botanical Garden Reviews

What makes this place really feel unique is seeing how the animals of the desert interact with the plants in the garden. I saw things like birds nesting on top of cacti, and the most unique looking little creatures skittering through the rows of flora. 100% recommend.

Cool place. Who knew there were so many varieties of cactus? Gets a little repetitive after awhile but a good way to spend a couple hours.

We were looking for a place to walk and enjoy some late afternoon sun. We didn’t get the exercise we expected because we stopped so often to read about the plants and people of this area. The gardens are very well maintained and beautiful. Many of the original areas were planted over 75 years ago. The butterfly pavilion was wonderful. We walked the entire trail system then had dinner at the fabulous on-site restaurant Gertrude’s

Desert Botanical Garden....so focus on cacti. You have to love it of course. But in this genre there is probably no better! The garden is huge. Lots of explanations. We learn lots of things about the desert and its flora. Honestly great!

We really liked the cactus garden. Everything is laid out in a spacious way. And nowhere else can you see so many different types of cactus. We were most impressed by the really big ones.

It was underwhelming. Only saw one docent and she offered very little except to speak about the rainfall in November. Not much information beyond that. Most of what we saw is scattered in the wild and we saw on our hikes or is used ornamentally in the landscaping around town. There may have been other things but they weren’t highlighted in a way that drew any attention to them. We got through it all in about an hour and a half which required hanging around while we waited for our dinner reservation at Gertrude’s which turned out to not be worth the wait. We have enjoyed other botanical gardens but this was just not very engaging. Unless you’re really into botany I wouldn’t waste your money.

Mixed opinion. Great plants display. But Visitor Centre and both cafes closed

What is that all about? When I asked at admissions I was told the lower price reflected the hot summer season. No mention of closures on the website.

Why should price ( over $30) affect the availability of facilities? And $10 for an ice cream tub in the gift shop. Come off it!

Three stars to the plant life.

this is a great place, with so many plants. Also nice descriptions of the plants, so you can learn. The pathways are not all wheelchair accessible, but most are. The only bad thing we had was that if you wish to rent a mobility scooter to go around the large grounds, it is very expensive. About $40, even if you are close to the closing time, no prorating. Previously it was $25, which is about appropriate. the whole system is dysfunctional, as the rental station is quite a far distance from the parking lot, and you return it there, not at the parking lot. So anyone who can't walk well can't actually get to the rental station. It should be right next to the lot. We had to send people to get it and return it, as the handicapped person could not do it! it's a great place for an outing, but a bit difficult for handicapped people, and parking fills up early as well.

Highly recommend. All the volunteers are very knowledgeable and friendly. There’s bits of shade and seating areas throughout and water stations. I’d recommend going earlier in the day and going on a tour

Prepare for the weather. All of the garden is completely outside. Bring the sunscreen and plenty of water. The path is very walkable, and the views are amazing. The garden is a sight to see, but the mountains behind it elevate it to another level. There are water stations throughout the paths and plenty of shade stops.

Large selection of gorgeous cacti. Nice guided walks. Helpful staff. They provide free wheelchairs and rent scooters. Lots of walking. Tough on a hot day. Bring lots of liquid and wear good shoes.

I’ve lived in the Phoenix area for 10 years & have visited the DBG multiple times each year. I never get sick of it. It’s amazing no matter the time of year or day you go (but always be careful with the heat!)

The docents and staff are wonderful here. The garden was interesting but we felt it was very repetitive. It was also hot. The butterfly pavilion was a highlight. We were disappointed to find we were not allowed back in when it would be lit up.

Amazing place to visit and see so many varieties of Cacti. The gift shop was also a great place to get stocking stuffers.

Beautiful garden full of desert plants but not worth it under the summer sun. I would not recommend in the summer. Lots of walking in 115 degrees weather .

Unique botanical garden with an incredible variety of cacti and desert plants
organized very well, provides several routes all well marked
Also remarkable is the paarte dedicated to butterflies
It's nice to even wander around the various areas being amazed by the multifaceted variety of desert flora
Ticket a bit expensive, but it's absolutely worth it

I highly recommend going here while in Phoenix. My husband and I enjoyed the views. It was wonderful having employees around to ask questions about certain plants. We learned a lot while here. They also have scooters to rent as the walking can be quite a bit there are water fountains available quite frequently

Incredible plant collection and beautiful location. The luminarias special event was magical--exceptional musicians, great food and beverages available, friendly staff and volunteers, and--of course--thousands of luminarias. Don't miss it!

I loved watching the birds. The gardens are beautiful. I was able to see a Road Runner up-close. And while I was reading the Humming bird sign one landed an the bush right behind the sign.

It’s like Mecca for cactus lovers. Great display gardens and greenhouses. Friendly and knowledgeable staff. Even a gift shop. Definitely recommend.

I have gotten interested in succulents in the last few years, so finally I get to see a garden full of different kinds, most of which can not be grown in Michigan.
They have a nice mixture of pretty arrangements of succulents in certain areas, and more of a natural desert setting in others.

Beautiful and inviting spaces. Every corner invokes a sigh for the soul. We ate at Gertrude’s, which offered delicious and unique farm to table dishes plus fun beverages. I had a large selection of gluten free options to choose from. The butterfly exhibit was beautiful. We were able to witness a mother hummingbird feed her baby.

Visited the gardens in the evening to take advantage of the Asian Lunar Moon events. There are lovely walkways and lights in the evening made it even more beautiful. As part of the special event, an employee was answering questions about the saguaro cactus and was very informative.

There was a dragon dance and calligraphy, which we enjoyed.

This park is definitely worth a visit.

We're from the east coast, and this was our first visit to the desert. With only a little free time in Phoenix, we wanted to see something unique, and we are glad we chose the Desert Botanical Garden. We enjoyed a great morning there. We had no idea the desert could be so lush and green with native plants. Of course, the 75-foot tall cacti made an impression too. It's obvious a lot of care and pride has gone into this facility.

Went to see Luminarias last night. absolutely dislike it. Was expecting lighting in the garden area around cactuses, in the gardens to see them lighted at night. Few trees were lighted and couple of bands playing. Wasted our time and money. It is better to see day time to appreciate.
Not worth it at all for $40 a piece. Wish I had gone for some dinner somewhere. It should not be called Luminarias

This was a lovely desert garden with lots of varieties of desert flowers and plants. We took an optional free guided tour and were given lots of interesting information about the various plants. This requires quite a bit of walking, but the paths are well marked and level. It's a nice use of a few hours of your day!

Huge selection go cactus! Well laid out walking paths thru cactus gardens. Impressive.
Butterfly enclosure was outstanding. Approximately 1,600 in this enclosure. Bring your camera or phone.

This is a gem. Try to go first thing in the morning, it will be less crowded and not so hot. Take your time to just sit on some of the many benches and take in the sights and sounds and smells around you. One of my highlights were the ladys explaining aspects of the plants at tables dotted throughout the park. They are so knowledgeable and very friendly.

A botanical garden like nothing I have seen before. The variety and colour of desert flora and forna is a genuine surprise, and the garden presents this in an interesting and easily accessible way. Bring a bottle of water as it is understandable hot! But a wonderful place and a must see when in Phoenix.

I love botanical gardens, and this one has the additional interest of unusual desert plants in abundance. It's nicely laid out with curving paths through different displays and stunning collections. A nice open-air restaurant as well.

Perfect weather today for a walk around the cactus garden. Best desert wild flowers I have seen in a decade. A few cacti are beginning to bloom - need a few more weeks. Highly recommended. Rain has made everything very green and plump.

I loved this place! Wasn’t exactly sure what to expect… given the mixed reviews. I was very pleasantly surprised! I loved the huge variety of plants and all the different trails. Never felt crowded. And there was just enough info on the signs to be helpful but not overwhelming. Absolutely beautiful. Well worth a visit!

We visited here on 1/10/23 and spent about 3 hours exploring the gardens. We walked over 3 miles and because it was a free entry day it was very crowded.
I'd recommend not visiting on the free day, it's just too crowded.
We enjoyed all of the areas but the succulent area was very impressive.
Parking is tight on busy days. I'd suggest driving past the regular parking and going straight to the overflow lot (on the left after the normal lots on your right).
You do need to get a timed ticket to enter, even on the free entry days.
If you like desert plants this is a good place to visit.

Interesting and pretty. Unfortunately, we were a little early (early March) for the spectacular show that I was able to experience 40 years ago.

Spent about 4 hours wandering through the beautiful gardens. They are well mapped out with plenty of docents available to answer questions. Highlights were the Project 2050 labyrinth and the orchid display. The entire garden is beautifully constructed with walkable trails. It is clean and well-curated with interactive displays. Plenty of seating for those needing a rest and ample and well-marked restrooms. ❤️ the water stations to refill my water bottle.

While you are there consider purchasing a membership, visit the lovely shop, and make reservations to eat at Gertrude’s.

Loved the gardens, plenty of friendly, and informative staff . I'm under the impression everyone there truely loves what they're doing and it shows. We had a terrific morning, very accessible. If you're planning a visit, make reservation for lunch.

The grounds and plants are very well kept. A great place to see the flora of AZ. It is a hot venture since it’s all outside. There is a gift shop and restaurant onsite.

The garden was very nice and very different for us east coasters. The paths were easy to navigate with a very calm and peaceful atmosphere. The variety of desert plants was great. There is a gift shop and a restaurant (not just a concession stand).

Great day at the garden with family!
The garden was gorgeous and bees are buzzing, humming birds flapping their wings with elegance, and butterflies sipping nectar swiftly.

We enjoyed it, but we needed a little more help. SIgns explaining the plants would be great.
The docent was very informative. I definitely recommend doing that as you come in.

I so wished we had booked ahead for the illuminated tour! Nevertheless, the garden was better than I remembered it from our visit 6 years ago. Lots to see and great information boards, as well as guides, to explain the "ethnobotany". It is expensive at $25 per ticket but worth it for more than 2 hours of insight into the plants and peoples of the desert

With a very easy circular lay out, it is very easy to navigate these lovely gardens.
A surprising variety of cacti!
The butterfly exhibit is only seasonal but was very well done.
It’s free on a Tuesday so visit then.
Also make sure to stop off in Gertrude’s on the way out. Fabulous cocktails and pretty flawless food. Surprisingly good!

Botanical garden that you won’t find elsewhere. See cactus of different type. Buy souvenir that is unique. Enough things to see for 2-3 hours easily. Come early as it is really hot.

Desert Botanical Garden in Phoenix is a great place to go for a cool dessert experience. I really like the space and everything that they have available here. Very beautiful and well worth the visit.

Very enjoyable evening, started with dinner at Gertrude's around 4 and set out from there for our Garden visit at 5. We had time to stroll through several areas before sunset. We loved the Light Bloom displays, we timed our visit specifically for that and we weren't disappointed!

