Missouri Botanical Garden Reviews

So much to see but not enough time. We spent a few hours there. It was hot but there are plenty of shade trees and benches. The sculptures were photo-ops. Origami is the theme.

A diverse and well-maintained display of floral beauty from the area and outside of the area. Well worth a full day of exploring. Be sure to bring your camera!

Since I first heard of this botanical garden, I wanted to experience it. I had read great things about it so I had high expectations. The gardens surpassed my expectations. I hope to return during different seasons to experience the gardens again, even though I live 7 hours away. Even in early spring (end of April) the gardens were beautiful. The dome was awesome. The place is huge!

This is such a beautiful place. We didn't get to see even half of it but the Japanese garden was huge and peaceful. The atmosphere in the Climatron was tropic like and the plants there and all over were thriving. Staff were very friendly and well versed so questions and additional information was always at the ready. A wonderful experience.

One of the best botanical gardens in the US. Mostly easy to navigate for young and old and there is a tram. The displays change with the seasons. Located in the city, it is close to other attractions and a wide variety of dining. Beautiful year round.

I absolutely loved coming here. The parking was easy to find. Once we parked, there was an air conditioned shuttle to take you to the entrance and take you back towards your car afterwards. Let me say, I absolutely loved that and the shuttle lady! She was so nice! We bought advanced tickets so getting in was super fast and easy. The grounds are stunning and well-kept even though all the flowers hadn’t bloomed yet. The Japanese garden was stunning and picturesque. We took many photos over there lol. Overall, I enjoyed my experience and would come back if I’m ever in town again.

We came here on our last morning in St. Louis before driving home from spring break. My only regret is that we didn’t stay longer at the Botanical Gardens! The Children’s Garden is fantastic with lots of areas to explore, climb, slide, play, etc. An excellent place for kids to get wiggles out. We were able to walk through the beautiful Climatron. I wish we had had time to see more of the Gardens and that we could come back when more is in bloom.

We went there by a recommendation. This place is amazing. They layed out the place it very nicely and labeled almost all of the plants. The pathways are wide and guided you through. They had a kids area with slides, forts, rope bridge and more.
You can spend a whole day looking at all of the different plants.

The gardens are well labeled and we had fun contemplating plants for our own home. The fall colors were also in full swing.

I attended with my family in December 2021. It was so beautifully decorated with lights. That's all just lights. We just strolled at our own pace, there were no lines to wait in, just a steady stream of people following the path the gardens. We could stop along the path anywhere we wanted and admire. No rush, no hurry. Drink stations were placed every now and then, for all ages. The little ones were SO excited. I live in South St. Louis County, less than 7 miles away and this was my first time attending this spectacular event, never knowing what I was missing.

Had a wonderful visit to
The Garden today. Plenty to see even after the winter blast last week.
Lunch in the onsite cafe was very good as well!!
Definitely recommend a visit here.

I’ve been to better gardens, but this attraction still gets five stars.

It is large, but not overwhelming. It’s very well organized by type of plant and easy to navigate. Several pretty water features. The fountains weren’t on in late April, but I assume they are beautiful when they are activated. Honestly, serval flowers weren’t blooming yet, so maybe wait until mid May or check the website?

My favorite part, what I found most interesting and unique, was the Climatron, a large climate controlled geodesic dome meant to mimic a rainforest.

Not only was it great for photos, it was full of lush greenery and a fantastic Dale Chihuly art piece. It was 18 dollars for entry.

They also seem to have evening events, wine nights, and kids days. They are in the middle of a multi-million dollar entrance revamp, so it’s a little chaotic at the entrance, but not too bad.

On-site food options (sandwiches, small fare), but quite crowded.

Not a destination, but again, worth it for the climatron.

This place is a must see while in St. Louis! There is always a lot to see and do! While it involves a lot of walking, the paths are easy to navigate. There are multiple different gardens throughout the property and they always have the prettiest flowers. The multitude of water lilies were the highlight of my last visit!!

We had a great time at the botanical gardens. So much to see and so many varieties of plants. I wish we would have allowed more time in our trip so we could have spent the whole day there.

We recently visited the “Garden Glow” holiday lights display here and really enjoyed it. I was so glad the event runs a good many weeks—into early January—so we could catch it returning from our winter holiday road trip; happily, I was able to secure tickets for the date and time we wanted a bit last-minute with no difficulty.

We had an early entrance time, but the main parking lot was already full upon our arrival; however, a parking attendant directed us to a nearby overflow lot, where we caught the free shuttle. We got dropped off/picked up right at the Visitor Center entrance, so that worked out great.

We found the lights here very pretty, with a nice variety around the grounds. The path through the lights was easy to follow (a map is provided, but it’s not really needed). “Follow the Glow” directional signs were posted throughout, and staff members were stationed around as well. We enjoyed touring the Shaw house, all decked out for Christmas, and also watching the light & music show there while awaiting entrance.

Refreshments were available throughout the garden, but we had already had dinner. We spent about two hours walking around the garden. We are looking forward to returning to see the garden in nice weather on another visit to St. Louis!

My wife and I spent about 4 hours at the Gardens. We took the tram tour which provides an overview and a lot of information about Henry Shaw, who originally owned the property and whose mausoleum is in the Gardens. A serious gardener could easily spend days here..... We were lucky to see the Japanese flowering cherry trees in bloom; the Japanese garden is the most extensive and beautiful one we have ever seen, with its waterfall, stream, lake, island, stone lanterns, koi, and so on. The tropical and rain forest plants and trees in the Climatron geodesic dome are also great. My wife is a serious gardener and we plan to visit again in a few months. But even if you are not a gardener, this place is incredibly beautiful, and must certainly rank as one of the top such places in the country if not the world.

This is a wonderful way to spend a Sunday afternoon. I went here with a friend, and there is just so much to look at and explore. I love that there are names of plants everywhere with little symbols letting you know more about the plant.

Even though the gardens are beautiful, my favorite part has to be the koi fish. Some of them are just huge! And you can buy fish food for 50¢. Trust me, this is a lot of fun no matter how simple it sounds.

In all honesty I would not have visited had it not been the Number 1 attraction for Tripadvisor. However, I am so glad we did. This is a great garden with a lot of diversity and a beautiful setting. Every garden was impressive and the recent rain early in the day just made the garden look so great. I love the lake around and semi-wild gardens around the property. With that said the domed Climatron was fun and the manicured gardens were wonderful. Despite the threat for rain, we walked nearly the entire property and visited longer than I expected, as my wife and I were impressed by what we saw. Have faith in the authors, there is a reason this is the number 1 attraction.

Beautiful gardens and buildings walking at your own pace. Lots to see so plan a minimum of 2 hours. Shade and inside a/c to help on a hot day.

Chihuly at Night is a fabulous event. Now extended so make plans to enjoy the art lit up. If you arrive at 6pm, the light was great for photos. Spend some time resting and go around again from 8:30pm onwards and you can see it at night.

The botanical gardens were as beautiful as we expected. There was so much to see from the gardens to the mansions. Its history was amazing. So far, this is the best botanical gardens I've visited. We even got a chance to see the corpse flower that I had only seen in a movie prior to the visit (Dennis the Menace)

I love visiting Botanical Gardens and was lucky to have beautiful weather on what should've been a stormy day. Lots of renovations happening so some of the areas I was hoping to visit where unavailable, but the trip was definitely still worth it. The smaller gardens and the Climatron were perfect for a stroll.

This garden was beautiful. I’d love to come back and see it in the spring and summer, but even in the fall it was amazing. You can tell there is a lot of love that went into the creation of these lands. The newer Japanese garden in the back even has a bridge where you can buy fish food (bring quarters) and feed the koi fish! Should be noted: my husband did not kill me for dragging him here.

Went for the holiday Garden Glow. It was beautiful! Much bigger than I imagined. It was 5:45pm Monday night so didn’t seem overly busy. Parking was easy in and out. Just a beautiful events that will make everyone happy.

We got here 1 hour before close - so it was half price. For us an hour was enough to walk through quickly and see a few highlights. They have an exhibit with metal sculptures throughout the park.

We were there for an 8 yr old's birthday party. The children's center was full of LGBTQIA+ materials- even though it is now July, and a botanical garden has nothing to do with sexual preferences, or children. NOT happy.

Very clean well run gardens. Nicely laid out grounds that can be covered in about 2.5 hrs. We thought we'd like to come back in other seasons to see what's blooming. May need a bit more signage or more maps around grounds.

Well laid out building and place to got see different plants and flowers, it is truly beautiful and worth a trip to see. It has neat gardens to walk around and view all the different plant life.

The Botanical Garden is very large with many gardens. It was nice to walk around and take in the beauty even when nothing was in bloom yet. I bet it’s so beautiful in the late spring/early summer. I would have loved to see the two rose gardens then. With limited time, we took a nice stroll through the Japanese garden. Some areas were closed, so we were a bit disappointed. We saw lots of turtles and geese! The Climatron was great, because inside the dome we saw blooming, tropical and very unusual plants. This was so worth a visit…everyone loves a bit of nature!

What an amazing well kept gardens. We spent several hours walking about. We saw lots of spring bulbs blooming. The display of color was captivating. Taught my pre- teen about photography. It was a great day

The early fall weather was beautiful on the day we visited Missouri Botanical (Shaw) Garden. Save a few hours for a leisurely explore on foot.
I particularly enjoyed the Dale Chihuly glass sculptures and the Climatron botany.
Keep your masks on. Don’t mess with the park-keepers. We witnessed two alleged scofflaws get escorted off the premises after at least two reminder/confrontations.

This was a pretty cool experience for any plant and flower lover. It was a little late in the year for peak experiences, but still was a day well spent.

The Missouri Botanical Garden, also known informally as Shaw's Garden for founder and philanthropist Henry Shaw, is one of the oldest botanical institutions in the United States. How many botanical gardens can boast of being listed on the National Register of Historic Places (1971) and designated as a National Historic Landmark (1976)? Located at 4344 Shaw Boulevard in St. Louis, adjacent to Tower Grove Park, it features more than 6.6 million specimens in its herbarium, the second largest in North America, behind only the New York Botanical Garden. Founded in 1859, it is a center for botanical research and science education of international repute. And it also is an oasis in the city with 79 acres of horticultural display, including a 14-acre Japanese strolling garden, the Climatron geodesic dome conservatory, a children's garden, a playground, a pioneer village and a water locking system, somewhat similar to the locking system at the Panama Canal, an Osage camp and Henry Shaw's original 1850 estate home. Among the most popular features are Linnean House, built in 1882 and said to be the oldest continually operated greenhouse west of the Mississippi River; the Climatron, which was constructed in 1960 and is the world's first geodesic dome greenhouse with about 1,500 plants; and Seiwa-en Japanese Garden, built in 1970, a 14-acre wet strolling garden with lawns and path set around a four-acre central lake, the largest Japanese Garden in North America. Henry Shaw's magnificent mausoleum also is located in the gardens. A statue of George Washington Carver also is on display. So are four priceless pieces of glass sculptures by noted artist Dale Chihuly.

