Welcome to our Blog

Everything You Need to Know About the Missouri Botanical Gardens

The Missouri Botanical Gardens, formerly known as Shaw's Gardens, is the center for horticultural research in the Midwest and one of the most beautiful places to visit in St. Louis. Whether it's your first visit or one of your many returns, there's always something new to see in the gardens.

Founded in 1859, the Missouri Botanical Gardens is the country's oldest continually operating botanical garden. With 79 acres of pristine horticultural displays, the only thing matching the intense beauty is the Garden's passion for research and plant conservation.

If you want to learn more about the Missouri Botanical Gardens, this article will cover everything you need to know, including its history, hours, accessibility, and many attractions.

Where Are The Missouri Botanical Gardens?

The Gardens are located at 4344 Shaw Boulevard, 63110, just minutes from lodging at Lehmann House Bed and Breakfast, in Lafayette Square.

When you arrive at the Gardens, you’ll pass through the Ridgeway Center, housing the visitor’s center, research center, gift shop and cafe before entering the actual gardens.

The Gardens themselves feature 79 acres of immaculate horticultural displays and several gorgeous features to check out, including the Lehmann Rose Garden. Other features include the following:

A 14-acre Japanese strolling garden.

Seiwa-en, The Japanese Garden, translates to “garden of pure, clear harmony and peace” and is one of the most tranquil spaces in the entire St. Louis metropolitan area.

Every section of the 14-acre garden is perfectly arranged to provide outer beauty within simplicity and evoke the mystical at the heart of the seemingly mundane.

The Climatron, a tropical 1.3 million cubic foot geodesic dome designed by the great Buckminster Fuller.

The Climatron is a massive geodesic dome that functions as a conservation center for some of the world’s rarest and most treasured plants. It’s architecturally designed to support itself without internal structures, with sizable glass hexagons that provide a climate-controlled ecosystem.

From the outside, it looks like a futuristic moon colony with self-sustaining life-support systems. Inside, it’s like stepping directly into a rainforest with all the sights, sounds, and smells of tropical wilderness.

A children’s garden with interactive activities and scenery.
The Linnean House, the oldest public greenhouse west of the Mississippi River.

The Linnean House is the oldest greenhouse in continuous operation that’s west of the Mississippi.

Initially designed to grow citrus fruits in the winter, it remains an architectural achievement for its efficiency at growing plants in unsuitable conditions.

Currently, it is a notable display greenhouse that contains colorful vegetation and flowers year-round for visitors to enjoy.

Henry Shaw's Home, open for tours at selected times.
The John S. Lehmann Research Center
Tram rides, guided tours, and more!

Hours and Accessibility

The Botanical Gardens are open Tuesday - Sunday from 9 am to 5 pm every week of the year.
Additionally, they are open on Martin Luther King Jr. Day and President’s day, the only Monday operations,
The Gardens are closed on December 25th.
The Climatron is unavailable from Jan 23-27 of each year when it undergoes routine maintenance.

Admission

The entry price is $14.00 for general admission and $6 per person with proof of St. Louis residency. Member admission is always free.

Groups of 15 or more can take advantage of group sales. Rates depend on the ticket availability and the size of your group and are available with group packages for tours and catering options.

Parking is free at the Botanical Gardens, and spaces are always available. There is also on-street parking as well.

Did the Botanical Gardens Really Start as a Research Center?

The Botanical Gardens are internationally recognized for their work in horticultural research and conservation. Much of this is housed in the John S. Lehmann Research Center.

Their mission is to protect and conserve endangered species while allowing individuals to enjoy nature's intricate beauty and astounding simplicity in its purest form.

As conservation leaders internationally, the Missouri Botanical Gardens are dedicated to the stewardship of flora and discovering the most recent advances in ethical conservation.

However, in addition to the tremendous research at the Gardens, visitors can enjoy many of the activities and festivals available throughout the year in this extraordinary greenspace.

If you're visiting St. Louis, it's one of the most fantastic attractions you can see and will provide quality family time for the whole day.