We went for LAS NOCHES DE LAS LUMINARIAS and we couldn’t recommend it enough.
Recommendations:
You need to buy tickets in advance for this exhibit and at this time of year (December) I highly recommend 530pm. It’s the first time slot for the exhibit so it’s less crowded and you get some daylight to see the plants. And then you get to watch the sunset and it’s absolutely gorgeous. Every turn is a beautiful photo opportunity so make sure your device is charged. Another perk of getting there early is being able to get shots with no/fewer people in them.
Review:
I think the desert botanical gardens would be top of the list for us no matter what (we love plants and are visiting from the PNW so the vastly different terrain is impressive to us). This specific experience is phenomenal- all the paths are lighted so there’s this dreamy, romantic vibe. And the light bloom installations are worth seeing even on their own. Nice gift shop, and there’s a restaurant on site.

Beautiful scenery. We made it just in time to have a docent guide us thru the garden. Ron explained the different types of cacti and the importance of them. What makes this place special is how they preserve all kinds of desert plants. Great explanations of how the natives really knew everything about their surroundings and how they maximized the use of plants and trees to survive. Must see while in Phoenix!

This is such a hidden gem in Phoenix.

Make a day of it, take your time, enjoy a beautiful lunch at Gertrude’s and wander through at your leisure. So much to take in.

Hands down the best gift shop anywhere in Metro Phoenix, and the best place for souvenirs in the valley

Nice plantations and many local things to see . Also have kept cool zones for taking rest and cooling down. Also at multiple locations there are these cool water machines for drinking

This is a great place to enjoy the beauty of the Sonoran desert without having to leave the city. You can spend as little time or as much time as you want here. If you go in the summer, make sure to have water and sun protection.

We came for an afternoon full of outstanding views and great impressions.

A wonderful garden with varying exhibitions which you should not miss.

On top all service members were very friendly, knowledgeable and helpful.

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It's a nice garden overall, highlighting mostly various cacti, but it isn't anything you could not see on a regular hike out in the Sonoran desert or multiple places along the outskirt roads. It's pretty pricy on top of that, so overall, if you're going hiking or doing any outside nature activities, you can skip this.

There is so much to see and enjoy in the botanical gardens you can spend as much time as you choose exploring all the separate garden areas. The maps are definitely helpful because it is a large area. There are plenty of places to sit, enjoy the view and relax too. Everything has panels and there is so much information throughout the gardens. We visited on a weekday afternoon in February and the Light Bloom was included. After sunset it was spectacular seeing the tricky light displays throughout the gardens. Very fun experience.

Wow! Such a beautiful and serene place. I left more connected to nature. There are free tours with amazing and knowledgeable people. The place is warm and inviting. I loved it!

The scenery was beautiful if you like plants. This is certainly a one time thing for me. The trails are poorly marked, making the map confusing. I only paid the $30.00 to do this because of the rating. Over rated.

Amazing place, very beautiful and nice view.... I suggest everyone to visit the place... Especially with

Came here to see lots of cacti and succulents and was not disappointed. This place is broken up into different sections but all are linked by common paths. The are also little nooks and crannies to really wander and explore. The weather was perfect this time of year. We strolled and saw so many varieties. Learned many interesting facts about the saguaro from an employee. I think they may have 50 different kinds of prickly pear. There are benches and restrooms throughout so take your time and enjoy nature. Don't rush though it.

Well planned and laid out. Great art among the lovely plants and well taken care of. It is a joy to wander through and read all the great descriptions of plants.

Lovely walk through the gardens. It has a wonderful setup. I was there many years ago and couldn't believe the updates. Nice gift shop at entrance. Good signage on many of the specimens. We went early on a Sunday morning (9:30am/early April) and it was quite crowded. Recommend maybe earlier arrival. Many volunteers posted throughout the garden, so helpful and engaging. Really enjoyed chatting with several.

We were in Phoenix to explore a warmer climate for nearly a week in April. Our elementary-aged kids had never seen a cactus before except at the hardware store, so we decided to dive into the world of cacti and succulents with a morning at the Desert Botanical Garden. I went in unsure how much interest it would have to our kids and thinking that it would be okay if we just spent 45 mins there. We wound up spending three hours -- walking the trails, playing around with some artsy photography of gorgeous cacti, talking with the volunteers, learning, and visiting the butterfly garden. The volunteers were especially impressive with kids -- they knew just what to say and how to say it to capture curiosity! I was amazed at how gorgeous and well-designed the gardens were, how accessible it was to all of us, and was SO glad that this was part of our trip. I wholeheartedly recommend this as a stop in anyone's travels!

This is a terrific outing, but don't go in the stifling heat of Summer.
They had a Chilhooley exhibit while we were there, and they mounted it beautifully, with some parts indoors and some outdoors in the gardens. I'd go back for almost any special exhibition.

I feel like I came away with an understanding of desert plants. The oldest of the plantings were amazing, the descriptions were easy to understand, and the diversity of vegetation was amazing. Following the paths was challenging and the sculptures was distracting.

What an enjoyable experience. Being from the Midwest casually walking and learning about the different plants that grow in the desert was fun. The butterfly exhibit was especially fun. Bring a camera.

I went there yesterday, january 8th, and I was really disappointed. $25 flushed down the toilet. Indications to go around were a mess. Very very boring and nothing special about this botanical garden, I have seen definetely so much better botanical gardens around this beautiful world. Found some rude staff too. I probably was unlucky but in one water refill station I got something weird in my water probably chlorine or worse (smelling like actual plastic) and I got really sick. You are lucky that im not american because I would have sued you right away!

If you want to learn about desert plants and see them in their natural habitat, Desert Botanical Garden is a must see! Plan on plenty of time. We were there for almost two hours, and still didn't see everything. We visited shortly before most of the plants bloomed for the spring and summer, but there were a few that showed some color.
I'm sorry that we didn't have time to go into the shop, because I'll bet that there are all kinds of interesting books, etc.

My daughter and I visited the gardens during the late afternoon, not by choice but by circumstance. We arrived in the Phoenix area around 3pm. It was 109 F and sunny. We were able to spend about an hour walking around most of the gardens, viewing the quails, chipmunks, gophers, and butterflies. My daughter and I would have loved to stay longer, but the heat was getting to be too much. There were air conditioned buildings to cool off in, but we didn't want to duck in and out the whole time we visited so we tried to muscle through it. We enjoyed all the plants and flowers and if we are ever back in the area (and if it is cooler) we will finish touring.

The gardens offer a chance to stroll around and enjoy yourself in the desert. They have a multitude of displays including plant life from the 4 deserts in the southwest US and Northern Mexico. Everyone should visit when in Phoenix.

Pretty neat walk if you are into that sort of thing. Amazing display of cactus, desert flowers, etc. my wife really loved it and would go back, I am a one and done on this one. I did enjoy it, but do not need to go back

Great day to spend outside and learn about every kind of cactus. I had no idea! Grounds are beautiful and at and staff is very knowledgeable and helpful.

Desert Botanical Gardens is an amazing natural attraction that no one interested in plants or photography should miss. The park is clearly planned, with five thematic trails each featuring features that give a deeper understanding of how desert plants survive in extreme environments. Especially the huge spider hand shaped like coconut is too characteristic to impress. The park is rich in information and features interactive maps and signs for self-service visits. It is recommended to choose to come in the morning or evening, avoid sunbathing and remember to bring a hat and water. The admission fee is a bit high, but the maintenance quality is good and very worth it. The overall atmosphere is peaceful and is a good place to stay away from the city and experience the beauty of the desert. In the future, if there is a chance, hope to visit again when the spring flowers flourish!

Excellent way to see a sampling off the desert flora without having to hike over extreme distances. Very knowledgable staff and friendly.

It was very beautiful and peaceful but the entry price of $25 is very high. I’m not sure why it has to cost that much. You have access to several very short trails and a small indoor art exhibit.

We’ve never been to a botanical garden so why not start with a desert botanical garden! Beautiful walk and layout! So many varieties of cactus! Very friendly staff! Check out the butterfly pavilion!

Excellent place! Who knew there was so many kinds of Cactus? Lovely paved easy walks with plenty of water drinking fountains. I saw hummingbirds, butterflies, ground squirrels, orchids and many other drought resistant flowers and plants. Totally recommend it.

Enjoyable visit. Very interesting park with lots to see. We spent about two hours touring the site and enjoyed the different landscape than we are used to.

The garden was beautiful and informative and a great way to enjoy the AZ weather. Bonus they currently have a Botero art exhibit that was outstanding! I spent about 4 leisurely hours wandering, learning, and enjoying the views.

A great variety of desert life in all its forms. It’s also spread out well so even on busy days you don’t feel crowded. The butterfly house was a pleasant surprise, especially getting checked out to make sure no butterflies were hiding on you when you left the building. I appreciated the well placed water fountains to keep everyone hydrated while out in the heat.

We enjoyed this botanical garden. I especially liked the Sonoran desert lop and the giant cactus planted in 1939. We spent a couple of hours here. It was already quite busy when we arrived at 10:30 a.m.

The gardens were beautiful and accessible. The docents were well informed and friendly. Don't miss Gertrude's restaurant. Best hamburger ever.

The gardens and species therein are well marked. It is simply amazing how many cacti and other desert flora exist. So much historical information about the beginning of the gardens, too.
We went during the Light Bloom exhibition. What a magnificent display. It only runs until the end of March so if you’re nearby, it’s a must see.

I was in the area on business and had a free evening before my flight. I stopped by the Garden about 90 minutes before sunset, unsure what to expect. At $22, the entrance fee seemed steep, but it was worth every penny. There are endless well-maintained paths, educational information everywhere, many places to sit and enjoy the scenery, and water stations at regular intervals. I went up the Sonoran Desert Loop right at sunset and it was truly magical.

A place so nice we went there twice... once during the day, and once during the evening "Luminaria" event, which was complete with live music venues, refreshments, and stunning light displays.

Been to the Botanical Gardens on several trips to Scottsdale and always and outstanding time. Enjoyed their Christmas exhibits this year with very interesting visual displays and music. Always a great time and outstanding grounds. Highly recommend.

Great place! A must visit if you are in AZ. Start early as the temp. reached 100+ today. Take water. Fill stations along the trails.

It was my first time to the Desert Botanical Garden and I can definitely recommend going there when visiting Phoenix. The area is wonderful to spend time in and there is a lot to see & explore! You should bring 2-3 hrs of your time!

Unique and beautiful botanical garden. Best to visit early in the day although I expect the early evening would be great as well. Butterfly exhibit was mesmerizing!