This is a happening place year round, but it is especially wonderful at Garden Glow. Magical, fun and an excellent activity for families and even large groups. Be sure to try the hot chocolate. Best of Missouri is also a worthwhile event in October.

Each time is a relaxing visit. Sometimes you can take a special tour or there may be special exhibits. Make sure you check out the Climatron and the Japanese Garden. There is also a good restaurant in the visitors center. Weekdays there is usually ample parking on the grounds. Weekends or special events use the parking lots to the west by the Monsanto building.

What a beautiful place! So much to see. Variety of gardens, sculptures, butterflies and more. Very enjoyable for all ages. Restrooms and vending machines within the park.

Hint: Purchasing a membership provides access to the Garden as well as the Butterfly House and 800 other attractions throughout the US so well worth the investment.

I had not been to the Botanical Gardens for a while. They have added several food options. The park is decorated for Christmas. The grounds are beautiful. I bought a membership.

The gardens were exquisitely beautiful. Their displays are gorgeous. It’s a relaxing, beautiful atmosphere. The glass sculptures interwoven throughout their gardens were unique & beautiful.

Take YOUR TIME....

We visited the day before the Japanese festival.
Sorry to have missed it, but never having been there previously, we were more happy to have missed it.

We were able to wander...stop.....look....wander...sit
At our pace with a few people at times around us but usually not.

The basic question of a tourist, IS it worth going here? My answer is yes, but understand this is a HUGE garden ...We found ample benches to sit..rest look
Enjoy it....

Something for everyone. The Japenese Garden, the Climarton, The Chululy Glass, The Camelia house to name a few but the attrrations.

The overall facility is beautiful and there are many things to see. The issue is they are not properly equipped to handle the crowds of people. Overcrowding is a problem, this extends to parking which is usually filled to waiting in line to use the restrooms.

The Climatron is fantastic. The Chihuly exhibit is not to be missed. You can spend the entire day there for only $14, but the experience is priceless1

The Gardens were a pleasant surprise. We did this first day of vacation after traveling and it was a nice stroll around a beautiful Garden. Lots to see and very peaceful. Once the construction is complete, I can only imagine how much better the place will look.

Lovely gardens. Wonderful place to spend a day. Changes with the seasons so think about when you’re visiting and consider going multiple times.

This garden is so good, we are members and we live 4 hours away in KC! Their children's garden and playground is fantastic and they have a great children's area inside the tropics building as well. The Japanese, Ottoman, and Chinese gardens are can not miss!

No matter the season, the Missouri Botanical Garden is something to see and experience. The Garden Glow is very well done with the lights coordinating with the music...all of it surrounding you as you walk through the garden.

The Garden is one of the great destinations for everyone, young and old. It is so large that you will want to spend an entire day or join and visit often. My grandson (age 7) has enjoyed the garden since he could walk. We often go in winter to the Climatron and the indoor children's area. When it's warm, the Childrens' Garden is a huge favorite. We also stumbled on Henry Shaw's birthday party! A great special event.

This is quite a nice botanical garden. It is mostly in a circle with a lot to see inside. We did not have to book online later on a Saturday afternoon in late-September but it was a very hot day. You may need to book ahead during other times of the year.

Beautiful gardens which are laid out nicely. We lucked out seeing Chihuly exhibits throughout the gardens which added to the visit. Nice place to visit.

Mo Botanical Garden is a very well curated garden with beautiful specimens from all over the world. The Climatron has incredible tropical trees and plants right there in the Midwest! It’s best to stroll leisurely throughout the gardens, including the lovely Japanese Garden. Well worth the price of admission!

Whether you're out for a leisurely walk through the many different garden styles, or wanting to get a bit of exercise - Missouri Botanical Gardens is the place to go! We are Garden Members and go quite often. Lots of activities for the kiddos and most of the paths are paved and work well for wheelchairs or strollers. On busy days, parking can be a bit of a hassle, but you can park down the street at one of the overflow lots and walk past the lovely houses & shops along the way. The Garden Gate Shop is always fun to go into, many of my Christmas presents have come from there. The jewelry is beautiful and not too expensive!

I have always enjoyed my visits to the Missouri Botanical Gardens. This was the first time I took my toddler to MoBot, and he loved it! We spent a good amount of time at the children’s garden. That area I have never been before and it was much bigger than I thought. He enjoyed running around, explored different areas, and even planted a pansy to take home with the help of garden staff (this isn’t always available, but it was during our visit).

After the children’s garden we checked out the center for home gardening which is awesome for people living in the area as they do a ton of research on plants and how they thrive in our climate. They even have a section for indoor plants and label each window with what direction is pointing.

For this trip we finished with the Japanese Gardens and saw the cherry blossoms and watched the koi swim.

If you have never been, I highly recommend going. There are always tons of activities and community events, so check out their website for what’s coming up. We spent the good part of the morning there and still only visited a small section of the gardens.

Large crowd, and rent-a-cop's snide attitude during the Japanese Festival on Labor Day shows this place is unable to handle large crowds. I will never return to this wretched place.

I was very impressed with my visit. I hadn’t been in about 15 years so I felt like I was visiting for the first time. This place is much larger than you would think. The paths are well paved and laid out nicely. There is a lot of history here so there is a lot to learn if you enjoy history. There is even an old house you can tour that was owned by Henry Shaw in the 1800’s. Henry Shaw is the one who created the gardens. There is a wide variety of beauty such as the Japanese Gardens. There are plenty of restrooms throughout the gardens, places to get a snack or a drink, and lots of benches. Some people bring a book to read and enjoy a nice Sunday afternoon in the gardens. I highly recommend!

Know that even if you are a Senior, you don't get any discount unless you say you live in St Louis. Full price. I did not lie. And the ticket lady wasn't a front office person. Lots under construction. Not going to put this on my "must see" list after this experience.

FAIL - GO during daytime
Chihuly night was a fail, the staff is closing the trails and path early (8pm) making everything else crowded you are basically only have access to half of the botanical garden for triple price.

1 lame 3 men band when pop up tents, music, and food were advertised, the cocktails were 2 stands for the whole garden. The drinks sold in vending machine were not filled up and ripped us off money.

Extra charge for chihuly nights but offering only half absolutely not worth it, a complete fail.

Definitely one of the top three botanical gardens in the world. Hands down. It is truly a hidden gem in the United States.

Fabulous place to walk and enjoy nature and great company. So many wonderful trees and flowers and great architecture. This my second visit. The weather was cooler and it was more enjoyable. So many good things to see.

We visited the garden on June 20. You can park for free at the entrance. For an additional fee you can take a cart to be driven around. June is not really the time to visit the garden. The garden will certainly look more attractive in the spring.

BEAUTIFUL. The front is under construction but it does not effect visiting. We took our 1 year old and parents with us. We walked mostly everything. Very clean paths and seating through the park. They had watering stations throughout which was helpful due to getting hot. I do wish they had trash cans along the paths. I have no negative comments about here, its beautiful and wonderful.

I even proposed to my wife here. Shoe came untied and I came back up with a ring in a quiet spot in the japanese inspired garden. There is simply no way to avoid a special memory here. Create your own...Explore...enjoy!.

My husband and I came here during our recent trip to Saint Louis. I have been to many botanical gardens across the world. I would say this was one of the larger ones. There were many different areas to look around. We stayed for about 3 hours, but would have been able to spend much more time here.

This is a great garden. I was here in mid-October and was a little disappointed there were not more Halloween/Fall decorations and flowers. I can only imagine how great this place must be in spring and summer at the height of growing/flowering season. Don't miss the Sachs Museum to see the beautiful painted ceiling - just fabulous.

I believe this is the oldest botanical garden west of the Mississippi River. It was really nice, but the best part was the 5$ tram that took you all over the park, for those who can’t walk that far. It had 3 stops you could get off, but I wanted to see All of it then revisit my favorites, but you had to surrender your ticket. I would use a hand stamp method to allow people to get on and off all day. Lots to see, then you can walk to the 2 crazy stores on the corner—one was Bugs, etc I think. I dined at the brunch place, for about $12, way awesome! Enjoy!

We had a morning here and could easily have spent the whole day if time There are lots of different gardens all beautifully maintained with countless plants to admire.

Love, love, love photographing and walking the gardens. Lots of natural wildlife throughout Garden as well.

Outstanding gardens, masterful exhibits in all types of biomes.

As a landscaper and nurseryman I was truly impressed by the design and sheer variety and size of the grounds!

Would love to see in the early spring when the Iris / daffodils are in their prime but I’m sure a visit in any season is well worth while!

Beautiful, gardens. A variety of plants and flowers. Incredibly fragrant. Beautiful scenery, paths, benches, etc. Can't speak highly enough about it. The Climatron is also so unique and felt like we were in the jungle during it.

Such a beautiful place. The gardens are numerous so plan plenty of time for your visit. There is a section where you can get some great ideas and information for your home garden. Well worth the trip here to SL.

In the interest of full disclosure, I’m a member and have been for about ten years. MoBot is one of the sweetest places in the city, and you can’t get any more city than these environs. It is an oasis just off interstate 44; a gift to the city from Henry Shaw, and founded in 1859 when it was kind out in the country.

There’s a number of smaller garden areas within the Gardens so you move from English Woodlands into Japanese to Prairie and Butterfly to Chinese and Home. A tram for those who need assistance from place to place, a lovely family center connected to the Climatron where it’s always warm and jungley even in January. There is an amazing Children’s Garden open April through November with lots of climby things for the kiddos.

Lots of festivals which I avoid, due to the size of the crowds, but if you like that, check out the Japanese Festival, the Chinese Festival, and Best of Missouri Hands. I do love the cactus show, and orchid show.

My favorite places are the Temperate House with the lovely Persian courtyard and fountain, sunny and warm enough to sit and relax in the winter, the peonies along the walkway at the a Japanese Garden, Sassafras Cafe, the scented garden, oh my, just too much to mention.

Take it from a hometown girl, it’s one of the best places in StL.

I stopped by on a Saturday morning and the gardens are just simply beautiful! There is so much to see here that you would need an entire day to visit the grounds. I am definitely going to plan to return and spend more time this is one of those spots where you could go and relax and forget all of your problems.

The MO Botanical Garden is a great experience in season. With lots of paved trails, flowers and special exhibits, it is a favorite place to spend a few hours. Special events are also held throughout the year, so check the web site. Some parking lots are a few blocks away. They are an easy walk if the on-site lots are full.

I have used their online resource for years but hadn't had a chance to visit. What an amazing garden, amazingly right in town,

my wife and i came here in mid april 2022 for an afternoon visit. our time here was spent mostly touring the grounds seeing the multitude of gardens and flowers that were in bloom . our favorite was the Japanese gardens.
this place is small enough to tour on foot. yet large enough to take several hours to explore. there are food options including a small cafe with limited choices . the dome is worth wile to see for plants and other tropical type things. it is quite humid in there and a big temperature change from the 50 degree weather we had the the day we toured it.
pricing was fair for what you get. members can enjoy free entrance to here and other botanical gardens. parking was free . with several overflow lots to accommodate higher visitation. i would go back for sure.

