About Us

Currently, botanical gardens are spaces that maintain specimens and collections of various living plants, with the purpose of conducting research to conserve endangered species, serving as living centers of education, and making the essence of the floral wealth of a region or country accessible to people. They are also places of recreation and enjoyment.

The Quito Botanical Garden has been built over the years, guided by the vision of our beloved Gi Neusttater and all those of us who have worked tirelessly throughout these years.

Carolina Jijón

Director, Fundación Botánica de los Andes | JBQ

Mission

Carry out direct and indirect actions aimed at the knowledge, protection and conservation of the Ecuadorian plant resource especially the Andean flora.

Vision

The Botanical Garden of Quito manages its efforts with dynamism to become a leading, efficient and recognized organization in managing the plant heritage of the Ecuadorian Andes.

By 2020 it will have become a center for research, conservation and exhibition of native regional flora, particularly of endangered species, as well as an educational center on these topics. Both researchers, technicians and students will have at the JBQ a place of study and research which will help to enrich and understand the cultural and natural heritage, thus contributing to its recovery.

History of the Quito Botanical Garden

-CLICK ON EACH YEAR TO LEARN MORE

1989 The Quito Botanical Garden arises on October 4, 1989 thanks to an agreement signed between the Ecuadorian Museum of Natural Sciences, the Quito Gardening Club and the Municipality of Quito by which it became the old Municipal Nursery in a botanical garden. 1991 To guarantee the administrative efficiency of a new scientific-cultural entity, the creation of the Botanical Foundation of the Andes (FBA) was managed in June 24, 1991, whose mission is to manage and carry out direct and indirect actions for the knowledge, protection and conservancy of the Ecuadorian Andean flora. 1993 1994 1996 2001 2004 2005 2006 2009 2011 2013 2014 2017 2018 2019 2020 In May 1993 the conceptual plan of the Quito Botanical Garden (JBQ) began to be designed with the collaboration of Judith Evans-Parker, landscape architect, member of the American Society of Landscape Architects and involved in the Missouri Botanical Garden. In 1994 the Quito Orchid Association and the FBA Board of Directors hold the first international orchid exhibition in Quito, whose main goal was to manage support to finance an orchid garden in the future Botanical Garden, a sanctuary to rescue native orchid species. Results were as expected as Mrs. Gi Neustätter left the future orchid garden as her legacy by donating half a million dollars. It undoubtedly constitutes the largest and most beautiful in Latin America until today; it also has been the main attraction of the Garden as it shelters one of the most important collections of orchids in the region. The final architectural plan was delivered on August 1996. But there is so much more to tell until the JBQ opened its doors to the public on February 2005. On February 2001 Dr. Shannon Smith, Director of Horticulture at the Missouri Botanical Garden, visited the Quito Botanical Garden and produced a new conceptual plan for it which was the basis to construct the final version of the JBQ. On June 2004 a cooperation agreement was signed between the FBA and the Municipality of the Metropolitan District of Quito, whose main objective was to rehabilitate the JBQ in order to open its doors to the public. In 2005 the Botanical Garden of Quito was opened and soon it became a benchmark for botanical gardens in the country. In order to increase visits and maintain a larger audience the JBQ has permanently offer high quality temporary exhibitions, some of them with extraordinary themes which have attracted a huge number of audiences. In 2006 the JBQ began the unprecedented process of selection, conservation and intervention of urban heritage trees in the Metropolitan District of Quito (DMQ); process that would be retorted throughout the country. In May 2009, the “green that bites” permanent exhibition was opened with more than 700 carnivorous plants brought from Asia. On the other hand, as butterflies are always a great attraction several exhibitions have been held under the title “A Butterfly Garden”, each of them with 400 butterflies of diverse and fantastic colors. On January 2011 an unprecedented temporary exhibition “A Fish Garden” was held which featured around 1,000 Amazonian fishes, which grouped at least 50 suitable species in 60 aquariums. This exhibition was visited by approximately 30,000 people. In December 5, 2013 Ecuador was declared Country of Orchids by executive decree. The Ministry of Tourism played a very important role in this matter. On the other hand, the National Government joined this commitment in order to strengthen this important nomination in the eyes of the world. This project was supported by Juan del Hierro and Alexander Hirtz, directors of the Botanical Garden of Quito as key actors in this Declaration. It is important to highlight that for