We spent a good 6 hours exploring the gardens at a leisurely pace on a vacation in November. We were able to hike all the trails and see everything, and had a nice lunch there as well. The docents were very engaging with our 6 yo daughter, and she loved seeing all the exhibits and especially the Butterfly House. She also played at the Cactus Clubhouse for a couple of hours which was a really fun experience for her. The Desert Pulse exhibits were a bit funky, but unique. Don't miss this place when you're in Phoenix!

Gardens were absolutely beautiful,and our Docent, Bob, was very knowledgeable. A strong recommendation for any one interested in the desert garden and its 87 year history, this is a must!

2/21/25

With over 140 acres, arranged in selected biomes, the claim is that over 50,000 plants indigenous to the area can be seen. The gardens of cacti and succulents were very viewed via paved walkways. All were very pretty. We saw some amazingly tall saguaro cacti. Very enjoyable morning.

Such an amazing collection of cacti! I fell in love with it! We didn't get to the longer hike's, but toured the main garden. Also stopped in at the souvenir shop & the restaurant. Awesome! I didn't know that some of the cacti can be added to delicious dishes! We'll definitely go back for a longer look.

Had a great time visiting at night for the luminaries at the Desert Botanical Garden. Amazing lights and trees.

This is a beautiful location and easy to walk around for everyone. Make sure to have water during the hotter months, but totally worth the visit.

Did this as a short stop on a broader trip to Arizona. Very beautiful and well maintained. For us, it was the first time seeing full size Saguaro cacti in real life and this place definitely did not disappoint.

Can’t really comment on the price since we visited on community day (by pure chance) and we got free entry.

We went on a Saturday and were surprised by how busy it was. It was too early in the season to see cactus blooms, but it was still worth the trip. It was a bit pricey though. The entrance fee was $69.90 for two adults, and we spent about 2 hours walking around checking everything out.

There was an amazing array of dessert plants! There are free guided walking tours available on a frequent basis -- we took one and it was very informative. There is much variety and lots to see -- there was an artist's work on display among the desert plants when we were there (probably changed out on a rotating basis). They have some places to eat as well, so we enjoyed lunch while there.

Beautiful desert garden, worth a visit when in Phoenix. Great learning experience especially if you came from a place on earth with a different flora.

Wonderful very pleasant to walk through. Lots of history and differing landscapes with all types of desert plants from around the world have been brought here and made into a wonderful tour

Disappointed. Maybe the time of year(December) it wasn't vibrant at all. Took us a little over an hour to walk through. Trails closed off. For the ticket price, it wasn't worth it! Would not recommend.

This is a beautiful scenery place with lots of walking and things to do. There weren’t a lot of activities that weren’t active when we went but I’d imagine it would only enhance the trip. Would go back for another trip but plan around sunset as to be there to watch it fade into the mountains.

Amazing gardens and outstanding views!!
I was in heaven seeing all the various cactuses.

Great photo opportunities at every turn.

It’s a really pretty place but it’s February and the flowers aren’t bloomed yet so think about the season we are in before coming.

This was a delightful visit! I had no idea there were so many different desert plants! All shapes and sizes and textures!! They are all just gorgeous and very well maintained! We arrived just before sunset and got some amazing pics - would love to come back again someday!

This park is on the south side of Phoenix, and is easy to get to via the Interstate. There's lots of parking, and the park is big, so it never felt crowded. There are multiple water fountains throughout the park, and the trails are easily navigated. We enjoyed the butterfly tent, and even saw a condor on a nearby mountain top! The variety of plants is incredible, and well worth the 2-3 hours you're liable to spend here. Put it on your list of stops in this area!

Little disappointed about this garden. Nothing different than you can see by driving an a Desert road. No variation of plants, no trees.

It's sad what they've done to this place. 15 20 years ago there was no artwork. It makes it look so cheap ruins the desert look. Why would you put that crap here. I go to the desert botanical garden to see desert plants not to see somebody's artwork. And the blue animal artwork?? Why?? Somebody got probably paid pretty good for that crap. It doesn't belong here.

The garden is beautiful. There were volunteers and guides to answer our questions. We were told not to miss the “crown cactus” and were even shown where it was on the map. Great exposure to the various cacti.

We went to the Noche de La luminaries event
Absolutely stunning! Musicians, lighting, beautiful night walk through the amazing gardens

The garden is thoughtfully laid out with gorgeous landscape and I had an amazing 2-hour walk along the paved trails. I saw desert plants that were flowering and even spotted some lizards and other small animals. My favourite was the saguaro trail which was on a little hill. There were water stations at many points and make sure you have a wide-brimmed hat along with your sunglasses.

As a solo traveler without a car, I found the park accessible. The park could be reached by public bus, followed by a 10-minute walk. From the park, there is another direct bus to the Phoenix Zoo and the Papago Park which I took. This bus stop, at the periphery of the car park but still within the Desert Botanical Gardens grounds, was a bit obscure. There could be bigger signage but I can understand why this is overlooked - the bus has a low demand (I was the only one on the bus) as most visitors come using their own cars. Perhaps more could be done to promote taking the bus to the destination.

I went to the premiere of Desert Pulse last evening, an event for members. Apart from experiencing the beauty of the garden softly and expertly lit at night, the new installation was mind-blowing. It put me in mind of Philip Glass's Koyaanisquatski, but with a transformative desert vibe. The garden never ceases to amaze me, whether through its special installations, like this one, or simply the everyday experience of the beauty of the desert.

Beat the heat and go early in the morning. We visited in early April and the temperatures still reached 100. There are a good number of shade structures throughout the gardens to provide some relief. This is a really beautiful garden with lots of variety of cactus. Insider tip: If you are not already a garden member, join! The garden membership provides reciprocal benefits to other gardens around the country. On our membership, we visited several other gardens for free due to the reciprocal benefits.

We wandered in after a morning at Taliesin West and absolutely adored the variety of desert flora and spectacular views. Hummingbirds and quail popped up out of nowhere to liven up the visit. Historical and cultural references are truly appreciated by the out-of-towners. A drop in at Gertrude’s gave us a much- needed respite for lunch. Wish we could have stayed for Luminarias - looks amazing! Such a botanical gem!

When my husband, son and I went they had limited hours, due to the heat, but we still enjoyed visiting a lot and saw everything we wanted to. Things appear to be growing very naturally but there were multiple sections to see different types of desert plants. Of course there were lots of cacti but also grasses plus a pollinator sections for bees, butterflies, and hummingbirds. There was a herb garden and an edible garden too. While we were there a wedding was happening so they definitely offer that as well. I liked how each section had a distance so you could decide if you wanted to walk it or not. None was over half a mile though. I did wish there was more shade though, so be sure to wear a hat/sunscreen. The gardens do offer reciprocal membership otherwise admission was $25 for adults, $15 for kids 3-17 years old, and free for ages 2 and under. The store offered a nice selection of items to buy as well.

Me and my boyfriend were in Phoenix visiting from NY so did some research before the trip to see this was one of the top things to see so We were excited to check it out only to be really disappointed. It is basically a walk through of what you see in the desert in Phoenix. We just did the ATV tour with Arizona Outdoor Fun tours that was so much fun. If your looking to spend your money to see Plants and learn about the Phoenix desert go do the ATV tour not this. It should be free too not cost 50 dollars for two people. I took better pictures of the Saguaros (cactus) just walking around Phoenix for free. Loved Phoenix this place just wasn’t worth to go too.

What a surprising place to visit when expectations for desert beauty are sometimes too low. Butterflies were a wonderful addition to our morning. The displays of cactus varieties had an artistic, yet completely natural appeal. Views to the surrounding mountains were an added treat. Simply delightful!

AMAZING AMAZING AMAZING AMAZING! I took a solo trip to Arizona and this was one of my first stops. The botanical garden was an amazing experience and I would definitely do it again!

Beautiful place to come visit. I enjoyed walking around with my friends, we got to see a stained glass exhibit that blew my mind. Had a great time and hope to come back again!

This garden has an amazing display of desert plants in a curated and cultivated garden. A main loop path leads you to several smaller loops that explore various zones of plants. The trail can get very hot on sunny days, but there are trees and water stations to help provide some shade and cool down. The visitor center, gift shop, and restaurant also provide relief if you are overheating. We stopped at the butterfly house on one of the loops as well. It is easy to spend two or more hours exploring the gardens.

I have been supporter and member of the Desert Botanical Garden, even before moving to Phoenix. However, after last night’s experience at the Las Noches de las Luminarias event, I feel compelled to share my disappointment with both the event coordinators and potential attendees.

The Good:

• Tickets were easy to purchase online, and the ability to select a specific entry time seemed like a thoughtful touch.

• The garden itself remains a stunning location and a Phoenix treasure.

The Bad:

• Parking Chaos: Despite arriving early for our 7:30 PM entry, we were caught in a poorly managed parking lot situation, waiting 50 minutes for a spot. Lot attendants made no effort to close the lot or redirect cars to alternative parking, leaving everyone stuck in an unnecessary gridlock.

• Disorganized Entry: By the time we finally entered the exhibit—well after 8 PM—the chaos continued. It was wall-to-wall people, with no clear flow or organization. The entire experience felt rushed, crowded, and stressful.

• Unhelpful Staff: I witnessed several older couples with grandchildren express concern about the parking ordeal and the chaotic entrance process to a DBG staffer, only to be met with a dismissive shrug. This lack of empathy or effort to resolve issues was particularly disappointing.

The Ugly:

This event is clearly more about maximizing revenue than creating a positive experience for patrons and supporters. If DBG is going to sell tickets for specific time slots, the least they can do is ensure adequate parking and a manageable flow of visitors. Without these measures, it felt like the worst parts of navigating an airport TSA line, with none of the holiday magic you’d expect from such a prestigious event.

Closing Thoughts:

After last night’s poor experience, I won’t be renewing my DBG membership. For a two-ticket cost of $85, my husband and I can shrug it off, but I truly feel for the grandparents and families who spent a small fortune to attend and then endured this disorganized mess because walking away wasn’t an option.

Yes, people will post their Instagram-worthy photos—because that’s what people do—but don’t let the curated images fool you. The reality of this event was anything but magical.

My Recommendation:

Skip DBG during the holiday season. There are countless other options for beautiful, family-friendly, or date-night outings in Phoenix that are either free or far less expensive. Take your kids to Kierland Commons for lights and Santa, explore Old Town Scottsdale, or head to DC Ranch. Just don’t waste your time and money on this.

I’m extremely disappointed to say this, but last night’s experience was one of the worst events we’ve attended in years. DBG can—and should—do better.

The gardens are lovely and with an amazing variety of succulents and cacti from around the world. They are beautifully laid out around a number of themed trails. More in the way of information boards would be helpful for those is who have a genuine interest in these plants and want information beyond that designed for a 10 year old. If people don’t want a greater level of information then they don’t have to read it, but at least it will be there for those of us who do.