We had 2 tickets ($40 total) to Shaw's Garden's "Garden Glow" for last Saturday night at 6 right after Christmas. We arrived and saw a crowded parking lot off Shaw Avn. and were concerned it would be crowded and potentially unsafe. Not to worry! This Botanical Garden is so large and well laid out that it was very accommodating.
We loved nearly every aspect of what the caretakers of the garden had done to it. The lights are well placed and unique enough to make the walk thru experience quite special. Although we could not go inside the centerpiece, which is the unique and historic treasure, the Climatron, we loved its color changing exterior lighting.
Sorry but I only took a couple of photos, having left that task to my wife, but trust me I have many fond memories of what I saw over our approximately 1 and 1 half hour leisurely walking and sitting visit. Some of the Garden is under construction but did not interfere with our visit.
Well worth the price of admission in our opinion.

I loved this place. The day lilies were in full bloom. We also enjoyed the sensory garden. It was a hot day but there is lots of shade and benches to sit on. We also enjoyed the climatron. Definitely don’t miss this place!

This is an outstanding institution dedicated to bringing botanical knowledge and experiences to the general public. In addition, it is a leader in botanical research around the world. What a fantastic resource for the people of St. Louis.

We visited the Botanical Garden for the first time on our recent visit to St. Louis and wow, were we impressed. What an absolutely beautiful oasis. The gardens are huge. We enjoyed the climatron wtih tropical flowers, the Japenese garden, the Chihuly glass art in particular, however all of the gardens are meticulous. It's difficult to describe just how beautiful the botanical garden is. It's a must see for all. We could have spent all day exploring the beauty.

We had been wanting to visit every time we were in St. Louis, but never found the time. This visit, we went. The garden is very nice. You could wander around for hours seeing all the gardens, ponds, forested areas. The Japanese Garden and Chinese Gardens are not the best I’ve ever seen, but they are still peaceful. I wish a few more things had been open like the Tower House and the mazes. We spent around 1-1/2 hours. If I lived in St. Louis, I would purchase an annual membership just so I could visit often.

One of the biggest green areas I have been to, wear something comfortable to walk for miles, loved the whole idea and concept of this garden. It felt like heaven.

This is definitely a must-see in STL. We went in July, and it was really hot. However, along with all of the fantastic plants and flowers, they had an amazing Chuly glass exhibit. It was beautiful especially when they lit the pieces at night.

St. Louis botanical garden is second in size only to New York Botanical Garden. iIt is a spectacular place to visit for couples, families, for a full day or for an evening stroll amid a multimedia light show. We were there for both, and greatly enjoyed all the different gardens, especially the Japanese garden, and the boxwood garden, along with display gardens for ideas for our own home. We ate lunch in their café, which was surprisingly good and fresh. The evening light show completely transformed the park, and we were able to walk for over a mile through the light show for a great after dinner stroll. They continue the light show through October, and also have a different light show over the holiday season.

The MoBot Gardens is beautiful anytime of the year. Being a local has allowed me to visit during each season and there is always beauty to be enjoyed. Some favorites are the summertime Wednesday evening Whitaker Music Festival which is free. Visitors bring in their own picnic dinners and enjoy an evening sitting outside listening to various musicians throughout the summer. Children are encouraged to run around in the fountain play area and cool off in the splashing water. Wear a swimsuit and bring a towel. *Locals Tip: Children’s Garden outdoor play area is free to locals on Wednesday mornings. Not part of music fest.* In the winter there is the Garden Glow which lights the entire outside area up with beautiful light displays that visitors walk through. Admission cost is reasonable. Hot chocolate/light concessions are available. It’s a fabulous kick-off to the Christmas season!

We went at the wives insistence; turned out to be not too cold and a wonderful experience. Words can not express how well done this is, the music and displays are not less than outstanding.

They do a great job keeping the gardens beautiful and interesting. My toddler grandsons enjoy visiting here as much as we do. They have a nice cage and gift shop.

Just beautiful! Children's garden is awesome. Bring kids swim suits for SO MUCH FUN on a hot summer day. Other fountains around the garden are also enjoyable. And feed the koi way back in the Japanese garden. Plus adults will enjoy this summers Chihully display.

The Gardenland Express, the garden's Christmas floral display and model train display is so beautiful. It is well worth a visit.

The experience for the Garden Glow was still pretty good. However, it pales in comparison to former years. I hadn't been in several years since the Pandemic. But I took my two nieces (one visiting from Atlanta). Neither had ever been, and I really pumped it up for them. Yet, I was underwhelmed this time.

Many of the trees remained bare and unlit. Some of the paths were blocked with signs reading "path closed". And there weren't nearly as many dancing/moving light animated displays as there used to be. It used to take us nearly two hours to walk the paths completely. This time it only took us about an hour.

With so many other venues competing with their own light displays and shows now, maybe
The Missouri Botanical Garden didn't have as many sponsors to support their light expenses this year. And for that, I am very sorry.

This is one our favorite places in StL. The lights were beautiful at night. We liked the music with the lights. We skipped the treat stops as we were planning dinner at a nearby resturant. Like to visit in all seasons.

Always kept up and beautifullyrics maintained. We go 4 or 5 times a year. Japanese gardens are tranquil... in the spring I love all the irises and roses!

The Botanical Gardens Light Show opened at 6:00 so it was still light enough out to check out the gardens before the lights started to come on. Beautiful but the light show was just amazing. I would definately plan on going again

A tad out of the way from downtown so make sure it's beautiful weather. Bring some snacks too. Nice to walk around and see.

We really enjoyed our 3 hour visit here yesterday. Loved the variety of plants, water features, glass art and sculptures. We were very lucky that it was a beautiful day to boot. Was slightly disappointed with the special “smell” exhibit…not much to smell there.

Appreciated the free parking! Important to wear comfortable shoes.

Lovely botanical garden with outstanding: rose garden, climatron and Japanese garden.... A must see if you are visiting St. Louis !

What a beautiful and interesting garden! It was difficult for a couple seniors to cover it all, and we recommend buying the $5 tickets for the hop on, hop off Tram. We didn’t do so until exhausted, but it was a great way to orient yourself. We will return again.

The Missouri Botanical Garden in St. Louis is one of the preeminent botanical gardens in the world. Not only is it an important scientific center, its gardens are also beautifully landscaped and maintained. Worth a visit in every season. I especially liked the very old “brick greenhouse” and the carefully manicured Japanese garden.

5 out of 5 doesn’t seem good enough.

My wife and I greatly enjoyed our time here.

The way the entire layout flowed together found us lost in the beauty of the moment without care in the world. It was a wonderful experience constantly finding something new, with plenty of places just to sit down and relax.

The entry fee was small, and well worth it.

A beautiful place well worth the trip.

Wish I lived in St. Louis! I would be a regular visitor to this place. Visited on April 9, 2024, so the timing was perfect for tulips. But I have a feeling this place would be a great visit any day of the year, There are so many garden plots. Nice peaceful walking paths. Free parking. Admission is $16.

We are members of the Botanical gardens as it is a nice place to walk on weekends. The Christmas light installations 'Garden Glow' are definitely worth visiting. Do some marshmallows over open fire and enjoy the beautiful installations.

This is a nice botanical garden. The front entrance has a lot of construction going on right now. It was a peaceful way to spend an afternoon.

There is a charge for admission; this is not like the St. Louis Zoo or Science Center (which charge for parking). There is free parking in a lot (check the lot even if it says it is full, because there were lots of empty spaces when we went) and parallel parking along an adjacent street.

We particularly enjoyed feeding the koi fish and ducks/geese. Bring quarters to buy feed. Kids will enjoy this activity.

I was surprised to see an additional charge for adults to go to the children’s garden. That just seems wrong.

Everything the garden does is exceptional. One of my favorite places in St. Louis. Must see in the spring when the cherry blossom and Bradford pear trees are blooming in the Japanese garden.

This is another "must do" stop in St. Louis. Regardless if you are a gardener or not, this botanical collection is beautiful. There are several section dedicated to different cultural settings. Big plus, we went during the Chilully Glass display. There is a cafeteria in the main visitors center and they sever good food.
Enjoy, Gene H.

Wow! We planned our garden with the help of the Missouri Botanical Garden Plant Finder website, so we thought we'd visit the garden. OMG! It surpassed our expectations. You can't beat he variety, the history, the beauty, whether you are a professional or just love pretty sights. We didn't know a ginko tree could be so large. The Japanese Garden calms the soul. The Climatron housed thousands of plants noy seen in this zone. Don't miss this.

We attended the gardens special orchid show! The garden is beautiful anytime of the year. Spring is always beautiful time of the year. There are many special events during the year to attend.

We are fortunate enough to live within walking distance of the Gardens and often invest in a membership for the year as we use it so much.

Non-resident tickets are $16 for an adult but Wednesdays and Saturdays are free to the public.

Special events can be reserved with a membership or with advanced tickets.

We utilize the indoor kiddo area during the winter and the outdoor kiddo area the rest of the year; a great splash pad, climbing areas, a playground, sand pits, play store, and lots of learning opportunities. The outdoor kiddo area costs a small fee ($2-3 per age) with under 2 being free. The indoor kiddo area is free and open all year round.

I enjoy the just walking the gardens at all times of year and day; especially watching for what changes seasonally.

The gardens are very friendly to nursing mommas and folks who need to pump or settled a kiddo down. Head to the Climatron and indoor kiddo area for staff direction on what rooms to use.

We also love Garden Glow at Christmas, the Japanese Festival, and the Whitaker Music Festival which is free (and while busy), a great free date night.

Super place to visit any time of year! The Botanical Gardens are full of wonderful natural displays. We went when the Chihuly exhibit was there. The glass and the natural beauty of the surroundings made for wonderful viewing.

The day we went was when the Japanese festival was on so parking was at a premium but after we found a space we got to see what the gardens had to offer.There are tons of exhibits to see and plants of every size and shape.The gardens are really well organized and enable you to get around without any real trouble.would definitely like to go back in the spring to see what else the gardens have to offer.

Great afternoon with the plants and trees. Most amazing was the lily pad pond. Added bonus is the Chiluly exhibit sprinkled among the exhibits.

Pay the price of admission. And enjoy the walk through the gardens. There seems like no end to the choices. The Japanese gardens have little places to explore, water features, an entire lake to walk around, zen gardens, covered patios, and creeks. The English gardens wander hither and thither. The Climatron allows you to walk through a rainforest. The place is a wonderful maze to get lost in. Plus they have a real shrub maze to test your abilities.

Enjoyed walking thru the garden. (We missed using the tram service that starts in May.) While flowers were going thru its growing/dying process, it was still pleasant being there. It will be great when the current construction projects are completed this year.

Such a beautiful space. One of my favorite spaces was the lily pond with Chihuly globes. Just beautiful. The Japanese garden was peaceful. A wonderful outing to see plants and botanical design. Be sure to stop in the gift shop, such a fun selection.

