The mission of Boyce Thompson Arboretum is to inspire appreciation and stewardship of desert plants, wildlife, and ecosystems through education, research, and conservation.

• Arizona’s oldest and largest botanical garden
  • Founded by mining magnate William Boyce Thompson in 1924
  • 501(c)(3) nonprofit organization
• Plant collections from around the world
  • 20,000+ arid-land plants
  • 4,124 taxa (species, etc.); approximately 30% are species of conservation concern
  • Countries and regions represented: United States, Mexico, Australia, Madagascar, India, China, Japan, Israel, South America, the Middle East, Africa, the Mediterranean, and the Arabian Peninsula
  • Home to “Mr. Big,” a Red River Gum eucalyptus and an Arizona Champion Tree
• On the National Register of Historic Places; historic buildings on site
• 145,000 visitors every year
• The “most enchanting” Audubon Important Birding Area in Arizona; 275 species sighted
• More than 9,000 members
• Nationally accredited plant collections: desert legumes, oaks, and eucalyptus – read more about our nationally accredited plant collections here
• Desert Plants, a scientific journal now in its 44th year
• Specialty tours highlighting wildflowers, medicinal plants, birds, wildlife, history, geology
• 50 miles from Sky Harbor Airport in Phoenix, AZ
• Budget of $4.1 million; 47 staff