Andean wetlands are ecosystems of great biological and anthropic importance. They are at 2600 and 4000 meters high. They provide habitat and sustenance for many animal and plant species and are also water reservoirs for a large number of Andean communities in the region.

There is a large diversity of high Andean wetlands. Its vegetation varies from one area to another, so it is easy to find cattails or reeds, dense herbaceous formations associated with saline soils known as Vegas, carpets formed by the growth of pads of the genus Distichia and dense formations of mountain bamboo called Chuscales.

At the JBQ species such as the Cattail (Schoenoplectus californicus), the Sigse (Cortaderia nitida) and the wetland Pseuda-algae (Elodea canadensis) can be READ MOREn; all of these, typical of this ecosystem.

The cloudy forest is a unique ecosystem located on the slopes of mountainous areas whose main characteristic is high humidity and precipitation throughout the year with a high incidence of clouds.

This ecosystem is located on both sides of the Andean mountain range which goes from 1800 to 3000 meters altitude. Its vegetation is dominated by epiphytes such as orchids, ferns and bromeliads. These ecosystems have tree vegetation whose height ranges between 20 and 25 meters, mostly covered by mosses that maintain a large amount of humidity.

You will be able to enjoy species such as Rosemary (Podocarpus sprucei), Cloud Palm (Ceroxylon echinulatum) and Huaicundo (Guzmania gloriosa), typical of this ecosystem. In addition, you will find living fossils: tree ferns (Dicksonia sellowiana and Sphaeropteris quindiuensis). This is the only place where you can find them out of their habitat.

The Andean páramos are mountainous ecosystems located between 2900 and 4500 meters high whose essential quality is the extreme environmental conditions that have shaped the unique vegetation that grows there.

In Ecuador, the badlands paramo is divided into several zones that range from lowest to the highest: sub-paramo (2900-3200 m), páramo (3200-4200 m) and super-páramo (4200–5000 m). The first zone has a large number of shrubs including medium-sized trees; the second one has large areas of grasslands, peat bogs and pads; conversely the third presents open and rocky areas where lichens and small grasses predominate. It also borders on perpetual snow.

At the JBQ you can find species such as Achupalla (Puya hamata), Cerote (Hesperomeles obtusifolia), Paramo Straw (Calamagrostis intermedia) or the mythical Shanshi (Coriaria ruscifolia), typical of this ecosystem.

Come and READ MORE this vegetal water reservoir, where you will realize why "paramos" are the most important water sources in the Andes!

Dry scrublands are ecosystems found mainly in inter-Andean valleys between 129 and 3000 m altitude. As a result of the rain shadow effect on both mountain ranges the inter-Andean scrubland has a relatively low precipitation and the environment is generally arid and hot.

Although it was originally dominated by shrubs and small threes, most of this vegetation has been replaced by crops, grasslands or forest of exotic trees such as pine or eucalyptus. In the dry valleys of Chota, Guayllabamba and Patate the native vegetation is thorny with high incidence of cacti and trees such as carob.

We invite you to observe species such as Cabuya (Burcraea andina), Guarango (Caesalpinia spinosa) and the San Antonio Tuna (Opuntia soederstromiana), typical of this ecosystem.

Wayku, or ravine in English, is a representation of a small Quito ravine with a main road below level cero and mounds of earth that resemble a ravine of the Andes.

This place was created in 2012 on almost 600 m2, since then it has undergone several structural changes in its vegetation resulting in a plant succession very characteristic of a plant restoration. Several field trips were carried out at first where READ MOREds and cuttings were collected for propagation purposes of native species, then vegetation emerged thanks to pollinators and a dense arboreal thicket was formed; several species of the Andean montane forest can be READ MOREn.

Representantive species include sagebrush (Ambrosia arborescens), Guamani Barnadeaia (Barnadesia arbórea), the Quito Churuyuyo (Commelina quitensis), Guaranga (Mimosa quitensis), Milk latex tree (Euphorbia laurifolia), among others.