We had 2 hours before our flight....I wish we had 2 or 3 more hours There was so much to see and experience. The grounds are beautiful and so well tended. The glass enclosed structure was so lush and surprisingly different from other greenhouse domes I have visited. The Japanese area was extensive and so well done - feeding the large - no giant koi fish was a treat.

We went on a busy sunny Saturday in April. As a member NYBG in Bronx NY many Botanical Gardens has a reciprocal agreement for admissions and was great.

We have been to many Gardens throughout the US and the world and this one in STL is right up there among the best.

Early spring flowers were in bloom along with many great sites. The better Gardens - like this- have great water features, buildings and sculptures.

It is a very nice stroll through here and is well laid out - Bravo !!

We love a good botanical garden and this is exceptional! The Chihuly glass only adds extra sparkle and an extra dimension to this wonderful place. Lots to see and room to wander. Numerous water features with glasswork, sculptures, butterflies, cafeteria, gift shop, ample parking. It was a great pity the rose garden was mostly done, bit late in the year for roses. Prepare to spend a few hours.

This is a large, beautiful space to visit. Beauty abounds on these lush, landscaped grounds. Currently, there is a Chihuly Glass art exhibition throughout. Chihuly’s organic like glass sculptures blend perfectly with the gardens. At night they are lighted in a spectacular display.

I had heard great things from friends, but WOW! Amazing experience! Staff was great, and the grounds were very clean and well cared for. I must see when in St Louis.

This is a beautiful place to spend the day! The Chihuly glass exhibit throughout the gardens make it magical!

Not sure if this is better than New York Botanical Garden, New York City.

Or if the Japanese garden is better than the private Japanese garden in Rockford.

And surely the desert plant garden isn't as complete as either Phoenix or Albuquerque's desert gardens.

Or even if the natural garden is as good as Santa Barbara, CA Natural botanical garden.

But it's a nice place in Saint Louis, very popular with parents with babies in strollers.

The grounds are gorgeous and there is so much to see. The Climatron dome was amazing! We are looking forward to going back in the spring when everything is in bloom.

We cannot begin to thank Donna H., our fabulous volunteer tour guide, on our recent visit to this magnificent garden. She is a delightful woman who obviously loves sharing the beauty of each inch of this wonderful place. We enjoyed both the company and the sights we beheld. Her knowledge of the history and the flora and fauna exacerbated our appreciation and love of it.

If I lived nearby, I would visit a lot. Grounds were beautiful with different areas to walk through. It's a large place! We visited for a little over 1 hr with 2 young kids and didn't see everything.

I love to visit botanical gardens throughout the U.S. and this is one of the best. We have visited many times and it never disappoints us.

What a pleasant surprise!

We were in St. Louis for the weekend in October and found ourselves with a little extra time that we took to see this attraction. The Missouri Botanical Garden is large, varied, and utterly enjoyable. We were a couple, but I think almost everyone would enjoy it here.

There are, of course, beautiful gardens, but also many paths, pools, and artworks (both modern and traditional). We had a map (which we would recommend), but part of the fun was roaming around and seeing what was around the corner.

Come here on a nice day and enjoy a few hours.

East to get to and spend the entire day. Several different areas to visit and so many different species and variants of plant. Don't be in a rush. Bring your own water bottle as you will be walking a lot.

One of the best gardens I have visited. It is incredibly large. Every kind of flower and garden style imaginable. Loved the greenhouses, water features and sculptures as well.

The most beautiful botanical garden. I have been here twice and both times have enjoyed every minute. We visited the Chihuly Nigh Exibit and it was goregeous!

Ride the tram first to get a general layout. Then walk to some of the many unique areas i.e. Japanese Garden to get a closer experience.

This is one of my favorite botanical gardens, BUT I think going during COVID is not a great time to visit. You have to prepurchase entry tickets. We unfortunately prebought tickets for a day that was horribly humid and 97 degrees. You are required to wear a mask for the entire time you are on the grounds--not just within 6 feet of others. It was very hard to breath. When no one was around, we would dangle our masks from one ear and put them back on when we saw another visitor. A staff member saw us put our masks back on about 20 feet from her and gave us a lecture. I did try to explain we were being responsible, and said it was hard to breath. She told us it is harder to breath on a respirator. Besides the face mask issue, they have closed off large portions of the garden which was very disappointing. The next day we went hiking without masks and everyone we came across were very mindful of the 6 foot social distancing--even when passing on paths. I will remain diligent in the protocols for avoiding the spread of COVID-19, but unfortunately it seems that the botanical gardens cannot trust its visitors to do so.

Gorgeous flowers, trees and plants. Really beautiful flora.

Rainforest dome. All different types of gardens. Herb, scent, English, French and Japanese to name a few.

Went to see the origami statues in the garden. Very cool.

We bought tickets for there evening light show which was from 6-10:30p.m. We got there about 6 so that we could see some of the gardens during daylight, but we also got to see the sunset over the ponds which was picture perfect. The light show to music and the lights around the gardens were very nice, but was told some were not working and offered us to come back another time for free. It was well worth the tour.

The whole gardens are beautiful well set out with many activities for children like feeding the fish in the pond going to the water jets as our great granddaughter loved trying to cover the jets of water. They were giving out plants to anyone interested and many other things for small children to do.

Extremely dissatisfied with ticketing. We love botanical gardens - and have a local membership with the American Horticultural Society. We're going to STL with another couple to meet a third and everyone wants to go to the MBG. Great! The MBG says Saturday entries should be purchased online, since only a few are available the day-of and they go fast on Saturdays. Ok. Oh, STL residents get in free on Saturdays - great! - but there's no option in the ticketing online for that. So you have to pay regular $6 +$4online fee each. There's also no option for reciprocol membership admittance (which they say they do with the AHS!) either. So call, right? Nope. Tried over and over - automated system won't let me talk to a human there. So you either show up and pay $28 total (for the two who are full pay), taking your chances on a Saturday so you might not get in, or you pay $76 online. I've got no option as other folks are counting on us going now. You've got your money now - so this is the only recourse a customer is left with.

An awesome display of Christmas Lights. I really enjoyed the maze of trees which had white lights. Great place for the entire family. Lots of walking on flat terrain sidewalks. Saw many wheelchairs and walkers along the way.

This is a diverse and vast garden with an historic home to visit as well as a small museum. The August color was lovely; the waterlilies particularly beautiful. The Children's Garden is a treat with a splash pad and hands on activities. A morning well spent.

This is an amazing place to visit, plan to spend many hours, to much to see and walk around. You will love the variety of plants and flowers and tons of Information.

Hubby and I went there for a last minute date night. It was very well set up. I bought the tickets online so we could go to dinner and then see the show. When you walk in there's someone to scan your tickets and take your temp. They ask that you keep your masks on at all times including pictures unless you're drinking (P.S. they have amazing wintery alcoholic beverages at the shop to the right of the big tree). The lights set up throughout the gardens are beautiful and the rows of Christmas lit evergreens make for beautiful photo ops. There's also a cool musical projection on the center building that's worth stopping for a moment. Beautifully run and still a nice spontaneous getaway.

My wife and I actually just went to Paris in May of this year, a city area known for their beautiful gardens (Versailles, Luxembourg, etc.). I am not exaggerating when I say that the Missouri Botanical Garden put those, and all others we've seen, to shame. It is enormous, has an incredible variety of displays, and is very well maintained. This is definitely a worthwhile stop.

Beautiful place to walk and enjoy the plants. Especially lived the done with the tropical plants, the chinese garden and the japanese garden.

They’re not open on Mondays but Trip Advisor says they are open. What a waste of time. I don’t know hoe good it is. It’s not the garden’s fault but Trip Advisor did not do their homework.

I am a season pass holder. Unfortunately just moved away from STL, but I would honestly come back just to visit this garden!

I love the gardens! And try to visit a few times per year. Their festivals and events are always great! (From their holiday light show, to craft beer tastings to the Japanese and Chinese culture days....they are all great!). And when nothing big is going on: what a peaceful lovely place to spend a few hours.

A beautiful place. The gardens are well maintained and stunning.

The site was originally a country home for a wealthy St Louis merchant who left it to the city in his will.

A must see for those who love gardens.

The giant water lilies are a sight to behold! Epic botany at every turn. Whether you are outside or inside the botanical conservatory, wonders never cease to amaze.

This breathtakingly gorgeous botanical garden showcases the beauty of the natural world. The gardens are very well-maintained, and during COVID, everything is clearly marked with directions and indications for physical distancing. The Visitor Center is under construction, but they clearly direct people to get to the garden. There are Chihuly sculptures throughout the garden as well! I especially loved the Climatron (rainforest exhibit) and the Japanese garden. There are so many different species of plants here that it could be mind-boggling, except that it's all super peaceful and calming, and allows us to enjoy the gardens at our own pace.

Went there to relax for the afternoon was amazed at all the beautiful plants and flowers staff was excellent one of our members ended up purchasing an annual ticket they enjoyed it so much

We've loved the garden through many seasons, but this was a fun visit during the Best of Missouri Market. In addition to all the wonderful exhibitors and sellers, there was a talented Cajun Zydeco band kicking up the spirits. And, it was all happening with the Chihuly exhibits enhancing the natural beauty magnificently!! The weather even cooperatedl It could not have been a better day at the Garden!

The Botanical Gardens are really nice- so many plants to look at and/or perfect for being out with nature. We went here while on vacation to STL and it was another wonderful spot in the city to enjoy the outdoors and learn more about the place.

We enjoyed walking around the park with friends who were members and filled us in on all of the background. They were also plant experts. It is a beautiful place. Lots of walking but so diverse and interesting. Not your average botanical garden. We plan to go back for the Christmas night glow.

Seriously.....you could spend an entire day in this Garden and then want to pitch a tent to spend a night there to savor the night garden....Unfortunately, that wouldn't go down well with the gardens staff. Do not miss this St. Louis treasure.

The new handicap entrance is steep and long.
I miss the Chihuly at the entrance. I do like you can rent a vehicle to drive around and they offer wheelchairs.

A very impressive garden. It's quite large and will require a lot of walking but found it to be worth it. They definitely have some beautiful flowers & plants there. We really liked the educational signs in the Climatron building that sought to explain more about the cocoa, rubber and coffee plants. Overall, a worthwhile visit.

My family and I were in St. Louis and just sort of lucked into finding out about the Garden Glow. Honestly, we've went to several of these sorts of things, both driving and on foot, over the past decade or so. I was going to take a pass but my wife wanted to do it and we had quite a bit of time after checking out the new St. Louis aquarium so we went. She was right, it was well worth it. Other than the Atlanta Botanical Garden's light display, nothing we've been to has been close. I'd hesitate to pick which one was best, and if you're reading this Atlanta probably isn't your second choice anyway so I'll move on.

The lights are *very* well done and there's plenty of interesting displays. The music throughout is a nice touch and made it worthwhile to stop and really enjoy a given area before moving to the next.

It's just gorgeous, festive, and fun.

