Membership Matters! Boyce Thompson Arboretum partners with its members, volunteers and visitors to achieve its mission.
Membership fees support our educational programs for children and adults, as well as the Arboretum’s growth and development.
Please note effective August 1, 2025, we will no longer accept guest passes that do not have an expiration date.
All Memberships Include
- Unlimited annual admission
- 10% discount on gift shop and plant purchases (or more depending on your
level) - 20% discount on plants during Fall and Spring Plant Sales
- Access to exclusive members-only events and members-only pricing for all
ticketed events - $5 admission discount for your guests (limit 9 guests per day)
- Fun, friendly and timely e-newsletter
- 20% discount on gift memberships (not available for purchase online)
- Reciprocal Admission Reciprocal Admission to 300+ gardens, arboreta and conservatories through the American Horticulture Society (AHS) *Does not include Desert Botanical Garden or Japanese Friendship Garden in Phoenix
- The satisfaction of knowing you’re contributing to an improved quality of life, increased science literacy, and enhanced appreciation for the natural world by students and visitors of all ages
Membership Levels
Click to join or renew online, visit us in-person, or call Membership Services at (520) 689-4522 during regular business hours. Purchase a membership when you visit the Arboretum and admission for two adults will be covered! Memberships purchased online will be processed and mailed within two weeks. To make other arrangements, or if you have any questions, please call Membership Services at (520) 689-4522. All membership levels are available as gifts.
For Individuals & Families
- All standard benefits listed above
- Unlimited annual admission for two cardholders
- All standard benefits listed above
- Unlimited annual admission for two cardholders
- Free admission for your children and grandchildren under age 18
- Unlimited annual admission for two cardholders
- One additional accompanied adult guest on each admission
- Free admission for your children and grandchildren under age 18
Arboretum Patrons
- Unlimited annual admission for three cardholders
- Two additional accompanied adult guests on each admission
- Free admission for your children and grandchildren under age 18
- Two complimentary single-use guest passes for sharing
- 15% discount on gift shop and plant purchases
- Recognition in annual report and website
- Unlimited annual admission for three cardholders
- Two additional accompanied adult guests on each admission
- Free admission for your children and grandchildren under age 18
- Four single-use guest passes for sharing
- 15% discount on gift shop and plant purchases
- Recognition in annual report and website
- Unlimited annual admission for three cardholders
- Two additional accompanied adult guests on each admission
- Free admission for your children and grandchildren under age 18
- Six complimentary single-use guest passes for sharing
- 15% discount on gift shop and plant purchases
- Recognition in annual report and website
Champion Circle Memberships
Our premier annual giving program for those who seek to nurture the seed of philanthropy and make a significant impact
Click to join online, visit us in-person, or call Membership Services at (520) 689-4522 during regular business hours. Memberships purchased online will be processed and mailed within two weeks. To make other arrangements, or if you have any questions, please call Membership Services at (520) 689-4522.
- Unlimited annual admission for four cardholders
- Six additional accompanied adult guests on each admission
- Free admission for your children and grandchildren under age 18
- Six complimentary single-use guest passes for sharing
- 20% discount on gift shop and plant purchases
- Recognition in annual report and website
- Dedicated phone line to assist with program registrations and event tickets
- Annual private tour with the Executive Director and key staff (upon request)
- Invitations to exclusive trips to other horticulture and cultural experiences
- 20% one-time yearly facility rental discount (upon request)
- Yearly consultation with Arboretum horticulturists via phone or email
- Unlimited annual admission for four cardholders
- Six additional accompanied adult guests on each admission
- Free admission for your children and grandchildren under age 18
- Ten complimentary single-use guest passes for sharing
- 20% discount on gift shop and plant purchases
- Recognition in annual report and website
- Dedicated phone line to assist with program registrations and event tickets
- Annual private tour with the Executive Director and key staff (upon request)
- Invitations to exclusive trips to other horticulture and cultural experiences
- 20% one-time yearly facility rental discount (upon request)
- Yearly consultation with Arboretum horticulturists via phone or email
- Unlimited annual admission for four cardholders
- Unlimited number of accompanied adult guests on each admission (if more than 10 guests, please notify the Membership team at least day before arrival)
- Free admission for your children and grandchildren under age 18
- Ten complimentary single-use guest passes for sharing
- 20% discount on gift shop and plant purchases
- Recognition in annual report and website
- Dedicated phone line to assist with program registrations and event tickets
- Annual private tour with the Executive Director and key staff (upon request)
- Invitations to exclusive trips to other horticulture and cultural experiences
- 20% one-time yearly facility rental discount (upon request)
- Yearly consultation with Arboretum horticulturists via phone or email
- Yearly in-person consultation with Arboretum horticulturists
Additional Membership Opportunities
Residents with an address in Superior or Top of the World receive 50% off any membership up to the $1,000 Yucca Patron level (not available for purchase online.)
American Horticultural Society (AHS) Reciprocal Admissions Program (RAP)
Boyce Thompson Arboretum Members are eligible for reciprocal admission to 360+ other gardens, arboreta, and conservatories through this program. Please refer to the AHS Reciprocal Garden Network Map for the most up-to-date list of participating institutions, guidelines, and exclusions: ahsgardening.org/gardening-programs/rap/.