It is also very overpriced. With no humming birds around in January and the butterfly house closed, some reduced price would be appropriate. Perhaps the price was high because of the “art” installation. This so called “art” consisted of a number of brightly coloured shapes placed within the plantings. They are simply a distraction and spoil the enjoyment of the plants. Giant garbage.

So amazing the variety of plants!

It takes about 2 to 2.5 hrs to go through the garden once but, we would have stayed longer if there weren't people waiting for us.

This is a plant lover's paradise. I learnt not only about the plants, but the area's environment and the indigenous people of the area.

There are water filling stations on the grounds but Phoenix's tap water tastes really off to me, not the garden's fault, so I suggest bringing in bought water. You'll need the water when touring the garden.

Lovely garden walk, we went at 4 pm, so saw the gardens during the day, at sunset and in the evening for the Christmas decor. It was a great day, especially since we went on their monthly free community day! Definitely enjoyed it, found it very well done. The butterfly house was closed which we did not know in advance.

I wasn't sure what to expect. The Gardens exceeded our expectations. In addition to seeing more types of cactus than we knew existed, we also saw two Jack rabbits, a couple of cool looking lizards, hummingbirds and other birds we had never seen before. Great way to spend a couple of hours.

We get a lot of visitors and the Desert Botanical Garden is always on our list of places to take friends and family. It's lovely in the Fall, Winter, and Spring, but we avoid it in the Summer. I'm sure it's lovely then too, but if it's 100+ you probably won't want to stay outside long enough to truly appreciate it.

The Desert Botanical Garden was close to our hotel. It was a nice way to spend the afternoon wandering around seeing the different cactus, birds, and wildlife. We were there in December and there was not a lot blooming, but it was still a pretty day.

Who knew there were so many kinds of cactus plants! As a midwesterner, this garden was a wonderful treat. Well laid out, and easy to get around. Put this at the top of your list!

Nice cactus and desert garden. Handicapped accessible. Wheelchairs and electric ones available. Birds and chipmunks nearby at our patio dining area. Walking areas wide enough. Packed dirt paths and pavement walkways. Family member had a recent leg injury was able to enjoy park. Photo ops everywhere. Bring binoculars. Good birding place.

A relaxing morning followed by an outdoor lunch at the on site restaurant-Erma’s.

A variety of plants! The butterfly garden was a highlight.

Plenty of free parking and a nice gift shop too!

We started our walk just after 6 pm. The sunset through the cacti was spectacular. To see all of the different dessert vegetation was a real treat. We spent about 2 hours and could have spent more time if we weren’t nearing closing time. This is not a “perhaps we will do”, it is a must do. We would recommend it highly.

The garden is really beautiful and has lots of desert vegetation that I had never seen before. It’s very unique and different from all other botanical gardens I’ve visited. It’s also very clean and well put together, with the architectural details and the layout. The only reason I’m rating a 4 out of 5 is because they close at 8pm but by 6pm you pretty much can’t see anything. We arrived around 5:40pm and just from the entrance and first exhibit we were excited to see the rest but by 6:10pm it was so dark you couldn’t see much. There was some light here and there but not as much as I was hoping. So I probably wouldn’t visit when it’s dark (past 6pm in January)

On the South edge of Phoenix, a tranquil and beautiful place. Come here to enjoy the flora or the peace .. and get an education at the same time. Many zones dealing with the different plants trees and cacti of the Sonora and beyond, labelled for identification. Many guides dotted around willing to share their wealth of knowledge .. its not just a garden

Walked around at sunset- got gorgeous photos. Walkable paths. Easy to navigate. Went there for a relaxing evening while at a conference.

We went while it was dark, the light in most of the park was enough to see. The price is a bit steep for a park of the size it is. I recommend going if you are in the area and don’t mind spending more than $30.

We spent all day in this beautiful garden with our toddler. There are multiple loops/paths to walk, and the cacti and desert plants were stunning. The birds were also cool to watch including 3 speciesof hummingbird! Highly recommend, like $24/pp and 2 and under are free. Parking was easy, lots of groups taking photos. Really great gift shop too.

This was the last visit of our trip to Arizona, the morning of our flight back to the UK. The gardens are well located to Scottsdale and surprising large, we spent a leisure 2 1/2 hours wandering around and found it very interesting, I would suggest getting there early at the weekend because by the time we left it was getting extremely busy.

We were lucky to be in the area when the garden had its monthly community day which saved us a lot of money. Not sure if we would visit otherwise as regular ticket prices are much higher than at Louvre. That being said, the desert garden offers a decent collection of cacti and other local flora. A lot of exhibits were closed for various reasons. If you have time when in the area, then it is worth checking out.

Phoenix was having an unexpectedly hot couple of days for April and it was boiling even early in the morning. I would suggest coming as early as possible and bringing hats and sun protection - there was even a dog wearing sun glasses. The garden is very pretty and lovely to walk around - just very hot! There is a nice shop and a restaurant although surprisingly it didn't have any healthy drink options. Lots of people at the garden at 9am - it is worth booking in advance.

When speaking with a staff member they mentioned that this was the most colorful the garden had been in 10 years due to all the rain this year. Everywhere you looked was filled with color and beauty. Learned a-lot about the plants and cactus from this area. Bring a refillable water bottle as it is hot and there are refills stations conveniently placed throughout the park.

Expensive attraction. Crowded. A few of the individual cactus beds were visually stunning in their plentitude and variety. Other parts of the garden looked sparse and somewhat unkept. Tags identified types of plants but I was hoping for more interpretive information. I would only recommend this place to folks who are on such a short visit to the city that they cannot get out of the downtown area to see cacti in their natural environment, which is absolutely everywhere even in the suburbs. Countless nearby nature preserves offer the opportunity to see a grand array of desert fauna in a more expansive setting, with great interpretive programs and information at a lower cost or even free. The botanical garden is a good option for someone who is mobility impaired. One who is fortunate to be able-bodied will in my opinion do better to just go out for a hike.

It was interesting and worth the trip. Very beautiful for a Dessert Botanical Garden. We went in the late afternoon to stay out of the sun but the down side was that it became very dark and we were unable to see on a lot of the paths, The sculptures were had lighting which really accented the art work.

A must see if you’re in Phoenix Arizona. Better to go when the weather is nice and cooler. Amazing hundred years old cacti to admire and take photos. Lot of walking between the trees and plants but worth it. Usually the garden has art shows and special events going on so for the entry price can have a year’s membership to come back whenever you can.

The paths throughout the botanical garden were plotted out well. There were many varieties of cacti and desert flowers throughout. It was surprisingly more colorful than we had expected out of desert blooms. We were able to see many of the animals throughout the gardens, including the quails, hummingbirds, rabbits, and more. Our only complaint was that the price seemed a bit high at $30/person. It was a great way to spend a few hours on a slightly rainy day. The mountains close by were a great backdrop and I'm sure on a clear day the views would be even better!

This is a great place to visit. I particularly enjoyed the Butterfly garden. We went later in the afternoon, and it was hot, but the paths have a fair amount of shade. I would plan on spending 1-2 hours here.

Our family really enjoyed the Botanical Gardens. So many great photo opportunities! I wish we had known to bring water bottle & use the refill stations as we toured.

We spent several hours. We arrived early, took the 11 AM tour with a docent and thoroughly enjoyed the presentation. There are dozens of volunteers throughout, making it easy to have questions answered, including directions. Excellent washing facilities. There is a current display of colourful sculpture throughout the garden. highly recommended for adults and children.

We had an overnight layover and were looking for a place close to our airport hotel to get some air and take a walk. This is a lovely place and open into the evening. I would highly recommend. AND, go to Gertrude’s for a snack or meal - what a surprise to find this restaurant right there. The food and drinks were great.

A very beautiful and well-kept "park". There are signs describing the plants and the landscape. There are also water dispensers along the paths.

Beautiful place to walk around. We went when it was a bit hot outside but there are lots of places in the shade to sit and water fountains. The bathrooms have AC and are in a few places so that makes it nice. The shop is cute and the staff is friendly. I loved seeing the plants and all the critters. We were able to spot a few and I loved the lizards.

What a great place to visit, I loved it. everyone is so friendly. I saw things I never would have expected to see here.

Beautiful plants and trees and you will gain some knowledge of the vegetation in the southwest. The butterfly exhibit was cool and worth seeing at least once. Try to go on a day that's not too hot so you can walk around and take your time. It's a big place and easy to get lost so carry some water.

We did the guided tour (free) led by a very knowledgeable guy called Paul. He made it all really interesting and we learned a lot about the plants that grow in the desert and why. Would highly recommend, it’s not too long and you do have time to take photos on the way round.
Have plenty of water in the extreme heat as there is very little shade although lots of water fountains.
We were there for a morning before it got unbearably hot and that was enough to see pretty much everything.

So many beautiful cactus gardens and fun butterfly house. Has the cutest gift shop too to buy plant-related items and plants.

Fantastic botanical garden in Phoenix near the zoo and Papago park. It is well laid out with beautiful plants and rotating art displays. There is also a beautiful butterfly house. All in all a pleasant way to spend a few hours.

This is a beautiful, educational place! Very expensive tickets ($120 for 5 people), but it's for a good cause. We non-Arizonan Senior Citizen suffered in the heat, although we were well hydrated. Only two air conditioned seats except for a sit-down restaurant.

Unique desert flora deepened our understanding and appreciation for the beauty of this area. Staff were very friendly and helpful. There is quite a bit of walking and sometimes on uneven surfaces but several resting spots (even in shady spots). We went to two of the five areas and decided to call it a day. Bring water or purchase at the gift shop when you enter. Light Bloom was stunning!

Beautiful gardens. Nice and peaceful. Great for either Solo, with friends, couples or with family. Located near the zoo and hole in the rock. Plenty of parking. Great way to spend a few hours and learn about the desert plants or just enjoy the outdoors.

The plants are nice but $30 per adult seems a little overpriced to see cacti and succulents that thrive on little care. They had some interesting displays but it got a little redundant and my 8 year old was bored. So overall it was a little disappointing for the high cost.

I love visiting botanical gardens, not just for their visual beauty, but also because they are generally quiet, peaceful, and a great way to lower your stress. Most botanical gardens feature lush greenery, beautiful flowers, and the like, but one exception is the Desert Botanical Garden, in Phoenix.

Desert plants are not generally associated with visual appeal, but a visit to the Desert Botanical Garden could easily make you reconsider this commonly held viewpoint. This large garden is home to tens of thousands of desert plants- not just the usual cacti, but others, too. The color you will see the most is light/olive green, but there are some desert flowers in the mix, too, for those who expect a little more color when they visit a botanical garden.

Desert Botanical Garden has multiple paths, all of them short, and it can be completely walked in a relatively short time. One thing I really like about this botanical garden is the abundance of signs. No matter where you are, you never get the feeling of being lost- there is always a sign, showing you the way. Another thing I appreciate is the water bottle filling stations. When you’re walking around in the desert, you will get thirsty and staying hydrated is a must, especially in the summer months. There are no worries here- the water is plentiful.