So happy to be able to enjoy the festival this year. The entertainment and exhibits were first rate.

This was a great activity for our social distancing vacation. Even with a few areas of the park closed, it was still an enjoyable and beautiful activity.

What a beautiful place to spend the day! You don't have to be a gardener to appreciate all the work that goes into making such a spectacular place. There is even a temp controlled geodesic dome called the Climatron, where tropical plants flourish. The venue was inspired by the great Kew gardens in England.

As a member of the Garden, I love to visit all seasons. It is one of the best anywhere. The children's section is a lot of fun for children. As a traveler, make this a must see!

I have so many warm memories of MOBOT... it's always a MUST SEE every time I'm in St. Louis. Add it to your list and DON'T MISS IT! Fun for the entire family.

So we had a weekend in St Louis and we were spending time with our nephew and wife-to-be, who coincidentally live across iss the street from this wonderful escape. And it was on their list of places to take us. I personally didn’t know what to expect. They have a paid membership to the Garden which is convenient for anyone who lives local and wants to spend a day exploring Z

I was amazed at how massive this place is as and how it was sectioned off into many different gardens:

The areas that stuck out for me were the Clinatron, which is this massive structure filled with lush plants and trees as well as fruit trees. Walking paths lines with information plaques detailing the different plants around it.

The next section that stuck out, the Hapanese garden, which also gives an opportunity for “interaction” by feeding the fish and ducks, and geese. When I tell you, the most massive carp that we’re swimming around were the biggest I’ve ever seen and wondered how they managed to get that big couldn’t be purely from the feed pellets you can feed them. And yes, you can buy feed from the gift shop or any f you carry quarters they have dispensers available to get the pellets.

Taking advantage of a beautiful Spring Saturday, seeing all of the tulips in bloom was a perfect way to spend the day.

Went to the Garden Glow with a group and had a great time it something to see if you have never been there. You can spend as much time there just walking around taking it all in.

Beware: we were charged full price and all the major exhibits were closed! It was quite a ripoff. It’s a beautiful place but I didn’t get my money’s worth. Please check before you buy tickets!

A very fine garden with lots to see.Tremendous number of varieties all well labelled.Would not have missed it!

It had been 40+ years since I had visited....I wasn't disappointed! The Japanese section is great. Lots of walking but worth it as we saw geese coming in & a hawk sitting on a bush having lunch. Go during the week when kids are in school. They have an oversized golf cart that cost $5ea that will drop you off in the back & work your way up. Allow at least 4hrs or more as there is much to see & allow time to just sit & enjoy!

The Missouri Botanical Garden is a late 1800's 79-acre garden, the nations oldest operated botanical garden. Among the 27,000 plants you'll find old brick structures, glass blown architecture, statues and a massive dome greenhouse, which is the world's first completely air conditioned greenhouse. An incredibly scenic and serene experience, I really enjoyed visiting here!

You cannot visit the gift shop unless you buy a ticket. I just wanted to buy a gift and they refuse to let me in without a purchase. This makes no sense to me. I understand Covid precautions- but how is this helping?

Loved my visit to the Botanical gardens, I'm ashamed I don't go more often. It's so well maintained, the staff is friendly, and it's a relaxing way to spend the day.

Missouri Garden is worth to see. And if you enjoy watching lights then you should definitely go there on Christmas and New Year. They decorate the Garden very beautifully. People of all age especially children will love to watch this.

I have been to bigger and smaller botanical gardens, and this one fits in between. Takes 2-3 hours to go through. Very clean and lots of varieties of plants, trees, and flowers. Very enjoyable time.

It is hard to say anything bad about the Missouri Botanical Gardens. It seems to have something going on all the time, and only slows down a bit for cold weather. Call before going to find out what you can do. My favorite is the orchid show and the taste of Missouri. There are many other events. Many are family oriented.

We have been members of the Missouri Botanical Garden for over 40 years and mostly live outside the US. We are briefly in town and went to the garden for the early walking hours today. However, we were prevented from entering, "Oh, there is a special event today so no walking hours." What good is the garden if it is closed without notice. I didn't give it one star because I have always loved the garden. That's why we have been members for over 40 years, despite living outside the courntry. No more!

Maybe my favorite botanical garden in the US.

My wife and I are members of the gardens in Denver, which is outstanding but this blows that one away. Much more land to work with and this results in an unparalleled experience.
In addition, clearly the community is very supportive based on the "extras" all around the park like lingering Chihuly art pieces well after the show ended.
VERY impressive place.

Beautiful. Fabulous, Happy. Interesting. Large. Well Conceptualized. Absolutely recommend for Singles, Families, Couples, Groups, Children, Everyone. Feed the fish at the Japanese Garden bridge! YES GO GO GO.

Prices have increased significantly in the gift shop since the renovation.

There are not workers/volunteers in the Garden to explain plants or answer questions in each area which is super disappointing. Plant labels have real limits.

TWO FACTS YOU MUST REMEMBER:

(1) NO CASH IS ACCEPTED ANYWHERE including ticket counter, gift shop, and tram. You'd better have a credit or bank card.

(2) Parking has been reduced since major renovations. Parking in the street is highly undesirable. It would benefit visitors if the Garden would purchase land and build a parking lot with security and shuttle service for overflow.

I had mixed feelings about this visit. We went specifically to the model railroad and holiday flower show. When compared to the former Gardenland Express exhibits, the current show is somewhat lacking. This is the second year for this particular exhibit, and I did not find much of a difference to warrant another visit. It is widely known that the Garden director does not particularly like these kids of exhibits, so perhaps that is why the former Gardenland Express was dumped. Also, the hours are so restricted for the operations of the trains, that it is ridiculous. We went when the trains were running and this was a great disappointment. I spoke with a Garden representative at the exhibit, and she could not comprehend my disappointment. She pointed out new structures on display, but I told her that they were nice, but they would not make me want to come to the exhibit. Missouri Botanical Garden Needs to return to the Gardenland Express!

We went at night to see the exhibit. It's the best time to go to appreciate the beautiful colors in the blown glass forms.
The exhibit is open till October 15th.
Don't miss it!

We were there in late March. It was a beautiful day and even though it was too early in the season to see much in bloom, the grounds were lovely. We really enjoyed the Climatron with several interesting trees and plants.

Long time garden members. Always enjoy visiting the many diverse areas of the garden. Best on a weekday and not in mid summer. Multiple visits better to not be overwhelmed. New $100 million visitor center fixed a non existent problem and ruined several older facilities. Terrible handicap access. Very long wheelchair ramp. Poor visitor flow for special exhibits. Gift shop now focused on decorative junk and not plant sales Don’t know what happened to Chihuly sculpture that hung in old visitor center.

You need at least an hour to enjoy everything. There are 2 photo ops with seats and lighting. Music. Lights. Smores. Drinks. Bathrooms. Gift shop. Parking is free.

Buy your tickets in advance. If you come slightly after your scheduled time, you can walk right in and not wait in line outside.

This was a Bucket List item for me and it did not disappoint! The staff we encountered were fantastic, the plants were amazing. Spring had not yet sprung when we were there and I hope to go back during different seasons when outdoor plants are blooming. The hellebores were all that was blooming, and as impressive as they were, it has to be mind-blowing when the weather warms up.

We had a nice time walking around the Botanical Garden's. It is so beautifully done. You can get lost walking around there.
We were surprised with how big the grounds were.
We would love to go back the next time we visit Saint Louis.

Not much blooming outside in March. The plants inside the different green houses were beautiful. Nice walking paths

Just left St Louis where I had a mixed and FABULOUS experience at the Missouri Botanical Garden. Mixed because it was cold, windy and too early in late April to see much growing. Fabulous because I lucked into the beginning of a Chihuly exhibit that doesn't technically begin until tomorrow, but the glass sculptures were in place, gorgeous and glorious. It was great fun "discovering" new glass structures, hidden among the foliage of the garden, floating on small pools of water, hanging from the ceiling. This is.a MUST SEE EXHIBIT. Definitely worth traveling to St Louis where I was also much more impressed by The Arch than I ever expected.

This is a beautiful and well-maintained green space in St. Louis. During our visit, the cherry blossoms were starting to bloom as well as some of the other flowers. The Climatron was such a unique experience, and the Japanese Garden was quite picturesque. The roses and some other plants were not in bloom yet. The weather was just perfect to explore the gardens. There is a gift shop and a cafe on the grounds. It is possible to easily spend half a day here. We enjoyed our trip!

This place does not allow pets at all. Not even in the outside area. Such a waste of time coming here.

Have been to many botanical gardens and this one is worth the admission. Deceptively large, it took us a while to see it all or perhaps our pace was affected by the excessive heat.

Absolutely delightful. Volunteers and staff are extremely friendly and helpful. Too much to fully appreciate in just one day!

If you crave tulips, daffodils and redbud, this is perfect timing. Slightly awkward access with construction projects. Best part to us was the experience in the Climatron. So lush. Nice gift shop, too.

We visited the gardens for the festival and enjoyed walking the grounds and climate controlled dome. Glasswork in the water features is beautiful, as are the displays of plants. The vendor tents and food court were well organized and provided a good variety. We enjoyed our afternoon.

Absolutely spectacular botanical garden right here in St Louis. Easy to get around and the price is reasonable. Lots of parking and a tram if you do not feel like walking the entire garden.

I used to manage garden stores in San Diego, CA, as well as taking care of interior and exterior plants at a major mall in St. Paul, MN, and taught edible wild plant classes at a community school in Minneapolis, so I love visiting beautiful gardens, both large and small.
I first saw this place in the 1970's. It was great then, so I had high expectations. I was not let down. It exceeded my expectations.
There are so many superlatives: 1) It's huge, 2) It has multiple specialty gardens, 3) It is well cared for, 4) It's reasonably priced, only $14 for a senior. It is open 9-5 daily, with a few buildings having shorter hours. Although much of it has paved walkways, so it is wheelchair friendly, to take it all in by wheelchair might be exhausting unless you have a motorized unit or someone is pushing you. The place is, for the most part fairly level, no big hills or slopes. There was a young lady there in a wheel chair, along with her husband who was not in one, and we had a nice conversation about the place. They were enjoying the visit.
As for specialty gardens, there are ones featuring irises, daylilies, more than one rose garden, a sensory garden, a hosta garden, bulbs, an Ottoman garden, herbs, Victorian, Bavarian, Japanese, Chinese, children's, and many more.
To be honest, there was nothing I didn't like about the place.
In my opinion, of all the gardens I have seen across the U.S. and Canada, this and Longwood Gardens in Pennsylvania are my favorites, as well as the one in Montreal.
Allow a lot of time to see everything, if you can, so you aren't rushing through. This place is meant to be savored.

Loved this place, if you love flowers and all types of plants this is your place to go. A lot of types, colors and beauties.

Great place to visit. But the visit was frustrating because there were very few garbage/recycling bins. Try carrying around a cup for 1/2 mile and still not finding one. The same cup they sold me!!! Enough of a small thing that it becomes a big thing.

Beautiful area with labeling to help the novice recognize the plants. Nice area for families with children. Lots of walking paths.

