Immerse yourself in the captivating world of Boyce Thompson Arboretum:
- Unveil the wonders of 392 acres of botany brilliance
- Experience the renowned Wallace Desert Garden and 11 enchanting exhibits
- Embark on a journey through diverse plant collections from across the globe
- Open daily (except Tuesdays) – Summer: 6 AM – 3 PM, Winter (Oct): 8 AM – 5 PM
- Tickets: $24.95 (13+), $10 (5-12), Free for members and kids under five Discover more: www.btarboretum.org | Call: (520) 689-2723
Boyce Thompson Arboretum
Half an hour outside of Apache Junction, at 37615 E. Arboretum Way
Superior, Arizona 85173, is the Boyce Thompson Arboretum, a 392-acre botany exhibit with a fascinating history.
Colonel William Boyce Thompson, whom the preserve is named for, was an engineer, financier, and philanthropist. He made his money in the very profitable copper mining business in Globe and Superior. Thompson’s creation of the arboretum can be traced to his visit to Russia in 1918 with the American Red Cross. While there, he saw firsthand the crop failure and starvation that poor agriculture could produce. He believed that food supply, agriculture, and social justice were connected- this and his faith in science lead him to center his philanthropic projects around plants and botany.
Thompson was enchanted with the landscape around Superior, and choose the site for his winter home, the Picket Post House. In 1924, he founded Boyce Thompson Arboretum on the land surrounding his house.
Now, nearly one hundred years later the arboretum has more plants than ever. With the recent addition of the Wallace Desert Garden, the site now holds over eleven gardens of desert plants from around the world.
The Wallace Desert Garden joined the arboretum in 2020, after five years of work transporting and replanting the 6,000 plants. The plants were originally in Henry B. Wallace’s garden in Scottsdale, but following his death, they couldn’t be cared for any longer. So The Wallace Foundation donated the plants to the Boyce Thompson Arboretum. Now visitors to the arboretum can enjoy this garden which features panoramic views and a creekside look at the water, in addition to the many other exhibits at the site.
“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.” – Boyce Thompson Arboretum
The facility has a wide variety of specimens that can be observed by guests, but the their collections of desert plants are especially impressive. Since adding the Wallace Desert Gardens, they now have desert plants from the United States, Mexico, Madagascar, India, China, Japan, Israel, South American, Africa. the Mediterranean region, and the Arabian Peninsula.
Also of note is the Eucalyptus Collection, one of the largest in the United States. Many of the trees were planted in the 1920s, and now the garden features some enormous trees like “Mr. Big,” which stands 117 feet tall and has a circumference of over 22 feet.
The Oak Collection is another exciting exhibit. It contains specimens from Arizona, New Mexico, Texas, Sonora, Chihuahua, and Coahuila, and is part of a multi-site effort displaying and preserving the oaks of the world.
In total, the arboretum contains 4,025 taxa and 20,000 plants. The five miles of trails in the park offer a fascinating look at one of the most diverse plant collections in the world, giving visitors a glimpse of the countless organisms on the earth.
During the summer, Boyce Thompson Arboretum is open from 6:00 AM to 3:00 PM, with the last admission to the exhibit at 2:00 PM. They are open six days a week, only closed on Tuesdays. In October, they switch to winter hours, opening at 8:00 AM and closing at 5:00 PM, with the last admittance one hour before closing.
Tickets are $24.95 for guests ages thirteen and up and are $10 for Children ages five to twelve. Admittance for members and children under five is free.
The Arboretum reminds guests to follow all rules during their visit, including not damaging or removing anything from the location. Well-behaved dogs are allowed but must be kept on a leash no longer than six feet.
www.btarboretum.org
(520) 689-2723