“…The Waycu, the Quito ravine recreated inside the JBQ has enormous symbolic and exemplary values. It has been so easy for the people of Quito to destroy their ravines over the centuries but how difficult it is to recreate them, to make one reborn, but you did it. The Waycu is a tangible miracle which encourages and provides hope to develop processes of recovery of our ancient forest landscapes.” Letter from Juan Manuel Carrión, May 2018.

One of the main themed gardens at the JBQ is the cactus garden “cactario”. It is located at the entrance to the orchid gardens, right in front of the Rotonda; it has several islands where countless plants belonging to various botanical families of succulents and cacti are planted, mainly Cactaceae, Euporbiaceae, Xanthorrhoeaceae, Asteraceae, among others. There are more than 300 plants belonging to 31 different genera and 50 species at least. Most species are exotic, however, as they are slow-growing plants, their value lies in their age. Most of them are between 50 and 60 years old, so their care and maintenance is essential for their survival.

One of the most emblematic species is the San Pedro cactus (Trichcereus pachanoi), native to the Andes which can grow in its natural habitat up to 10 meters height, and the San Antonio Prickly Pear, the heritage species (Opuntia soederstromiana). Another very peculiar species you can find in this garden is the Mother-in-Law´s Seat (Echinocactus grusonii).

The Botanical Garden of Quito has a new and special place: the Japanese Garden. We invite you to visit it, to perceive its nature, to contact its harmony and to feel its balance. It is a site of delicate beauty, designed for contemplation and contact with the spiritual.

For more than a year we have conceptualized, designed, sown and above all we have understood the surprising and deep symbolism this type of garden contains, where nothing is loose, nothing is left to chance, nothing is left over and nothing is missing; a space designed for contemplation.

Ecuadorian materials and labor were merged with Japanese landscape architecture to create the first Japanese garden in the country.

A space created in commemoration of the centenary of friendship between Japan and Ecuador, to strengthen the ties of union between both nations.

Bromeliads, like orchids, have managed to colonize all types of ecosystems from the driest forest to the most humid jungles. They have conquered the third dimension!

Due to its adaptive capacity, Ecuador has more than 450 species, 150 of which are endemic, i.e., they are only found in Ecuador.

Its adaptation is marvelous; what makes them so special is their relationship with water. Bromeliads are like small containers that store vital liquid in all their structures, absorbing it from rain, clouds or simply from the air that surrounds them, resulting in water reservoirs for other species such as the spectacled bear and tree frogs.

Enjoy our bromeliad garden, where you will find very representative species from various regions of the country, such as the crimson Huaicundo (Guzmania gloriosa), the Achupalla (Puya sodiroana) or the false moss (Tillandsia usneoides).

Ecuador has the greatest biodiversity of palms in South America: 136 species spread across the three regions of the country: Coast, Central Region and the Amazonia.

The importance of palms lies in their relationship with human beings as their parts: roots, stems, leaves, fruit and seeds are useful somehow.

A special place at the JBQ is devoted to these unique plants, where representative species of the Andes such as the Wax Palm (Ceroxylon echinulatum) and the Cococumbi (Parajubaea cocoides) are found.

There are seven natural species of Angel´s Trumpet in the world, all of them from the Brugmansia genus. These species are South American and live in Ecuador; however, many hybrids have been produced and cultivated in gardens around the world, mainly in Europe, where they are highly appreciated for the size and incomparable beauty of their flowers.

Angel´s Trumpets are important in the Andean ecosystems as their flowers provide some sword-billed hummingbirds species and pollinating insects with nectar. Moreover, their uses are numerous among the coastal, central region and Amazonian towns.

At the JBQ we have our own special area devoted to these unique plants. Come and be dazzled by some beautiful varieties: large white angel´s trumpet (Brugmansia aurea), small white angel´s trumpet (Brugmansia arborea) and red angel´s trumpet (Brugmansia sanguinea).

The Fuchsia genus (Onagraceae family) has about 110 species, most of them native to America. There are approximately 30 species in Ecuador. This genus is widely used ornamentally (about 1000 varieties around the world). Highly appreciated for its pendulous flowers, with a wonderful variety of shapes and colors: red, white, fuchsia and purple. These plants are very attractive to hummingbirds.