Your visit to Desert Botanical Garden shouldn’t take more than about two hours at the most, but you will greatly enjoy what you see. I wasn’t so sure about this attraction, but it won me over quickly and I learned more about desert plants than I ever expected. Be sure to arrive with plenty of sunblock on your skin, and a water bottle in hand. And be sure to visit the gift shop before you go. It’s a top attraction in the Phoenix area, and one that I recommend.

The desert botanical garden is nice. We went to the Christmas display with tons of lights and decorations. We are going to make this a family tradition

Wonderful botanic gardens. We visited when lots of cacti in flower. Also hummingbirds a plenty. Lovely place and well cared for

This botanical garden was recommended to us by a local in the area. We are from Arkansas and if love the outdoors like we do then this is a must do! You get all the Sonora Desert plants and animals all in one spot beautifully organized into sections that are divided with a map given to you upon entry. It was a very cool tour and we stayed for a couple hours or so easily. Highly recommend!

Perfect place to go for nature and garden lovers. Coming from Seattle, it was a delight to see the large variety of desert plants and learn about them. Wow! Must see anytime of year, but February was perfect 68 degrees outside.

One of the highlights is the butterfly exhibit. Definitely do that. After a while the desert scene all look the same, so you don't really have to walk the entire place, especially if the temps are over 90 degrees!

Very disappointing experience. It's essentially a tourist trap. The gardens are very weak with a couple rough looking plants. Nothing was in flower. The main reason for this poor review is the price, it was absolutely ridiculous. $30USD a person for an extremely low effort garden. The most disappointing thing we did on our trip.

Absolutely beautiful! Make sure to keep an eye out for the variety of wildlife that lives there as well...just a little added bonus.

Let me address the elephant in the room. It was super hot. Yes, we went in the middle of August and mid-morning. Perhaps we should have known better. But we were quite hot the entire time. Not a lot of water stations or shade. We could have used a couple of those misting stations.

That being said, it was a rather unique botanical garden. If you like cacti, this is the place for you! Lots of cacti of all shapes and sizes. The garden was beautiful and a lot to see. We would recommend it, some time other than the middle of summer!

Wonderful gardens, highlighting the natural beauty of Arizona. Best to visit early morning before it gets too hot. 2 thumbs up

This garden was a fantastic way to spend the day. The biodiversity was simply gorgeous and very interesting ! The butterfly exhibit was also amazing. Recommended for travelers interested in learning about local eco-diversity and nature’s resilience.

Highly recommend buying tickets for the Las Noches de Las Luminares at the Desert Botanical Garden. Wonderful family experience seeing the garden all lit up with beautiful lights. The evening included multiple options to listen to live music. We loved the Harp musicians which were in the Webster Auditorium. We also enjoyed the Celtic music. There is a wide variety of music to enjoy on the weekends. You must have tickets ahead of time as the event sells out routinely. Parking is free which is adjacent to the garden. Highly recommend!

There was a lot to see and the guest artist had some interesting sculptures. The signage was very helpful to find your way around and also the description of what each cactus or flower we saw. Saw hummingbirds too. Would like to come back when everything is blooming.

We were able to attend the botanical light bloom event that is running through the end of March. It was an incredible experience to see all the various desert plants lit up, as well as the displays that were part of this particular exhibit.

A fantastic representation of native cactus. There are five trails, none of which are too long or strenuous, so you can do as much or as little walking as you want and still enjoy the abundant beauty. The sun and heat can be relentless, so stay hydrated (there are numerous touchless water refilling stations throughout the gardens). There are lots of friendly staff, well-informed and helpful if you have questions and informational plaques all along the way.

It was a great experience visiting the Desert Botanical Gardens. There were various cactus plants, with various guides offering advice on the nature and variety of the trees. There were Christmas trees made up of several cacti plants.
My visit lasted about four hours including lunch at Gertrude Restaurant.

We went on a scorching day but enjothr visit. Make sure to take loaned pictures and stay well hydrated. Neat Pavillion for rest int eh shade and a beautiful gift shop with much needed a/c. Exceptional cactus and desert flora would highly recommend. Also got in for free with My St Louis Missouri Botanical Garden membership.

I’m a cactus fanatic! While visiting the gardens I was in my glory!! The cactus were of every shape and size, the mountains were in the background. I slowly strolled through the many pathways, stopping along the way just to admire all the varieties and to talk to the stationed guides to chat about the specific varieties in that area.
I would highly recommend checking it out, take your time and emerge yourself in the beauty!!

Superb garden. So much to see. They accommodated a change to our ticket entry time graciously. Loved the 2050 exhibit. Butterflies were wow!!

This place is incredible! I’m so glad I visited while in Phoenix. There is a wide variety of cacti species and sizes. I’m also glad I went in the morning since it got warmer and busier the longer the day went on.

Incredible experience, and the Light in Bloom Art was really spectacular. If you have any extra time in the area, highly recommend.

Beautiful gardens! Totally worth a visit if you are in the area. Also this is a nice place to see birds and lizards. Butterfly exhibit is lovely. We visited on a community day (free admission), and it was crowded, but still enjoyable.

I visited in the afternoon to watch the sun set, I did not expect to be blown away by the beauty of this place. I recommend visiting in the pm.

Really an amazing place with a great deal of very mature cactus and other plants in a well-kept sitting with a good trail; some of the plants pre-date WWII. It was a little hard to follow the map, and even with arrows, finding the exit took two tries, but the place is amazing and quite photogenic. Admission is a bit pricey for a place of this size and parking was hard to find, but this was worth it. The gift shop is quite good as well.

I really enjoyed this day at the botanical garden! Who knew looking at plants / cacti could be so much fun. The highlight was meeting Native American crafts people and talking to them along the trials. Our best day on Phoenix by far. Recommend, the admission fee is a bit steep, $40 or so. Unlike any place I have seen being from the East coast. November was a great time weather wise too, not too hot. My one criticism is the signage is poor, especially for finding the cafe.

$30 ticket to get in, but we’re glad we did it. Beautiful and a little educational (songs to read). Nice to visit in late afternoon for beautiful pictures

Very well organized. The butterfly exhibit was interesting. Unfortunately it was 90 degrees when we visited and after a couple hours we couldn't stand walking around in the sun anymore and left.

Exceptional! Delightful morning experience walking the paths and noting the many little venues: butterflies , night cacti, bees! Beautiful, peaceful and so much learning. I arrived at 8a and wish I’d come even earlier as the crowds hadn’t yet arrived and the experience walking was cool and welcoming. Exception history of species curation dating back to the original master gardener in 1936.

There's a comprehensive collection of desert cacti, trees and shrubs on several short trails.

If you're interested how our forefathers existed in the desert, check out the short Sonoran Desert lifestyle trail. It has several recreations of the shelters and kitchens used in daily life.

The docent-led tours are informative if you wish to learn about the structure of cactus and palo verde trees.

There's a fairly upscale restaurant and a modest cafe on site.

Trails are mostly exposed, not a big deal in the winter but would be very hot mid-day summer.

I covered the entire garden in 1.5 hours, including 30 minutes for the docent tour.

There's nothing wrong with the facility, it's just fairly small and expensive compared to other botanical gardens I've visited.

The Desert Botanical Garden has such potential, but unfortunately, it misses the mark in several key areas. While the garden itself is undeniably beautiful, the overall visitor experience is frustrating and disappointing.

If you're hoping for a docent-led tour, good luck. We waited for one, only to be told by a visitor center employee, “I guess the docent didn’t show up, they are volunteers, this happens.” That kind of response really sets the tone for how little effort seems to go into ensuring a smooth visitor experience.

The garden map is another issue—it desperately needs an update. Important attractions like the Orchid Garden and Butterfly Exhibit are not clearly marked, making it unnecessarily difficult to navigate. And speaking of missed opportunities, I counted four amphitheaters throughout the garden, yet not a single scheduled talk or educational session. For a place dedicated to showcasing the beauty and importance of desert plants, it’s baffling that they don’t take advantage of these spaces to educate the public.

Navigating the garden is another mixed experience. If you take a left upon entering, you’ll likely find yourself in a disappointingly directionless loop. Despite separate paths, everything blends together, making it feel like one endless walk with little variation. However, if you take a right, the experience is more visually interesting.

In short, the Desert Botanical Garden has all the ingredients for a fantastic experience, but poor organization, lack of educational programming, and a frustrating layout prevent it from being truly great. I hope they make improvements because the potential is there—just not fully realized.

An interesting collection of desert flowers and plants sigh various desert themes. I would suggest going to visit during the cooler periods of the year
I would definitely recommend thebotanical garden as a must see if you visit Phoenix

Beautiful! We had a nice time walking around the gardens and having lunch. It was very expensive for me and two college kids.

My husband and I live in the Phoenix area and love visiting the Desert Botanical Garden. Late March is a great time to visit because there are many plants in bloom. The main reason we went to the Garden this time was to view the indoor 'orchid fever' display in the newly opened RAF Exhibit gallery. It is the Garden's first orchid display. Wow! Beautifully arranged orchids interspersed with cacti. And who knew there are orchids native to Arizona? Not us. This exhibit is free with general admission to the Garden.

While visiting the area, this was on our list of things to do. I was so excited to see all of what this place had to offer and have a love for nature and flowers but found this place a total disappointment and over priced! We arrived just before sunset and was assured by the admission desk host "yes, you definitely have plenty to see and do within the 3 hrs. until it closes". She told us about the evening display of "light bloom", which drew visitors to see that in particular. Our experience was that while all 8-10 light bloom displays were pretty, that's about it! Once the sun went down the place was literally too dark to see where to walk, and on which path, you could barely see any of the botanical garden displays. I honestly hated the fact we wasted our money and time to visit this place!

I was skeptical that this was going to be an interesting outing and I was proven completely wrong. I had no idea that there were so many different types of desert plants. The pathways were easy to use - even with a stroller. The gardens were well-planned and fun to see. There were animals too: rabbits, birds, butterflies, bees... I don't think we even saw all of it! The weather was beautiful and the gardens are worthy of your time! I actually hope to visit again sometime!

Enjoyed seeing all the different cactus types. Even got some inspiration for home. Wish the water fountains/bottle fillers along the paths had been functioning. Docents throughout were very informative and friendly!

Great morning for strolling through the garden. Cool, breezy, not crowded. Great value for your entrance fees. Little kids might get bored, and I'm sure it's a different story when the summer heat beats down on you, but in February -it was FANTASTIC.

We had a very nice breakfast at the restaurant then walked the gardens. It was gorgeous in the spring! Lots of the cactus were in bloom and the flowers were so pretty. We walked the whole thing and couldn’t get enough of the beautiful cactus. Really enjoyed the butterfly house also.

