Boyce Thompson Arboretum’s newest garden, the Wallace Desert Garden, offers expansive views, creekside trails, and hundreds of plants brand-new to BTA!
At 13 acres and with more than 5,000 new plantings, the addition of the Wallace collection moves Boyce Thompson Arboretum into the top tier of botanical gardens around the world. The main trail is wheelchair accessible.
The Story
In 2014, the Arboretum was approached with a unique offer. Would BTA accept a donation of an entire garden’s worth of plants collected by Henry B. Wallace—the Wallace Desert Gardens collection? H.B. had filled his garden with an international palette of arid land plants—a stunning array of thousands of mature trees, shrubs, cacti and succulents. He had passed away in 2005 and his foundation was no longer able to maintain the valuable collection in Scottsdale, but they wanted to keep the collection together. At BTA the plants would get the same amount of rain as at the Scottsdale location and would have the same dew point and elevation.
Not only did BTA need to design a new garden, it had to transplant 5,870 plants. Beginning in December 2015, most of H.B.’s collection was moved 75 miles from north Scottsdale to BTA—by truck, car and semi. Logan Simpson Architects, Native Resources International, the Wallace Desert Gardens Board and staff, and Boyce Thompson Arboretum all collaborated to bring the mammoth endeavor to completion. The team developed and designed a 13-acre garden with 1.5 miles of new trails, and a bridge over Queen Creek.
Experience the Garden
Perfectly situated next to Queen Creek, the Wallace Desert Garden expertly exhibits H.B. Wallace’s collection by region. From the Yucca Forest to the Baja Loop, you’ll see plants arrayed in a natural setting along winding trails. Of the 1,223 taxa (species, cultivars, hybrids, varieties) in the garden, 861 are new to Boyce Thompson Arboretum, and 62 species are considered to be rare or endangered.
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Did you know the Smith Greenhouses used to be the entrance to Boyce Thompson Arboretum?
When the Arboretum opened to the public in 1926, the historic Smith Greenhouses were the original entrance and Visitors Center. On the left is a photo of the east wing of the greenhouses from 1929. The right shows the east wing, present day.
Which version of the greenhouses do you prefer?
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The Wallace Rose Garden is showcasing beautiful fall blooms.
While rose blooms are typically associated with April and May at @btarboretum, many of the roses in our Wallace Rose Garden and Heritage Garden also bloom in the cooler months.
Plan your visit to stop and take in the beauty of the roses. Get tickets at the link in bio.
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This Tuesday, veterans receive free admission to Boyce Thompson Arboretum.
On Veterans Day, November 11, 2025, we honor the bravery and sacrifice of our United States veterans. From 8 am - 5 pm, present your military ID at admissions to receive free entrance to the Arboretum.
We are proud to recognize and thank those who have served our country.
Meet the artist behind Glass in Flight 🦋
Join us on November 15 & 16 to meet Alex Heveri, the artist behind @glassinflight . Crafted over four years by Heveri, this exhibit captures the magic of nature’s tiniest pollinators.
Heveri, a Tucson-based artist and sculptor, will talk about the process and inspiration behind her larger-than-life glass pollinators. Guests will be guided on a tour of some of the pieces in the Glass in Flight 2 collection and have a chance to ask Heveri questions about the exhibit.
Dates:
November 15 | 5 pm - 7 pm
November 16 | 10 am - 12 pm
Guided tours will depart from our Welcome Center at the event start times. Meet the Artist is free with admission.
Get tickets at the link in bio.
Escape into nature this weekend at Boyce Thompson Arboretum!
Get tickets at the link in bio.
Fall Color Update: Our canyon region is slowly turning gold. 🍂
The Jujube trees are currently putting on their full fall display along Thompson`s Trail, and the Honey Locust have begun to turn. The Chinese Pistache trees have yet to turn their vibrant reds and oranges, but are slowly changing as temperatures cool.
Follow us to stay updated on fall color at Boyce Thompson Arboretum!
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A new band of coati has been spotted at Boyce Thompson Arboretum!
This little one is searching for bugs in the tree bark. Recently, the coati have begun to hang out in the Myrtle Tunnel in the Arboretum`s canyon region. Morning time offers the best chance to see them.
Get tickets at the link in bio.
The Arboretum will close at 5PM on Saturday to the general public! Last admission is at 4PM.
For more info and tickets, visit us at btarboretum.org