At present this small place has two species the Fuchsia vulcanica and F. arborescens and 15 varieties coming from the F. x hybrid (genetics of F. magellanica, F. fulgens and F. triphylla) species.

The first rose hybridization processes began at the end of the 19th century and beginning at the 20th century by French, German and British flower growers in order to create new and different varieties to be able to market them efficiently; however, it is known that they have been cultivated for almost 5000 years. Roses belong to the Rosaceae family with about 150 species and thousands of hybrids in the world. It is not a native species of the Andes, however, due to its extreme beauty we have given it a space in our garden to remember the ancient gardens of this city. It is important to highlight, without a doubt, that they are the most famous and sold cut flowers in the world.

There is a good representation of a rose garden at the JBQ, multicolored, hybrids tea with about 20 crops that develop well in both warm and cold areas and high solar incidence. These fragant varieties are bushy and reach between 0.5 and 1 meter high. They are big and grow solitary or in bouquets and bloom throughout the year. Specialized hands look after these plants permanently.

Do you want to know how trees benefit the city? Easy: climb a tower, cross bridges, climb ladders or observe through telescopes the diversity of animals that live in the trees.

Due to the importance that threes have for the environment and the well-being of humanity, the Quito Botanical Garden created a permanent and safe space for playful and interactive learning on the different aspects related to the important role that urban trees have within the Metropolitan district of Quito.

So that children learn about plants and trees with freedom to move, a recreational space with no furniture, screens, computers or whiteboards was designed. “The Urban Tree Garden” was conceived as an interactive learning medium.

To encourage the use of woods with the greatest possible sustainability, the woods were immunized to the vacuum-pressure system, using eco-friendly and state-of-the-art materials, free of harmful elements.

Our Orchid Germplasm Bank began in 2008 as part of the “Orchid seed store for sustainable use” Project, under the initiative and support of “The Royal Botanical Garden” KEW of the United Kingdom. Since then, seeds of native orchids or those under threat in their natural distribution have been conserved. These seeds have been successfully grown by in vitro techniques and we now have 20 species reproduced in the laboratory under controlled conditions.

Some of these successfully propagated species are: Cattleya maxima, Macroclinium manabinum, Caucaea olivacea and Epidendrum jamiesomis.

A PROJECT WITH INIAP (National Agricultural Research Institute)

The main goal of INIAP is research, generate knowledge, develop and adapt technologies in order to increase the competitiveness of agricultural chains and contribute to food safety with a framework of equity and sustainability of natural resources and the environment.

INIAP and the JBQ have reached an agreement to join forces in order to create the Ethnobotanical Garden, a space to show and promulgate the richness and diversity of our genetic food resources; protecting and conserving our natural resources we help to ensure that they are available for use not only today, but in the future as well.

INIAP (National Agricultural Research Institute) owns the seeds and the Quito Botanical Garden grows and harvest them; part of these seeds are sown again and the remainder returns to INIAP.

Small plots of potatoes, white carrot, red tuber, ulluco, jicama, quinua, amaranthus, corn, barley, rye, wheat, chili, peas, lima beans, chocho, beans and mashua are grown.

Within the grounds of the Quito Botanical Garden in an area of about 300 m2 a large amount of plant waste obtained from tree pruning is piled up. This organic product is naturally composted resulting in a fertilized soil which is used in the ORGANIC fertilization of our gardens and kitchen gardens.

The JBQ houses an important collection of Natural Heritage representative of the Andes and other locations in the coastal and Amazon regions. Our collection mainly houses orchids, chose number amounts to more than 9000 individuals and 1000 species; we also have a collection of over 200 species of other native and exotic plants including cacti, trees, herbs and shrubs.

In addition to university students who carry out their pre-professional internships with this project, the process of keeping the collection registered, cataloged and digitized in our database which is permanent requires the constant support of the Garden´s Technical staff.

With the inventory of biodiversity we seek to reinforce scientific criteria to identify flowering time, new species of orchids, species in danger of extinction, representative species of various regions of the country and maintain an updated list of the plant biodiversity it houses.

If you wish to be part of this project, please contact the Technical Department at 0984661598 or [email protected]