This is a fantastic garden. See butterflies, hummingbirds, and every desert plant. We wanted to host our daughter's wedding reception here, but couldn't get the date. It would be a PERFECT location for weddings & receptions.

Beautiful area! Gift shop and restaurant are fantastic! Not overly crowded! The overlooks were awesome, great places for older relatives to walk.

Fantastic place with a lot to see. The gardens are beautiful and so different from what we usually see in similar places. The store is also very nice. It can be hot though so don’t forget your water bottle.

Wonderful garden . Easy to follow and wonderful butterfly house . The garden is beautiful for a desert garden - especially the wildflowers. However I find it so odd that the zoo and hole are less than one mile away but there is no walking path there . To visit other park sites you need to drive there which seems odd for a park .

Beautiful gardens with a self guided tour. I would recommend taking the guided tour from the staff as you would learn more about the cactus they have. We missed this during our visit due to timing. My brother who is working in Phoenix for 2 years bought a membership as it would be enjoyable to return every few months to see the cactus bloom.

Great place to visit. Highly recommend the Desert Botanical Garden. Also the Musical Instruments Museum. Visited the Botanical Garden March 3 and the Musical Instrument Museum March 6.

One of the best botanical gardens in the world. The variety, layout, signage, and interpretation staff allow the visitor to gain a life-long appreciation of desert flora and fauna .Because Scottsdale is in the Sonora desert, the emphasis on that particular eco-system. However, visitors get a rich overview of the four North American deserts (Sonora, Mojave, Great Basin, Chihuahua), the first human inhabitants interactions with these deserts and the elements of desert habitats in general. There are also exotic plants and a butterfly lepidopterarium. We went in April and everything was in bloom (and abuzz!) with colors, sounds and smells. The free docent tour (30 minutes) is very enriching and a great way to start the park. We spent 3 hours, and could have spent 2 hours more exploring the different parts of the park.

Loved it, wish it was not 118 degrees with 35% humidity. Worth it, nice variety of succulents, peaceful experience. Would recommend.

We were so excited to do the night program and got there maybe 615. And all of the unpaved trails and exhibits closed at 7 PM. The night program is really just for walking on the night path. That being said if you have little kids, it’s pretty good but for grown kids and adult adults, skip it.

There were cacti I had never seen before, which was very interesting. There was a water fountain along the way, so I was able to fill my water bottle, and it was fine even though it was hot (115 degrees Fahrenheit).

Very nice property, good for a walk and spending time outdoors. They have a restaurant and cafe on site which offer a good selection of snacks/food.

We went a holiday week with the kids and loved learning and looking at all of the different succulents and wildlife. We also really enjoyed the restaurant onsite that was exceptional.

Beautiful! We loved the butterfly portion, our daughters even got to release one. Volunteers/staff were so kind and knowledgeable. We spent 2 hours and didn’t see everything. Our two teen daughters loved it!

I absolutely loved the Desert Botanical Gardens! The desert plants are so different from any other climate, which makes the whole experience so interesting. We also spotted a slew of critters, including lizards, birds, squirrels, chipmunks, and rabbits!

Late March and early April are perfect times to see the cacti blooming! The groupings of cacti and succulents were just beautiful! This is one adventure you need to take

Admission was quite expensive (about $35/person including tax). We visited on a cooler day with temperatures in the 70’s. Bring a bottle of water (which can be refilled in several places), sunscreen and a hat. There is some shade, but much of the garden is in open desert. The plants were well-marked and even though the place is quite large, we were able to walk it all in 2 1/2 hours and only skipped over the butterfly house and temporary orchid exhibit since both had lengthy lines. We were fortunate to visit when many of the cactus were blooming.

One of the most spectacular desert settings to experience. The variety of cactus, flowers and desert plant species is overwhelming and vividly intense. A must place to visit

Me and friend absolutely love to learn about wildlife and plants so this stop was perfect for us! It wasn’t a super long walk but had plenty of things to stop to admire and read, we spent a little over an hour walking around the garden 💚🌵

We underestimated how much time we would spend in this beautiful desert haven! Wonderful trails to follow… oh so many cacti! Birds, especially hummingbirds, butterflies all adding to the ambience of the place. Botanical heaven!

Great place to see all the different plants in Arizona. To bad we went on the hottest day of the year. Went early but still unbearable. Water stations but the water wasn’t that cold so not so good. Coyotes are on site. Did have one staring us down walking around.

We took our annual visit to the Desert Botanical Gardens. It was a perfect day to wander amongst the gardens. The cacti are in bloom this time of year making for beautiful sightings. We were told by the admission desk that the Butterfly Pavilion was open for viewing, There are motorized vehicles for those with walking trouble.
There are currently large metal sculpture scattered throughout the Gardens, the works are done by artist, Rotraut. The Garden is separated into herb garden, edibles, cacti, aloes, wildflowers etc. The walk is easy with one slight incline to see a great viewpoint of Phoenix and the mountains.
Most items are identified but not all. There were a few staff walking around if you had specific questions.
The Butterfly Pavilion was so interesting. Butterflies fluttered about and posed for photos. Watch your step as some of the butterflies land on the ground to sun themselves.
Within the Pavilion was a butterfly nursery. You could see the chrysalis. There was also a photo of the monarchs metamorphosis.
On your walk there is a gallery showing more of Rotraut’s work to enjoy. It’s not clearly marked so visit the Ottosen Gallery.
While there are shady places to rest, be sure to take some water. There is also water for sale if you forget. Slather on the sun block or cover up. Wear shades and/or a hat or both. Wear comfortable shoes. Stay on the trails and please don’t touch the cacti.
Don’t miss the gift store where you might find a souvenir to take home. Hungry and need some sustenance right away? Gertrude’s is on site for your eating needs.
Expect to spend 2-3 hours at the Gardens.
Free large parking area with WiFi.

An amazing garden, especially if you’re from a different part of the country. The variety of cacti is amazing, as are the wildflowers. We thoroughly enjoyed our visit. The map of the garden and the signage was a bit confusing and could be improved. We wanted to take one of the tours of the garden, but whoever was supposed to be leading it never showed up. Despite those drawbacks, we’re very glad we went and highly recommend it.

Very nicely laid out with meandering trails. It's impeccably maintained. Overall about a 2 mile easy walk with lots of interesting things to see. Stopped in the art gallery to see a short film about Fernando Botero which was a nice respite from the sun but also educational. Staff is very helpful and cute gift shop. Recommend going early morning before the weather gets too hot.

I had a wonderful time exploring the Desert Botanical Garden in Phoenix! I was amazed by the wide variety of succulents and desert plants — some I’d never seen before. The paths were not so easy to follow so using the map was essential to find the exit when I got hot.

The garden does a fantastic job of highlighting the natural beauty of the Sonoran Desert, and it’s clear a lot of care goes into maintaining the grounds. I especially enjoyed seeing native animals and the larger than life cactus.

It was a memorable visit and well worth it for any plant lover or anyone looking to experience the unique charm of the desert.🏜️

Would definitely recommend — just bring water and sun protection or use their hydration stations throughout your walk. Don’t forget your comfortable shoes! 👟

We spent about 1.5 hours wandering the gardens and all the various loops - it was fantastic!! You'd think walking around and staring at the same cacti over and over would get boring but no! I took over 100 photos on our trip there and loved to see how the changing sun brought different features on the plants to life.

We went about an hour before sunset and my only regret is that I wish we had come later. The sunset was spectacular AFTER we left (of course ha) but we still got some amazing photos and just enjoyed learning about how these plants survive, the role they play in the desert ecosystem and how the peoples of the Sonoran desert utilized what was around them to survive and thrive. 10/10 recommend a visit when you are in the greater Phoenix area!

I cannot express how exhilarating it was to be at the Desert Botanical Garden. Nature is so beautiful so to sit back and observe was fulfilling. I didn't know what to expect, but this garden surpassed my expectations. The clear paths led to you to so many areas of the garden. There were so many varieties of cacti and desert flowers it was surprisingly more colorful than I had anticipated.
I was able to see an array of animals including quails, hummingbirds, rabbits, and much more. I ended up spending 3 hours walking through the garden. Thankfully they had shady resting areas and water stations. This 55-acre garden is perfect for those who want a mini workout while admiring nature.

Once I got over the ticket price ($29.95 when the website says $12-25, and no senior discount either) I really enjoyed the visit. There is a huge variety of cacti and succulents as well as some arid-climate spring flowers. I can appreciate the costs involved in running the gardens, but considering the amount of visitors we saw, they must be quite profitable. When coming from out of town, I couldn't take advantage of the free day once a month.

This garden exceeded our expectations. Paths were easy to follow, a lot of different cacti, some I didn’t even know existed. It was in a way educational. Our kids loved it too, they really enjoyed running around and finding different types of cacti in there. There is a cafe in the garden, with a lot of seating area, so you can either bring your own lunch or buy something there. Overall it was a very nice experience.

Got in free because it was Community Day...that made our day! Saved probably $60.

Just absolutely amazing plant-life. It was very hot and we packed plenty of water and Gatorade.

NIce, short walking loops, with break stops.

Also got to witness some smaller wildlife.

The souvenier shop offered a respite from the 115 degree temperature.

Highly recommended!

We honestly didn’t even go in. We parked and were looking at some of the cactus plants that were near the parking area. We are from Chicago and don’t see cactus. I was taking a pic of my daughter she was standing on the rocks several feet from the cactus. Some woman in a pick up truck who I can only assume worked there, yelled at us to get out. She said we couldn’t stand over there…. Ok! We left.

Really enjoyed the scenery, trails were easy to navigate. Which it was more interactive but still think it was worth the $30 ticket.

Unlike any botanical I ever visied in the past. Have been to many that are "gardens". This is a more natural setting showing native plants and explaining the life and history of the original dwellers.

There is so much to see, we are going to go later this year when everything is in bloom and there's more color. Go on 2nd Tuesday of the month for free like we did no

I didn’t know what to expect before coming here and I wasn’t sure why there was so much hype about this place. Now I see why and I can wholeheartedly recommend this place. There is a lot to see here, especially if you go in the late afternoon or early evening. The grounds is beautiful with very well maintained paths. We brought a stroller that had no issues moving it around. If you happen to go at night to see the lights and art installations, it brings a whole new element to the garden. I strongly recommend visiting this if you are Spending time in Scottsdale.

It’s not worth missing this garden if you are in Tempe. It’s a life time experience to even know what kind of vegetation can grow in this terrain, the resturant in the garden is one among the best I have eaten for that price.

Lots of cactus, succulents and native plants. Use the series of trails to wonder through the garden. Be prepared to walk and take water with you. A great collection of cactus and other native foliage. Good way to spend 2 hours or more. Takes some planning if using buses to reach this destination. Save time by buying tickets online.
Great place for plant lovers.