*Per the AHS Local Visitor Exception, participating gardens that are located 90 miles or less from Boyce Thompson Arboretum do not apply. This includes the Phoenix Desert Botanical Garden and Phoenix Japanese Friendship Garden.
Per AHS RAP Guidelines:
Call your garden of interest before you plan your visit. Each garden has its own distinct admissions policies and hours of operation, which they may adjust for special events or exhibits.
Each membership card will only admit the individual whose name is listed on the membership card.
*This benefit is for free admission for Boyce Thompson Arboretum membership cardholders only, and does not count toward any additional guests, discounts, event tickets, parking, etc.
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Today marks the start of monsoon season! Typically beginning June 15th, a shift in winds brings increased moisture while pressure builds in the upper atmosphere. This creates the perfect condition for a monsoon. The added moisture from these storms helps sustain plants and wildlife across the desert.
However, monsoons can also bring hazards like flash flooding. Be sure to check the weather forecast before heading outdoors. If you hear or see rushing water, move to higher ground and never attempt to cross.
Stay safe and enjoy another season of monsoons!
#aznature #monsoonseason #arizonaweather #WeatherSafety
Have you ever wondered why plants from completely different parts of the world can look so similar?
An arid-adapted plant native to Africa may share many characteristics with a species native to the Sonoran Desert, even though they evolved separately. This phenomenon is called convergent evolution!
Although these plants do not share a recent common ancestor, they have developed similar adaptations that help them survive in dry climates.
Visit our East Greenhouse to explore arid-adapted plants from the Eastern Hemisphere and see for yourself how they compare to Arizona`s native desert plants.
#aznature #NatureArizona #1Arb #plantfacts #naturelovers #natureeducation #plantlovers
Start your morning off right at Boyce Thompson Arboretum! By taking advantage of our early summer hours, you can ensure a morning surrounded by the sights, sounds, and smells of nature before the temperature gets too hot.
June Hours:
6:00 am – 12:00 pm
Open Wednesday – Monday
Closed Tuesdays
$16 Admission
#aznature #BTA #BoyceThompsonArboretum #ArizonaNature #SonoranDesert
Experience Boyce Thompson Arboretum from the comfort of a golf cart! Our expert Docents will take you on a tour of the most beautiful parts of the Arboretum while sharing stories, botanical facts, and other insights. These tours are the perfect way to explore the gardens during the hot summer months.
Summer Golf Cart Tours:
🗓1st, 3rd & 5th Fridays and Saturdays
🕣June-August | 7:30 am – 8:30 am
💲$20 per person, plus admission
5️⃣Up to 5 guests per tour
Advance registration recommended!
Register today using the link in our bio.
If you visit us this summer, you will likely see the many Turkey Vultures that call the Arboretum home! Early in the morning before it gets too hot they are often seen perched with wings outstretched toward the sun. As it get warmer, they take flight, utilizing warm air currents called thermals to stay up without ever needing to flap their wings. Their appearance and diet may make them seem frightening, but Turkey Vultures are wonderful birds that work hard to keep the environment clean. Come visit Boyce Thompson Arboretum and see the Turkey Vultures for yourself!
#BoyceThompsonArboretum #ArizonaNature #ArizonaWildlife #ExploreArizona #BTA #birding #azbirding
Fruit trees can thrive anywhere, even in the arid Arizona climate! You just have to know the right ones. At Boyce Thompson Arboretum, we grow apples, peaches, figs, almonds, and more. Come explore our gardens and don`t forget to stop by our gift shop on your way out to pick up a plant of your very own.
#BoyceThompsonArboretum #SonoranDesert #ArizonaNature #deserttrees
A coati found near Boyce Thompson Arboretum tested positive for rabies on Monday, June 8. When the coati was initially observed, she exhibited unusual behavior and was safely transported to a wildlife center nearby. Ultimately, she did not survive and after a post mortem necropsy, it was revealed she`d had rabies. We are working closely with Pinal County and Arizona Game and Fish to continue to monitor wildlife in the area for everyone`s safety.
The Arboretum takes visitor and pet safety very seriously. Staff will continue to monitor all coati movements within the Arboretum grounds, ensure they stay away from people and pets, and close areas they are accessing. To keep safe on our trails we urge you to do the following:
- Make sure your pet is fully vaccinated.
- Keep your pet on a leash at all times.
- Inform Boyce Thompson Arboretum Rangers and staff of any wildlife sightings, especially those that are near the trails.
- Keep 50 feet away from all mammalian wildlife.
- Inform Boyce Thompson Arboretum staff immediately if a sick or injured animal is observed.
For any questions or concerns, please feel free to send us a message.
When the sun goes down, the desert comes alive.
Join us for Critter Crawl and discover the fascinating creatures that emerge after dark, including elusive snakes like this Lyre Snake. Guided by our experts, you`ll explore the Arboretum at night and experience a side of the desert few people ever see.
June 12th, 7:30 PM–9:00 PM
$12–$18 | Preregistration required
Children 4 and under and pets are not permitted.
Reserve your spot and uncover the mysteries of the nighttime desert. Link in bio
#CritterCrawl #BoyceThompsonArboretum #ArizonaWildlife #LyreSnake #SonoranDesert