The botanical garden is beautiful! Very well-maintained and huge! You need an entire day just for the garden and it's worth it! Particularly interesting is the Climatron, a conservatory dome that serves as a greenhouse and is gorgeous. I would visit it again!

Went with family to the Party Lights event which was very pleasant and entertaining for the entire family.

We decided to visit the Missouri Botanical Gardens to see the Cherry Blossoms while they're in bloom. We made our way to the Japanese Garden. The Views of the Cherry Blossoms are amazing. The entire garden is impressive. Love this place. Glad I'm a member.

We probably visited this place at a wrong time. We didn’t see much outside but there were quite a few to see indoors. I think the tickets were slightly expensive compared to what we saw. I can imagine how this place would look during summer and spring. They were displaying lights for a certain period during the season which we found out during our visit. To see the lighting, you would have to visit after hours and buy separate tickets. We plan on visiting this place again after hours to see the lights. I am sure the kids would love that.

CHIHULY IN THE GARDEN Art Exebition. Wonderful especially after dark. Must see!!
So very romantic !

Visited for the garden party lights evening event, was just amazing and great value. Just fantastic to walk around and see the sights. Cannot wait for next visit.

We always enjoy our visits to the botanical gardens. The japanese Festival was great! Lots for the kids to enjoy.

Beautiful garden 😍 not to be missed during a visit to St Louis.
Congratulations to the gardeners for the work done.
The “Japan” space is of incredible beauty. We meet squirrels 🐿️ at the bend of an alley.

We went to the gardens in March, so we didn't expect to see many outdoor flowers in bloom. However, the daffodils were looking very good. The outdoor path around the Japanese gardens was very nice. We were disappointed that a couple of the indoor exhibits were closed, but overall, I would recommend this stop.

The botanical garden is one of our favorite things to do in St. Louis. We appreciate the time and effort it takes to make the gardens such a pretty place. We took the tram for the first time on one of the visits, and it was very informative. The wait for the tram was a little long at times as we hopped on and off throughout the day, but you are waiting in a beautiful place so we didn’t mind.

Would love to get to see this place in full bloom in the summer, but even in November the greenhouses are beautiful.

Wow, the variety and quality of plants in the botanical garden was fantastic. Grounds were well kept. Social distancing enforced. Great place to learn about plants or to just chill and stroll.

This garden is an absolute delight. The Dale Chihuly blown glass display was amazing. The Japanese garden was very cool. So well maintaned and laid out. It takes a while to walk around but so very enjoyable. It was a very warm August day 102F so pick a cooler day.

This botanical garden is HUGE. We were short on time so only saw a small portion of it. The climatron was really cool, and the separate children's garden (which you do have to pay extra for) was so fun for our small kids. We also enjoyed feeding the koi in the Japanese garden. There is something here for everyone. Arrive early in the day or be prepared to park really far away!

Gardens are decent, but I would probably just go to a local park next time. There is A LOT of construction going on and it might be better when the construction is done. I also don't like the cashless policy because it racist on my opinion. Only 72% of African-Americans have Credit Cards (they have a work around) and the results showed in the lack of minority visitors when I visited (single digit minorities). The Climatron was nice. I also enjoyed walking around the Japanese Gardens and Children's Garden. Especially like the way they tied in local Children Book's Authors with statues and the like. Unfortunately, the price is not justified with what the gardens offer.

Surprisingly the food at the cafe here at Missouri Botanical Garden is excellent. I had the chicken salad with a side garden salad and iced tea! Perfect! Walking the gardens you will get your steps in and we decided to stop for lunch before riding the tram to see the farthest spot Japanese Garden, lake, English Gardens and Shaw home. Beautiful place! Our favorite - the climatron, waterfalls, rocks and hanging baskets with tropical feels. My second favorite was Chinese Gardens. Loved it.

The best time to visit the Garden is in the spring when the bulbs are blooming. The second best time to visits is anytime you are able to go.

Many places to visit here both in and outdoors. Museums, Climatron and herbavarium are all worth a visit. Temperature up to 90 degrees on last few days of September.

Walk or tour this magnificent garden in Central St. Louis! Seasonal events that will "knock your socks off"! Educational services are available, too! Chiefly love the Orchid show in January to March and the incredible lighted gardens at Christmas and summer!!

My first time visiting and it was fun to see the Chihuly glass installations. The garden is huge, so expect to do a lot of walking. They have an army of people keeping the place looking nice. While I was there, the iris and peonies were in bloom, as well as some roses. It would be nicer to visit again a little later in the year.

If you're in St. Louis, you should really put this on your itinerary. There are numerous themed gardens throughout, a jungle (Climatron), children's area, and a sensory garden, along with several greenhouses. They host various events throughout the year, and parking is ample. I visited twice while I was in St. Louis, because I just couldn't see everything in just one visit.

The Christmas lights and themed holiday music was extraordinary. There is section where they project choreographed music and lights. We sat there in awe. It is absolutely beautiful .. They also sold food and adult beverages along the path. Everyone was required to wear a mask and social distance. I felt safe the entire time. I highly recommend this activity, but it sells out quick.... Because it is that good!!!

Visiting the Botanical Garden on a gorgeous fall day was a treat. The new visitor center was lovely with its own eatery (Sassafras, reviewed separately) and Garden Gate Shop. We took the tram around ($5 with limited hop on, hop off stops) and then had lunch on the patio. Very lovely.

This is a really nice park with lots of paths to explore. Take the time to walk and learn. If you like photography, you will have ample opportunity to add to your portfolio.

Spent a Sunday evening here viewing the holiday lights. Dress warm , takes about Two hours to walk around the park. Worth the time and money. Beautiful

Absolutely stunning. I loved the variety of all of the different gardens, and the information on each of them. You can see the work and dedication that has gone into the design of the grounds. It is really hard to pick a favorite spot, too. I adored the views that were set up in the Japanese garden, and the quiet and solitude in the Chinese garden. The climatron is just freaking cool as heck. I took so many photos. I also really love the Chihuly pieces and the history of the grounds overall.

Wonderful place. Quite large; we spent almost the whole day here. There are many sections ranging from formal gardens, to kitchen gardens, and all sorts of stuff from different parts of the world. We took the shuttle for an extra $5 that you can get on and off for various sections of the grounds. There's even a mausoleum. We even got advice on home gardening! There's a place to grab pre-made food as well as a restaurant.

My friends and I spent a weekend in St Louis at the end of April, and we enjoyed our visit to the Missouri Botanical Garden.

The Garden is in the middle of a very nice neighborhood; as we walked along the street, we admired all the houses with their lovely front gardens.

The Visitors’ Center was very open, expansive, and welcoming, with a very nice gift shop that drew us in. All the staff were excellent—very hospitable and informative.

The general layout of the gardens is beautiful and very amenable to viewing from any perspective. The specialty areas are artfully designed and invite the visitor in to admire not only the plants but the sculptures and buildings on the grounds.

Our favorite part of the Garden was the Climatron. It was FABULOUS, with an abundance of tropical plants, lovely landscaping, and water features. We also enjoyed the Kemper Center for Home Gardening. An unexpected benefit was that the artwork for the Chihuly exhibit had already been placed; it was a fun scavenger hunt for us, to look for all the pieces on display.

It’s definitely a visit that the thoughtful visitor may wish to time with the seasons. There were many plants not blooming, others that had just finished blooming, and some empty beds that we noticed during our tour of the gardens.

The signage on the grounds could have been clearer; we did not have a map, and it was hard to find particular areas (e.g., the Victorian District, the Japanese Garden) once you were on a path. We would also appreciate better signage at the corner parking lot stating it is an overflow lot; we parked there as we approached from the east, and it was two-block walk from the Garden (where there was plenty of parking).

We did enjoy our visit to the Botanical Garden, and can see why it’s counted as a city gem.

Beautiful garden. Not very big, but worth the visit. Give yourself at least 3 hours to enjoy it. Lots of playgrounds for little kids.

We went on a Sunday night while the Chihuly Glass exhibit was there interspersed through the gardens. It was magical! Seeing the exquisite glass pieces floating in the ponds or hanging above your head in the Climatron or interspersed with the beautiful perennials and annuals in the gardens. They had benches along the way to rest and they had beverages being sold throughout the pathways. We did not get through it all but what we saw was a once in a lifetime event. They also had a documentary being shown in an air conditioned building to sit and watch and learn more about the man who created the art work you were seeing. Well Done! And I need to go back just for the relaxing walk and learning more about the flowers and trees. And during the special show they even had musicians playing live for you to enjoy!

I missed more exhibits on native plants, but otherwise this is a great botanical garden with lots of variety and beautiful layout

We so enjoyed visiting these splendid gardens one slightly rainy afternoon, that we returned the next morning and took the tram tour to see more and hop off and walk the elegant Japanese garden area. Every single corner of these gardens is a picture. Also, delighted that donors enabled the Gardens to retain some of the great Dale Chihuly glass installations. Can't wait to return at another time of year to see different flowers and shrubs.

We really enjoy botanical gardens and this is probably one of the best we have seen thus far and one of the oldest in the USA.

It’s really well laid out so that armed with a guide pamphlet you can easily find your way around all the different themed areas and thus not miss anything.
The Chihuly glassworks added to the experience.

We particularly liked the Climatron and the possibility to sit amongst nature and feel as if you are in an oasis of calm rather than in a big city.

We also used the restaurant and found the menu to be super inclusive and both had a lovely fresh and healthy salad.

We went on Labor Day Monday. It was part of the Japanese festival - even though the place was packed we were able to find parking within a 2 block radius. It’s a huge and very nice gardens. The weather was also perfect for walking around. All the flowers in.blossom was a feast for the eyes, The Chinese and Japanese Gardens are just awesome. The children’s garden is also extremely fun. We went in around 10 AM and did not leave till about 4:30 PM. Had a full day’s worth of walking in nature. Highly recommended.

What an amazing place! COVID-19 safety practices in place from the moment of entry: masks, one-way entrance through a couple buildings to get out into the gardens, social distancing. Chihuly fans take note: Visitors Center lobby chandelier, trellis in the rose garden, herons in the Climatron, and most notably floats in the Milles Sculpture Garden!! And all the water lilies were phenomenal...as we learned that the MBG has a long history of growing more than 50 different Nymphaea varieties and the Giant Victoria water lily with leaf spans up to six feet!! Loved the Climatron with its more than 2800 plants, and the Japanese Gardens with its meditation areas and colorful trees and the pond. As our time here was limited (just one stop on a 9-day roadtrip), we made our way through the Herb Garden and Victorian Garden and saw some of the original buildings. Such a lovely experience. Hope to return some day to spend more time here.

This garden is a real gem. The climatron itself makes it worth a visit. We were there at 9 on a very hot Saturday and it was still very pleasant to walk around. We didn’t really explore the house demonstration gardens because of the heat but they looked interesting. We did tour Shaw’s house. They had a docent there that gave a great talk about him and the garden.