For anyone who thinks that a cactus is the only thing you'll see in the desert, please visit this place. This was gorgeous, even in a hundred-plus degree heat. We were surprised by the number of birds and other wildlife that we encountered. There was even a family of quail! The maps were very clear and you had the option to take the side loops, or not. The staff that we talked to were very knowledgeable and helpful. Would love to return at a different time of the year when the desert is even more beautiful!

I've been here twice now and would definitely go again. Probably the most fascinating botanic garden I've been to since its focused on the flora of the Arizona desert. Very peaceful and well laid out. You can spend hours here. They also have a nice cafe with outdoor seating with desert quails bobbing around you. Its very convenient in downtown Phoenix. First time I visited, I had a couple hours free before my flight. It was more than worth my time.

I guess we have been in cacti paradise… I have never seen so many types of cacti in my long travel life. You see countless types of agave, saguaro, barrel, prickly pear cacti of different height, shape, color… gambel quails are walking right next to you, pretty hares are very brave too… The Desert Discovery Trail is a great lesson of the Sonoran Desert vegetation On the Plants and People of the Sonoran Desert Trail you can see perfect examples of local dwellings, utilization of materials and plants, and read about many intricate ways of preserving water during excruciatingly hot summers.

You can stop for a nice lunch at the Gertrude Restaurant or have a quick bite outside at the Patio cafe. We opted for the latter and had delicious chicken salad with strawberries and greens and croissant sandwich with fresh vegetables and chicken. Both meals were delicious and we enjoyed them on the lovely terrace.

The Garden Gift Shop had a variety of souvenirs, books, toys, and cacti too.

It is one of the most phenomenal botanical garden I have ever visited and I can’t even count how many of them I had been to all over the world. It is exotic, captivating, meticulously maintained and the docents do a great job educating visitors.

Fernando Botero sculptures are on display now and it was a nice surprise for me as I had been to his museum in Bogota.

An absolute gem of a spot! Beautiful gardens and well laid out. So peaceful to walk around. Stunning cactus! The pavilions are really nice as well. The gift shop is a bit overpriced but that's to be expected for most on site gift shops.

The Desert Botanical Garden offers a delightful escape into nature's wonders, even for those who may not have a particular interest in plant life. While the gardens boast a multitude of stunning flora, including a diverse range of cacti and desert plants, there are other attractions to appreciate. For instance, if you're more drawn to wildlife, you'll find yourself surrounded by an ample amount of ground squirrels and lizards that add a touch of liveliness to the environment. Moreover, the garden ensures visitor comfort with plenty of shaded areas to seek respite from the sun, as well as numerous water fountains equipped with water bottle stations. Plus, the convenience of air-conditioned bathrooms throughout the premises enhances the overall experience.

The scenery at the Desert Botanical Garden is nothing short of breathtaking. The juxtaposition of vibrant desert flowers, towering cacti, and the unique desert landscape creates a captivating visual spectacle. Whether you're strolling along the well-maintained paths or sitting in one of the shaded areas, you'll find yourself immersed in the serene beauty of the surroundings. The attention to detail and the preservation of this arid ecosystem are commendable, and it's an ideal place to reconnect with nature and enjoy a peaceful respite from the bustling city.

I went with my 74 yr old uncle, 21 year old girlfriend of my son & her mother (late 40s). You don't need more than an hour & half here. It's just not that exciting--"gets old" relatively quickly. Don't get me wrong: the lay our is great, well maintained, ample parking, etc. It's just, how long can you keep looking at cacti? Just want to keep it real for travelers (and I LUV nature, etc.). ***def stop @ the Hole in the Rock ^ fo that climb. That was fun!

It’s great the Desert Botanical Gardens opens at 7:00am while it is still cool and quiet. We visited the gardens this morning and it was so peaceful and beautiful. Coming early you are rewarded with being easily able to see lots of wildlife: quail, ground squirrels, rabbits, nesting birds and lizards who are also enjoying the cooler climate. There are so many trails to explore. We visited in June when many of the cacti were in bloom.

Beautiful garden. Relaxing. We loved every minute of it. We saw lots of rabbits, lizards and birds. Loved all the cactus.

Well worth the trip. Frankly, much more interesting and tolerable than trying to hike in the desert! Accessible. Paths are smooth and graded; I woulld feel comfortable bringing my 88 year-old mother here, and I saw a couple of people on scooters. Plus, you can see and do as much as you want (we walked every loop we could). Stops for cold water, seating, and shade are located along the paths. Signage is in English and Spanish. Make a day of it and have lunch at Gertrudes (the restaurant) and sit outside to enjoy the plants.

Start early with the visit to avoid high temperatures mid day. On the other hand, along the paths, there are many points were you can refill your water bottle, there are trees that give some shade. The distance of the loops are not long and doable, also in a wheelchair. The trees, cactuses and shrubs are presented in a natural way, a great place to visit. You can make a reservation with a time slot.

It's very beautiful and love the signage of the plants. Great location for views also. Going to bring out of town guests here

Most beautiful gardens, so enjoyable! The volunteers along the way were very knowledgeable about the gardens and overall desert information. Spent a few hours here and also had lunch at their on site restaurant, Gertrude’s. Highly recommend them for a lunch and their dessert menu should not be missed!

Amazing views and great way to discover more about the desert; wish the path were better marked as many people were lost. The restaurant near the entrance has a great burger :)

The Desert Gardens are really pretty. We are from Florida so we do not see that kind of landscaping at all. We went in June and it was 95 degrees that day and super hot so we didn't stay that long to see all of the park. But I do recommend going.

We tried to buy tickets to the Gardens and were not able to - because the day we wanted to go was FREE! The second Tuesday of each month is free community day.
We live in Maryland so the Desert botanical was very different for us. This Garden is amazing. They were celebrating 85 years!
We also very much enjoyed our lunch at the on-site restaurant, AND the temporary art installation of Botero (thru March 2024)

Beautiful cactus and flowers for sure. However, the price seems to be overly high for the small area you walk. And the prices in the gift shop are double or triple what you pay in any other souvenor store.

Definitely a place worth seeing and exploring. A great way to get nice and close to the different desert plants and flowers without having to travel into the desert itself. It's an easy walk and layout to explore. There is a central path with 5 or 6 different offshoot trails with different themes to explore that bring you back to the main path. Definitely recommend bringing water and doing earlier the day the hotter the day is going to be but there are a lot water stations with drinking fountains and water bottle refillers as well. We did it early in the day but I think it would have been neat to visit at night. Plenty of parking which is always a plus.

We had an amazing time. The weather was cloudy and cool which we personally found much more enjoyable than it being 40°. We wandered around at our own pace took lots of pictures. We enjoyed a talk and a lovely chat with Nancy underneath a mosquito tree. We were going to have something to eat, but when we were told it would be at least a 30 minute wait we decided to pass that one over and just have a coffee. Highly recommended.

The cactus were interesting and beautiful, but for the most part, they were the same ones in each section. Not much of a variety. Again, what they had were beautiful.

Beautiful gardens in the middle of the city. There is much to see and do. Unfortunately we did not see hummingbirds or butterflies in those gardens. We did see other critters which was fun. The paths are easy to get around on. One person in our group had used a motorized scooter. So nice to have those available to rent! We will visit again next time we are in the area.

We toured in the afternoon, went out for dinner, then came back for Night Bloom. Both were wonderful experiences with excellent photo ops. The signage is helpful, and we loved the ability to go off premises & return the same day with no additional fees.

We went on the 2nd Tuesday of the month, so admission was free. Don't know how much it costs normally, but it was a fantastic visit. Lots of interesting cacti and regional plants as well as interesting information about the plants themselves. Learned a lot!

One word of caution - hit the butterfly pavilion before late afternoon - I didn't know that butterflies 'call it a day' around 4 or 5!

Really amazing. Walked all trails. The dessert plants are amazing. It was very interesting and very cool seeing everything in one place.

What a beautiful, educational and interesting oasis in the city. I didn’t a couple hours walking around, taking loads of photos and learning about the desert, it’s plant and animal life and how they support one another. Highly recommend and would definitely go back.

Hubby and I enjoyed walking around the gardens on our last day in Arizona.
The gardens are beautiful, lovely plants and flowers, sculptures and the butterfly exhibit was wonderful. Hubby was the butterfly whisperer, lol. They landed on his hand. I paid for our tickets before leaving home, since we needed reservations. I would highly recommend a visit.

Beautiful with easy trails and water stations. Very well labeled. Restaurant had fresh food with an interesting tale on classics.

Most of the Desert Botanical Garden is outside. The layout and grouping of the numerous plants has good eye appeal. Many of the cacti have identifying labels which is helpful. We enjoyed seeing such a variety of cacti but I would love to see them all in bloom.

This attraction offers an incredible array of desert plant life. There are docents interspersed throughout the park to offer helpful information about the different types of trees and plants featured in the gardens. I enjoyed learning about not just the plants but also how the plants have impacted the people who have lived in the Phoenix region over time. The paths throughout the gardens are very well-maintained and walkable.

Really enjoyed seeing so many different plants that I had never seen before.
The gardeners were very informative and helpful.

My wife and I spent a gorgeous Saturday morning here in the beginning of March. We arrived at 10 and left around 12. As we were leaving it felt a lot more crowded so going at 10 was ideal. The garden itself is wonderful. The walking paths were well maintained and the cacti, succulents, and all other plants very clearly are well taken care of. The garden’s signage was informative and interesting. A bonus was that it was dog day at the garden so on top of seeing amazing plants we got to see a ton of cute pups. Would recommend the garden to families and individuals of all ages. Would return in a heartbeat.

This place was amazing! Took so many photos of the blooming cactus. The grounds are beautiful and well kept up. As a bonus, they had a butterfly house which would be great for kids. Showed how they hatch and many different kinds just flying around you. Another bonus was the orchid show on display. A huge room full of hundreds of orchids, all blooming. This place is not to be missed if in AZ.

Do yourself a favour and visit the Desert Botanical Garden. It's stunningly gorgeous and wonderfully informative.

This is something that is truly amazing to see if you enjoy the smaller things in life. Mother Nature is a true beauty and is worth the stop here. Being that we’re Canadian it was a little overpriced as there’s an exchange rate so they price it in at 24.95 per pass but we have an exchange so it was closer to $85 for us so that sucks but definitely not a regret on our behalf. There is everything from baby gophers, cacti, flowers and many more things to see.

Lovely spot to enjoy the sunshine and learn about the Sonoran Desert! The butterfly and orchid exhibits were very nice. A beautiful place to spend an afternoon.

I took my friends from Germany here. We really enjoyed our visit. Just as a reminder bring water with you if you go when it is hot. There are also Water Station through out so you can refill your Bottles.
Really beautiful and interesting place to visit

Very well-kept and beautiful garden!
The garden is built logically: you follow a circular hiking path with side branches and visit the whole garden.
Employees are happy to provide the necessary explanation.
The butterfly garden is amazing.