eight consecutive years the JBQ carried out the campaign for the conservation of the palm tree (palma de ramos). This process has helped to dramatically reduce the use of wax palm branches and fibers in the Christian ceremony of Palm Sunday. The Ministry of the Environment is in charge of awareness-raising actions at present. Until 2014 the FBA prepared a catalog containing 365 heritage trees. The Metropolitan Secretariat of Environment is currently responsible for this project. The Quito Botanical Garden has played an important role in other declarations of the DMQ´s emblematic flora. The San Francisco University of Quito and the Ministry of Environment were part of the Commission for the Declaration of the Flower of Quito among the emblematic plants of the district. Moreover, the JBQ created the largest vertical garden in the city at one of the most iconic areas of the historical center of Quito: Plaza de San Blas. The Quito Botanical Garden was not only fully involved in the heritage trees, but has also been responsible for several gardens for public use, both in their creation and their rehabilitation. During 2017 and 2018 the JBQ successfully transplanted more than 100 palms and other trees from the green areas stations where the Quito Subway (Metro) station is currently being built. Regarding its renowned temporary exhibitions, those that do not appear in this story are summarized. - On May 5, 2017 the First Bonsai Museum of Ecuador and the VII Exhibition of this ancient art were opened. The Museum consists of a pavilion semi-covered with bamboo and exhibits about 100 trees, some of them up to 50 years of age. The pavilion and many miniature trees were donated by Ruthie Horvath. This museum has been described by experts as the best in Latin America; one of the biggest attractions of the JBQ. In 2018, on the occasion of one hundred years of commercial relations between both nations, the JBQ, along with EPMMOP, the Embassy of Japan and the Japan International Cooperation Agency (JICA), delivered to the city the first Japanese Garden in the country. This space was designed by the Japanese master Kiyoshi Komatsu, who created it during his stay in Quito. For several months he supervised every detail of this very special thematic place. In 2019, under the name A FOREST OF LIGHT IN THE CENTER OF THE WORLD, the JBQ provided the city with its first season of light and music shows, conceived as immersive experiences in which the public interacted with the natural heritage in a magical atmosphere of light, music and joy. This project was conceived in order to allow the JBQ to provide people with extended opening hours, expand services and entertainment proposals, and help the city night tourism as well. Given that the Botanical Garden of Quito has the perfect conditions to become a destination for night tourism both the attractiveness of its exhibition and its privileged location in the heart of the northern center of the city, this show had an amazing reception with more than 30,000 visitors. The JBQ also joined the celebration of Humboldt´s birth through the 6th International Orchid Exhibition “Alexander von Humboldt” held at the Palacio de Cristal in Itchimbía from October 3 to 8. In 2020 we celebrated the 15th anniversary of the Quito Botanical Garden (JBQ), opened on February 2005. It is worth remembering the transcendental achievement of this piece for the city, a natural attraction for Quito residents and tourists who visit it. 1989 1991 1993 1994 1996 2001 2004 2005 2006 2009 2011 2013 2014 2017 - 2018 2018 2019 2020

Recognitions And Awards

The great performance of the Quito Botanical Garden has been recognized by several awards and mentions both from the local and the international community. Get to know them.

Mención Marieta de Veintimilla

Revista Gardenista

The Guardian

Projects

The Quito Botanical Garden has share, educate and amaze the public developing great and important scientific and cultural projects. Get to know some of them.
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Wax Palma Project

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Heritage Trees

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Temporary Exhibition "A Garden of Fish"

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Orchid Exhibitions

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San Blas Vertical Garden

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Program for Responsible Water Use

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The Forest of Light

Publications

EDUCATIONAL PRODUCTS
Educational Video "The Green Conquest"
$5 USD
Ecuador, Land of Orchids: Pichincha Province and Santo Domingo de los Tsáchilas
$20 USD - Sold Out
The Perpetual Spring: Ornamental Trees and Shrubs of Quito and Its Surroundings
$15 USD
The Country of Biodiversity: Ecuador
$30 USD
Orchid Cultivation from Seeds
$20 USD - Sold Out
Orchids, the Fairies of the Forest
$20 USD - Sold Out
Land of Orchids: Metropolitan District of Quito
$30 USD
Scientific articles published in collaboration with research institutions
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