Very nice gardens. The roses were beautiful, and I enjoyed the focus on homing gardening too. The gardens are big so be prepared to walk. I would plan on spending several hours and more if you are really into gardening.

This is my favorite spot in the city. Anyone who visits me, I take them to the Garden. Peaceful and lovely, I go alone to enjoy the beautiful trees and flowers.

The Japanese Festival is one of the highlights of the STL summer. I enjoyed the ethnic cuisine, Japanese sumo wrestlers, and the overall favorite the Taiko drummers. A must see event.

This is a really nice botanical gardens. We visited the climatetron and the Japanese gardens. At the Japanese garden you can feed the fish and ducks. Just strolling around is so pleasant. I’ve been more than once and it is always good,

One of the best, if not the best, botanical gardens in the country. There are events year round that make this an all season must visit site.

It is a very nice garden. We did not get to see all of the exhibits, but we went to the Climatron, Chinese Garden, Japanese Garden, and the Children’s Garden. The new visitor center had just opened and was very nice. If visiting with kids, make sure to bring stuff to play at the splash pad (if visiting during a season when the splash pad is in operation).

If you believe in nature, this is a place to visit. You will experience all sort of different country garden level at the location. Don't forget to feed the fish lol

CHIHULY glass art and Life Size Origami are perfectly placed throughout these beautiful gardens and fountains.

Purchase the amazing kid's exploration bag at the ticket both. There were binoculars, an activity book, quality coloring pencils, a sharpener, a several other projects in a quality back pack.

The tropical area was so fascinating. The lizards look fake because of their odd green color. It felt like we were doing a tour of Jurassic Park.

Bring quarters.....You are able to buy fish food to feed the Koi. Actually, you can sit next to the edge of the pond and plop food into the gabbing mouths of the large aquatic monsters. Do NOT feed fish human food or breads.

See if you can find the end or beginning of the Japanese sand garden.

It can be unbearably humid in St. Louis. Take a water bottle. There are fountains to refill your bottles. Take a parasol or umbrella to keep out of the merciless sun. If you become a member you are given a beautiful parasol.

We went on a Saturday. There were several weddings, graduations, family groups, and an Quinceanera being professionally photographed.

My favorite part was the giant lilies. Supposedly they can hold 250 pounds.
Fireflies were abundant in the lotus pound. Statues, art, glass art, and giant origami where everywhere. Refer to maps so you don't miss anything. There are many parts to this wonderful place.

I was told they were short staffed because of the pandemic. Volunteers were reduced due to COVID precautions. In the future I want to return to enjoy the full expression of the gardens.

We have been to many botanic gardens and this is one of the best. Very well maintained. Do not miss the Japanese garden!

We were only in St. Louis in late September and that was not the best time to go to a botanical garden if you really want to see flowering plants. It was also unusually hot. There is a cool looking old house on the property that was closed to visitors that would have been interesting to tour. I also wonder why they sell fish food in the gift shop when the feeding area is literally on the opposite end of the park.

It was Chinese Cultural Day. We decided to experience this. We sampled food from a couple of different vendors. Made a few purchases from other vendors. We watched some events including a parade. Previously I had seen a dragon dance. It was in San Francisco during a parade celebrating the Chinese New Year. However, this was more special to me seeing it in my hometown. We always enjoy ourselves in the Garden.

Family loved it, splash pad is small so FYI for vacationers! Kids area is cute but splash pad is tiny, has a few fountains and that's basically it. Many beautiful plants and trees and information all around. Plenty of stuff indoors to get out of the heat when traveling with babies and places to nurse.

Was inside the garden, car was hit in parking lot. Police investigating found lall ot security cameras off

Fantastically-maintained garden with just enough walking distance and variety of plants with some glass Chihuly sculptures spread throughout. Favorite exhibit was the Climatron, a climate-controlled rainforest simulation. Easy to spend an entire afternoon here on a nice day!

Went on New Years Eve, and it was fairly crowded. Just a gazillion lights! Most impressed with the mansion tour and the tree wrapped in blue lights.

These gardens are beautifully kept. The place is huge and there are many trails leading all around the property to so many different types of gardens. Unfortunately, my kids aged 12 and 10 were too young to be much interested in the gardens but also seemed to old for the children's' garden. We paid for the children's garden but for the most part, the kids thought it was boring. A few years ago, they would have loved it! I do like that it was free for kids unless they wanted to experience the children's garden. All the gardens and trails were beautifully done and the stroll through the Climotron was not what I was expecting.

This is a nice place to visit, but I was a little disappointed. Maybe I missed something, but I thought this was just ok. It’s an attraction for older individuals. I would not take kids.

Quite the large and beautiful garden with several different themed areas and a dome. I've always liked Japanese gardens and theirs was great to see as well. There is a bridge where you can purchase food to feed the Koi fish. There are many turtles hanging out and swimming in the pond. Some will approach you if you are by the shore, likely hoping to get some food. I think that the gardens would be more beautiful if we visited a couple of weeks later in June so that more flowers would be in bloom. There are walking and tram tours for a fee but we didn't avail of these. Audio tours are available for free through an app. The main parking area was full but there are overflow parking areas at Shaw and Vandeventer

...and a great walking tour. There was abundant signage, shade on the hot day. I really loved the jumping fountains.

Visited the gardens with my grandson on Henry Shaw’s birthday. It was so much fun! There were special activities such as Bob Kramer marionettes performing. The gardens were as beautiful as ever. Feeding the fish turned out to be a blast for my grandson.

I had to pause for the star review for a moment. We really had a unique experience here because we went twice in the same weekend!!! 1st time: On a Saturday night we went for the Chihuly Lights show, and it was chaos. The garden had booked a wedding on the same night and the place was crazy. Dinner lines stretched into the lobby, grab'n'go had no food at all. Out in the gardens, paths were not lit, there was no staff guiding anyone, and it was so dark that people lost track of where they were. We knew we missed exhibits but the number of people was a moving river! 2nd day during the day: GORGEOUS! During the day, what a difference! One of the most beautiful gardens and greenhouses I've ever been to in the nation. We had brunch at the restaurant overlooking the ponds and it was an absolutely FABULOUS, PERFECT outing, and I was reluctant to leave the grounds. The greenhouse was like stepping into paradise, and we were able to enjoy the Chihuly installations in a completely different way. Very glad we came back. Their gift shop is AWESOME, make sure you go, and I can't say enough about the restaurant, from food quality to service to view. If we lived closer, we'd go often!!!

Very nice way to spend an afternoon - wonderful gardens, great welcome center, and several Chiluly blown glass sculptures throughout.

My wife and I live in St Louis and have been to the botanical garden many times over the years. We also travel extensively and seek out other botanical gardens when out of town. Many we have been to all over the world are beautiful but very few are nicer than ours in St Louis. There are many festivals throughout the year that highlight tulips, bonsai, etc. but regardless of when we go, it is always beautiful and well worth the visit. It’s big and there is lots to see, so go for a few hours or longer to see much more. Highly recommended!

Always love my walks at MBG any time of the year. Can't wait to see what the new remodel will look like. I have been a member for many years now. It is the one place I can photograph throughout the seasons, and always come away with a few new surprises each time. It truly is one of our city's best gems. Recommend to visitors and my family members all the time. Can't wait to get back there again this fall to see the garden in all its beautiful hues and blooming glory.

This is a huge garden place to visit. We stayed for about 2.5 hours and still did not see the whole thing. There is so many flowers, bushes, trees, shrubs, statues, ponds buildings, etc. to see you could literally spend an entire day there. They have a gift shop and a restraunt there as well. I really liked how just about every tree, bush, shrub is labeled so you can identify them later or if you were wanting to get some at home you would know what to purchase. There is a cost to get in, however it is totally worth it, as this place is very well kept up and maintained.
Definitely worth the visit if you are in the area.

Walking the immense scope of the Botanical Garden was a pleasure. The grounds are well cared for, and for the most part, the signage is outstanding.
The only negative was that it was a hot day and all of the water fountains were turned off. Made the last part of the day more torture than pleasure

The Missouri Botanical Garden is a very peaceful, beautiful relaxing place to visit! The staff can any most questions. The grounds are manicured and laid out in an orderly fashion.

We are not from St Louis, but frequently use the MBG website as a plant information resource, so we were happy to visit the garden in person. We had a beautiful day, but this is a wonderful botanical garden regardless of the weather. It is a very nice property, the gardens are extensive and thoughtfully grouped and organized. The plant tags often include 'country of origin', which is important to us as we try to use native plants for much of our personal landscaping.

If we lived in St Louis we would be members and visit at different times of year.

Loved glow it was amazing! Will be back! My teen son even liked it so pretty and loved the drinks! So cool

I went this time with just my 10 yo, which let me explore all of the nooks and crannies. It was very worthwhile to explore through the whole gardens. There were some neat areas I hadn’t seen on previous visits like an Ottoman garden and a small museum.

Lights were pretty. My son and I walk fast so we were through in about 20 minutes. I’m sure that’s quick though. Not sure if I got $20 per person worth out of it but glad we went.

Garden Glow at the Missouri Botanical Gardens is more magical than ever! The lights are more beautiful than the previous years. They made some changes but the favorites are still there, like the mistletoe and the big blue tree. There are some fire pits and some places selling warm drinks so if you dress properly, you won’t even get cold. There are some nice spots for holiday pictures. Highly recommend!

There are few things better than strolling through the Botanical Gardens and seeing the amazing plantings. Great lunch spot too.

We’re visiting from Scottsdale and think this Botanical garden is beautiful and well done. Highly recommend! Enjoyed the cafe for a snack too.

The gardens are very handicap friendly with the new entrance and large parking area roped off for handicapped only. The Chihuly displays were just as great as the last time I saw them in 2006. However, we were disappointed in the tram ride. There were two tiny solar powered trams in service - one carried 13 passengers and the other carried 10 passengers and a wheelchair. The seats were barely wide enough for three normal sized people. We waited about 30 minutes to get a seat. Where are the long trams with many cars and seats that held 2 people per row? Another issue was the driver had to run people’s credit cards ($5/ person) unless you were a member. That took at least 5 minutes while plenty of people were waiting in line. Tickets should be purchased inside instead of delaying the tram’s’ departure. Also, the trams are so quiet that pedestrians do not hear it and the tram must wait for them to get out of the way. It seemed the tram route was shorter than it used to be. Very frustrating way to tour the gardens.

We enjoyed our recent visit. The gardens are beautiful; however, some small areas had dead/dying/tired plants. Some of the sculptures had cobwebs, in particular, Henry Shaw's mausoleum tomb. Womens restroom I stopped in had no water in the sinks. I discover this after I had thoroughly soaped up my hands. We particularly enjoyed the Japanese gardens and the Climatron .

We arrived at 9am to take advantage of morning cooler temp. We went to Iris garden our goal. The variety of colors was incredible. 3 staff members were trimming off expired blooms making the remaining blooms more attractive. Next we circled the Japanese Garden and took in the blooming peonies which had variations we've never seen. Lots of shade and benches to rest. We spent 3 hours and just began so you can spend more time. The trees were enormous and beautiful. We came on May 16 or think mid May. We spent the night so had opportunity to eat lunch twice near the garden in South St Louis. Tripadvisor led us to 2 excellent choices.