Beautiful grounds. Lots of staff to answer any questions. Took about 2 hours to take it all in. Lots of interesting cacti & plants that we don’t see in Michigan.

It was a pleasant morning that we spent there.Perhaps in a month or so,the cactus would be blooming.,We happened to go on a day where there was free admission so it was a bit crowded.Nice gift shop with souvenirs available to purchase.

enjoyed the garden as usual. They have a good staff and first aid station, which we needed unexpectedly. Scooter rental is expensive, but they worked well at least.

Love love love.

If you are into nature its a must go.

We went there on a day trip a few weeks ago and had an awesome experience.

If you are into desert nature (like I am!!!) its a must go.

There was a variety of cool cacti there with little flowers on top. There was a trail showing what the native Americans lived in and how they lived which I found super cool. There was a butterly garden which is super cute if you like wild life and also huge cacti to take pictures against.

Looked like something out of a western movie. A must see.

The only thing which wasn't spectacular was the Orchid garden, which seemed out of place. The night time event also wasn't happening which would have been pretty cool. Still 5 stars though.

I only had 24 hours in Phoenix and I’m so glad I chose to spend a good chunk of that time here.
I really loved this place. Fabulous gardens, cactus of all varieties, and wildflowers just beginning to emerge attracting so many different birds including hummingbirds. There’s a butterfly exhibit (free) currently running that’s worth seeing.

This is a great place to watch the sunset.
and the food and coffee at the Gertrude’s restaurant were good too.

I’ve been to a few of these gardens around the country and even some in other countries. This one ranks high of the ones I have seen. It is laid out well and not so large that it is overwhelming, but not so small that you are wondering where the rest of it is. The place highlighted with cacti, but there was so much else. The one thing that I really got a feeling of here, was the desert is full of life and color. They did a wonderful job of how they displayed their plants, using the hillside and mountains as backdrops and very good signage. There were plenty of water fountains along all the trails and bathrooms too. I am not sure how it is in other months, but there were so many blooming plants and the butterflies and bees were all around. It was $90 for 4 of us. A little steep, but if it helps keep this place going, I don’t have a problem with that. The one thing I would suggest is going early in the day, because it was hot and I could only imagine it mid day.

Great botanical garden right in the heart of Phoenix. Easy walking paths and an outstanding variety of cactus as well as other exhibits.

Didn't know what to expect. Beautiful, peaceful, and educational. Lots of unobtrusive little markers that name the various plants. Lots of volunteers to point you and answer questions. Well oiled machine. If I lived in Phoenix I'd come here every day. Also, enjoyed the little cafe, and the garden shop. Yes, we did bring back a succulent and a cactus.

The Desert Botanical Garden in Phoenix is located in a prime and accessible location in Northern Phoenix and provides a captivating experience, showcasing the breathtaking beauty of desert flora. The entrance fee is $ 24 - 29 for adults and $14 - $16 for children 3 years to 17. There is a gift shop and 2 restaurants on the premises that are open from 10 am - 8 pm during the week and 8 am - 8 pm on weekends. The vibrant array of cacti and succulents, set against the backdrop of the Arizona landscape, offered a unique and serene escape. The well-maintained trails allowed for leisurely exploration, and the themed gardens provided educational insights into desert ecosystems. The garden also has featured artist who displays chosen pieces for the garden year-round. There are bathrooms and water fountains throughout the venue for your convenience. Overall, a must-visit destination for nature enthusiasts and those seeking tranquility in the heart of the desert.

What a cool experience. My wife and I loved the Desert Botanical Garden. My wife was a little iffy about the idea but we both really enjoyed it. It Parking was super easy, entrance was even easier. Right when we entered a volunteer gave us a map and explained the layout and what the different trails provided. It was really diverse from a small oasis, large cactus desert areas, grassy areas and more. Every which way we looked was beautiful. It was amazing how large some of the cactus were. We did walk every path with ease. There were some small inclined areas but it was never challenging. We did arrive early before the heat set in and it definitely started to heat up as we went along. I would say arrive early, bring water, wear sunscreen and tennis shoes. We were there about 3 hours and it seemed much shorter pointing out the diffent plants, rabbits, birds, lizzards and prairie dogs.

Partner and I took our 17 yr old son after an afternoon of rain. It was so nice. You can tell there is/was a lot of planning, love and care that goes into this place. We just happened upon this beautiful place. The price was worth every penny. We aren't even plant people and thoroughly enjoyed our time. The art around grounds was beautiful also.

I wasn't sure how a Desert Botanical Garden was going to be but I was pleasantly surprised. This garden has a nice selection of regional plants that grow in this rough area. They use their space well and have trails woven all around. They have some shade and benches for resting. Glad I went right when it opened so I could explore before it got too hot.

There are water refill stations all throughout the Garden. This actually made the trip for me. I didn't have to return to a specific area to refill my water. In 90+ dry heat, that made all the difference. I was able to stay on the trails and explore more of the area.

Parking was great and easy.
Staff was friendly
Water refills were easy
Easily worth 2-3 hours

The only reason I gave 4 stars is that at this time of year there are not many blooms. However it’s still beautiful and magical with the luminaries in the evening.

In a word, it's spectacular. It takes about two hours to walk all of the paths, and you don't want to miss any of it. A lot is accessible for folks on walkers and in chairs, which I think is wonderful. RECOMMENDATIONS: Go when it opens, before it gets hot and the crowds arrive. Bring water and a hat, as there's little shade. Stop for lunch or a snack at Gertrudes, a terrific restaurant on the grounds.

An excellent introduction to the Sonoran Desert. The gardens are nicely laid out, with themed paths that highlights various aspects of desert plants and desert living. The signage is informative, and the gardens have docents throughout that can answer questions and provide brief introductions to various plants. If it's a hot day, I recommend going early. (There was a group of twitchers out early, too, checking out the birds.) Bring water and a hat!

Very nice place to visit, especially if you don't live in a desert area. We learned a great deal about the area, especially since we live in Florida. Very little flowers in bloom this time of year. We recommend.

The Desert Botanical Garden was a lovely way to spend a beautiful winter day. I never realized how many types of desert plants there are. This was a unique garden with so much to see and learn about. I highly recommend a visit to the Desert Botanical Garden.

I’ve never seen a dessert botanical garden and didn’t know what to expect. It was great! The cactus varieties, the trails to follow, the wildlife we saw, the butterfly exhibit, all so fun to see and learn about.

Spent 3 hours wondering the gardens. The staff was so knowledgeable, views amazing and everyone had a wonderful. Grandparents to college students!

Spent a couple of hours here including a toddler. She really seemed to enjoy it. It’s beautifully maintained and quite impressive. Many Docents and staff all were very informative and helpful. One big surprise was the quality of the restaurant which had unique farm to table items that weee delicious and a wonderful setting especially on the heated patio

Great place to visit. Lots of information, beautiful surroundings. Everyone from children to seniors will enjoy this garden. We spent about four hours and while I loved everything, I was pretty hot and tired toward the end.
They offer water stations and water in vending machines (wonderfully cold).
Not cheap, but I felt it was worth the entry price and the gift shop was not nearly as expensive as I expected.
Would visit again.

This was such a let-down. I was so excited to share this with my sister. We drove 40 minutes to get there and then drove around in the parking lot for 45 minutes in bumper-to-bumper traffic trying to find a parking place. We asked the parking attendant for help. The best she could do was suggest we request a refund the following day. :( That's 2 1/2 hours and a tank of gas that I'll never get back! :(

Having been in year's past I know what a beautiful experience this is. They need to get better parking management.

We went on Community Tuesday (2nd Tuesday of each month is free for the community 😁) This is a great option! The easy trails, beautiful landscape & education along the way is a benefit any day of the week! I loved the sitting areas along the way, the water features were relaxing & little concession stand part way was well attended. We’ll be back!

Beautiful collection of cacti. Nice to stroll around, with places to sit and relax. Organized nicely.

Best 4 hours spent in 70 F weather with plenty of sunlight. Was amazed to learn the diversity in a weather, It would have been perfect if the tour guide would have show up for 1 PM guided tour as advertised on website. i waited with other 10 people and there was no show. the visitor center has no idea and could not provide any info. Other than that, it was great experience.

This botanical garden was much more fun than I had anticipated. It is absolutely beautiful and we went on a perfect day with temps in lower 70 degrees. I was truly amazed at the beauty that is within the garden. The butterfly pavilion was an additional highlight to this adventure. This garden is large in size and of course we wanted to see everything so we spent over 2 hrs there. It's definitely a beautiful site to see!

I loved this place! So many cool cactuses and succulents, cool wildlife, art, and a wonderful gift shop. There are water fountains and areas to refill a bottle so make sure to bring a water bottle! There is a free tour I would also recommend where you learn a few fun facts about cactuses and the area. Spent a great few hours before heading to the airport at the gardens with my family.

This is a peaceful walk among the Desert gardens. The walkways are paved with little incline. Until May 11 an Orchid exhibit is quite special, altho hard to find. The Butterfly Garden is also featured. Go early to avoid crowds and parking challenge. Be attentive to which Parking lot you're at as we wandered around looking! Water refill stations &restrooms are plentiful.The trail map is not an easy read & at times seemed inaccurate. The signage could be improved.

I always loved going to the Botanical Gardens in the Spring when I lived in Scottsdale 40+ years ago. This visit I took my husband and he was astounded at the beauty of the gardens. They have certainly been expanded and enhanced over the last 40 years, and there is so much to see here that you can't see anywhere else in the world. We enjoyed the butterfly exhibit as well.

A really lovely botanical garden. It is a lot bigger than you think so give yourself plenty of time to look around (we had to leave early as we were going to miss something else we booked!) It was nice seeing the desert flowers as well as the cacti, as the area has been in a bit of a dry period so you don't see as many when you're driving about. The cactus were fantastic, and we also enjoyed sitting at one of the outside cafes watching the quails and squirrels running about between the chairs. Super cute!

A beautifully integrated display of native flora and fauna with complimentary glasswork by Dale Chihuly. We went just before dusk, so it wasn't too hot or excessively crowded. We will definitely be back.

Enjoyed touring this garden and discovering all the interesting plants that grow and thrive in this area. Will definitely return whenever I’m in the area

Well worth a visit to view a sample of the amazing flora you can find in the surrounding desert. The butterfly exhibit is also an outing by itself. As the garden opens early at 0800am, go as early as you can to avoid the midday heat and also find easier parking.

Beautiful gardens over a large area. Butterfly garden was very special. Nicely designed with well marked trails, shade areas, water bottle refills. Great restaurant and giftshop. Ample free parking onsite. ADA.
$US28 seemed a bit pricey.