Christmas is a great time to visit the garden!
Plants are mostly sleeping, but the grounds are beautiful and it’s a great place for a winter walk.
The train/village display is worth the price of admission!

I go to MoBot on the regular! It’s the most magical place in STL! I’ve even been to Tea Island, which you can only visit twice a year (Japanese Festival and Sake & Sekura). Just recently they hosted the orchid show in the Emerson Conservatory. It’s absolutely beautiful. Henry Shaw was a badass! Kudos to him!

Absolutely stunning!! Cafe was delicious and cost friendly. Staff was all very friendly and helpful. Was well maintained and wheelchair accessible. They also honored my reciprocal membership card through the American Horticulture Society!

Even at the end of the season, this garden is not to be missed. We spent a lovely day wandering all through these grounds. Be sure to visit the mansion too. Wonderful story that goes along with the creation of the garden. What a gift to the city this was.

All year round the botanical gardens have some thing to offer. Garden Glow in the winter and various events and festivals all year long. A must visit in the St. Louis area!!

The grounds here at gorgeous. A photographer’s dream, but the lines to get in are sooo long. The admission fee is a bit steep as well. A family of 4 will pay nearly $50 to get in here.

We visited at 9am on a Saturday during the winter just before Christmas so our experience will be different than others. The garden is setup for Glow Christmas lights which I’m sure is beautiful at night. In the back of the garden after walking around the Japanese garden is the Henry Shaw house. Due to the cold temps, time of day and time of year, we were the only one to visit the house at this time. Because of this we got a personal tour by volunteer staff and was able to talk with them for a long time. The climatron was the high point for my wife who loves plants. It also provided a break from the extremely cold temps. If you love plants this is highly recommended.

Definitely recommend this beautiful place for a visit. With COVID all of the inside attractions are closed with the exception of the gift shop. Easy to socially distance and very safe for a visit.

What a beautiful place. I can only imagine how wonderful it would be to see the daylilies, irises, and roses in bloom! We were fortunate to see a wide array of the water lilies blooming. Beauty abounds here, and the gift shop is delightful. Highly recommend a visit.

Was a bit worried about our visit since it was July and very hot, but as some folks mentioned, it does have a lot of shade and places to rest out of the heat. We were amazed by the overall size of the place and just when we thought we had seen the most beautiful or unusual thing, we would find another discovery. Pictures do not really do it justice, but we took a ton of pictures, there are just so many things you want to see again. We spent about a half a day exploring, but you could easily spend all day exploring. We were also very pleased with the accessibility. My wife has to use a motorized scooter and she was able to enjoy everything we did. There is a splashpad for kids, and it was fun to feed the fish and ducks, but little kids might not enjoy everything as much as adults and older kids, but we would definitely recommend a stop here if you have a chance.

Don't miss this! We spent 4+ hours there and were engaged the whole time. We took a free tour with a docent. We lucked out and were the only people on the tour (it was a Wednesday in October). Our docent Karen was extremely knowledgeable and personable and geared the tour to out interests. I could easily spend days there.

It is a good place to learn the gardening and to enjoy flowers, or simply to relax, to get away from busy city. But it close at 5pm so get there not too late please

We were visiting St. Louis for the weekend. At the recommendation of a friend in the area, we went to the Botanical Gardens on a Saturday morning to see the current special exhibit, a set of origami-inspired sculptures placed throughout the garden. They were worth the visit—each of them was really interesting!, especially the largest, which is in the garden’s central promenade, positioned in a beautiful pond.

There is a huge construction project going on to create a brand new welcome center and entry experience. They did a good job not making this construction detract from your visit, and the first part of the new building looks great.

For the $14/person admission fee, this is well worth it—among the best botanical gardens we have visited. The grounds are huge and full of really interesting and varied exhibits. The hosta gardens were lovely; who knew there were so many types? The house gardens, positioned around a house-like structure, were fun to explore. We had a great time in the climate dome looking at gorgeous trees and flowering plants from tropical regions; the positioning of the origami artwork in this exhibit was beautiful. Perhaps our favorite was the English-style boxwood gardens; their layout was beautiful and peaceful. The Victorian-style houses at the back were worth seeing, too—it’s worth going all the way back there to take in them and their surrounding gardens.

Parking was complimentary and easy in the lots; there’s also ample street parking in the area. Although the gardens appeared to be busy during our visit, once inside, it was not overly crowded and was very easy to space out.

Highly recommended—well worth the price of entry!

If you need an attitude adjustment a visit to the botanical gardens is a must.
I discovered the garden to be the third best in the world only behind one in England and the second best in New York. The collection of plants was overwhelming and the ongoing research exceptional.
Henry Shaw did the city a great service.

Came to visit my son who is currently serving in the airforce. Beautiful walk through.. was so caught up that we lost track of time. We didn't make it through all the gardens.

We enjoyed our visit very much. The grounds were well manicured and the plants were very well labeled. There are Chihuly installations throughout the gardens this summer, which added to the interest.
I have to say, that I’ve seen a lot of Chihuly’s work, including a similar exhibit at the Columbus Botanical Garden, and this on in St Louis was not as good. It was too garish for my taste, but to each his own.

Who knew such an outdoor treasure existed?. Beautiful gardens with Japanese, Chinese, boxwood, England woodland, and many more. Endless beauty.
If you belong to your home botanical gardens, you might be able to get in here for free. We left the membership card at home and we're not able to take advantage of that perk. Well worth every penny we paid to get in.

This is one of the nicest botanical gardens I have ever visited. We happened to be there when they had the Chihuly Glass Art placed throughout the gardens. It is a very large facility so bring some comfortable walking shoes. There are many benches to sit and take in the beauty.

Beautiful facility but you have to walk forever. Lots of benches in the sunlight in the summer. Exhausting when you are 73. No rest pavilions with fans to cool off in the blistering humid sun of summer. When you're 73, it is an exhausting walk. By the time I got to the mausoleum and houses, I headed back to the entrance house because I was exhausted. Some rest pavilions with ceiling fans would have been very welcome.

Tried to go to Garden Glow on a Saturday. There was no accessibility and I ended up having to leave my wheelchair bound daughter and the rest of the family at the entrance while I attempted to find more nonexistent parking. 45 minutes later I found a spot. There were no attendants directing traffic as in previous years. Traffic needs to be stopped long before people clog up the narrow 2 lane road that leads to the gardens. I would hate being a resident that lives anywhere close. Unless you've got a ton of patience don't waste your time. Especially if you have a need for accessible parking.

Lots of walking. Make sure to allow at least a couple of hours. My kids loved it and they are 16 and 22

This place is such a gem. Despite being very large, there are a number of smaller gardens and paths that you can wander that give it a very intimate place. The flowers were, of course, amazing, but the information, the landscaping, the outreach events, even the food, were all outstanding. I regret that I only had two days to spend being immersed in this experience.

What a terrific botanical garden! We went on a wet, misty, cold October morning and delighted in this garden. The signage within each area is very informative. Beyond admission, a separate fee of $5 provides a 30-minute tram tour around the garden. Tram driver Emma safely navigated as tour guide narrator extraordinaire Fred shared his knowledge, love, and enthusiasm for the site. Consider it an orientation to the gardens and its founder Henry ShawC, so thanks to Fred you will want to wander to relatively remote areas.
The Climatron is effectively a hot house with plants from ferns to fruit. The Children’s Garden is so much more than a garden with activities and areas to explore.
We look forward to a return visit.

Always a wonderful place to visit. Highly recommend for anyone visiting St Louis. A wide variety of gardens and cultural gardens.

The Missouri Botanical Garden (formerly Shaw's Botanical Garden) was founded in 1859 and is the country's oldest botanical garden in continuous operation. It is a National Historic Landmark with nearly 80 acres of gardens and historic structures. Outdoor and indoor displays include the Climatron tropical rain forest housed under a geodesic dome; the Kemper Center for Home Gardening; a Japanese Garden; the George Washington Carver Garden; historic Tower Grove House; the Stephen and Peter Sachs Museum; and the seasonal Doris I. Schnuck Children's Garden. This landmark is a horticulturist's dream!

A couple of years ago I noticed a tree climbing activity included in the MBG classes. We tried to sign up for a couple of years, but the program was always sold out. In 2020, we were finally successful in getting on the roster.

We like to do different sorts of things, climbing trees in the Garden is a great example. There’s a certain level of coordination required, and a bit of fitness helps a lot.

There’s a large oak tree in the southwest corner of the Garden where the activity is held. Should you see folks dangling on ropes when walking in the area, take a look.

Our instructors, lead by Jim Gender, were with Vertical Voyages LLC. Their equipment and instruction was excellent; we always felt safe.

It’s really not possible to adequately describe the climbing process in a couple of paragraphs. You can google “climbing trees with ropes” and if you find the procedure using a rope and slip hitches you’ve found it.

A great day!

Went to the night time Chihuli showing. Wow, what great exhibit! This night viewing was even better than the day visit.

The light display is a nice activity to attend during the holiday season. Walking through the gardens and watching the light displays was quite entertaining and then there were open fire pits over which you could make S'mores after buying the supplies at a booth where you could also get a nice hot chocolate.

One of the best Botanical Gardens in the US. Although it has many highlights worthy of a visit, the Japanese Garden is simply stellar. It has the relocate home and summer house of Mr. Shaw - who made his fortune in outfitting those heading west - who was the original benefactor of this wonderful place. Many areas to explore - including a great children's garden and area. A must see if you are in St. Louis.

Myself and 5 friends visited during the light festival and we were amazed ! The Gardens themself are stunning anyway but add in the lights and light show and it takes it to a whole different level !! Thoroughly enjoyed by all from 2 y.o to 30 y.o and im sure older no doubt !!! Will visit again for other events im sure !

The Shaw country home was open for visitors. Knowledgeable and friendly docents greeted everyone and provided information on Mr. Shaw. I've been to the gardens before but this was the first time I was there when this home and it's furnishings were available to the public

I've been several times throughout the year and the gardens never disappoint. There are special events and year-round exhibits. Take the day and see it all!

Very beautiful and large exhibit. Gorgeous flowers everywhere. Nice gift shop. Beautiful Japanese garden with koi fish.

One of the most lovely attractions we have ever been to. A lovely site that is stunningly designed and carefully maintained. Beautiful, serene and worth every minute of your time.

Great place, despite some construction and a cloudy day. Variety of gardens. The entire place is a visual vacation, lots of colors, and great smells. Easy to navigate, lots of signs, takes 3+ hours to really get a thorough feel, but could easily stay all day. Indoor and outdoor viewing and nice origami sculptures.

This was a fun stop on our trip. The grounds were beautiful and there was plenty to see. It was a little hot so we didn't spend as much time as we usually would at a botanical garden, but it was still a nice place to visit. Most of the grounds were stroller/handicap accessible, but not everywhere.