Botanical Garden Events

The Cincinnati Zoo & Botanical Garden is one of two accredited botanical gardens in Ohio. Don’t miss events from our leading experts in horticulture!

Upcoming Botanical Garden Events

Virtual Cincinnati Zoo & Botanical Garden’s Zoo’s Best Plant Trials Expo!

The Cincinnati Zoo & Botanical Garden’s 2021 Plant Trials Results Series will consist of five tightly focused, photograph driven, PowerPoint programs that will detail the best performing plants in our plant trialing program. These programs will benefit both green industry professionals and gardeners. Sure to both inform and inspire Along with some participation from Zoo Horticulture staff, the programs will be conducted by Steve Foltz, CZBG’s nationally renowned Director of Horticulture. One live virtual program each on annuals, perennials, woody plants, pollinator plants, and native plants followed by a Question and Answer session. Choose individual programs or the entire series. Recordings of these sessions will be available to view through a separate registration process for a period of time after the live sessions.

Available as both individual classes and as a series. Zoo Member price: $10 per session/$45 per series. Non-Member price: $15 per session/$70 per series.

Tickets

Non-Member Tickets Member Tickets

$10 each session/$45 members for the series

$15 each session/$70 non-members for the series

If you do not receive your confirmation email, please contact [email protected].

Expand for Class Information

Expand for Class Info

Perennials

February 11, 2:00PM-4:00PM

The Cincinnati Zoo & Botanical Garden grows and displays tens of thousands of perennials of hundreds of varieties. Enjoy this beautiful and exciting session that will particularly focus on our accessions of the last 4-5 years. Many will be within the context of comparisons with other selections within the species or genus. For instance, several new Allium selections will be compared.

Annuals

February 18, 2:00PM-4:00PM

The Cincinnati Zoo & Botanical Garden began its annuals trialing program in 2002. Since then it has grown into a premier program, which features plantings of over 40,000 plants of over 300 varieties each year in publicly viewable display beds. This program will focus on many of the best new annuals within the context of our many years of experience.

Woody Plants

February 25, 2:00PM-4:00PM

The Zoo was established as a “Zoological Garden” in 1875, and trees and shrubs have been abundantly planted ever since. In the last 2-3 decades, much effort has been directed to growing a wide diversity of selections. This session will focus on the currently available cultivars from within the context of many years of growing trees and shrubs.

Pollinator Plants

March 4, 2:00PM-4:00PM

As a Zoo and a Botanical Garden, it makes perfect sense that the CZBG has devoted a lot of attention and expertise to the natural and vital association of garden plants and pollinators. This has resulted in innovative and fun programs like our Zoo’s Best Plants for Pollinators Program and our Plant For Pollinators Challenge. This talk will reveal the best garden plants for pollinators from our trialing of everything from annuals to shade trees!

Native Plants

March 11, 2:00PM-4:00PM

The CZBG’s Native Plant Program was way ahead of the curve when it began over ten years ago. With its mission of trialing and promoting native plants that grow well in the region, particularly within urban and suburban regional gardens, the program has proven a valuable resource for both gardeners and the green industry. This PowerPoint will share the plants that have proven to be both “wow” plants in the landscape and stars in the ecosystem.

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Platinum Sponsors

Gold Sponsors

Silver Sponsors

Bronze Sponsors

	Acadia Gardens LLC

Expand for FAQs

What platform are you using for virtual programs?

We will be using Zoom as our platform for each program. A link to the live program will be emailed the day before each program. A link to a recording will be emailed the day after the live program.

Zoom Guide

Where do I get the link for the virtual program?

A link to the live program will be emailed the day before each program. A link to a recording will be emailed the day after the live program.

If you do not receive your link, please contact us at [email protected] Please be sure to add [email protected] and [email protected] to your email safe sender list so no emails are blocked.

I can’t attend the live virtual program. Can I watch it later?

A link to the live program will be emailed the day before each program. A link to a recording will be emailed the day after the live program.

If you do not receive your link, please contact us at [email protected] Please be sure to add [email protected] and [email protected] to your email safe sender list so no emails are blocked.

Will I need supplies for these programs?

You will not need any supplies for these programs, however, you may wish to have a notebook and writing utensil to take any notes.

Can other participants see me during the program?

Virtual Horticulture Programs will be a presentation, so registrants will only be able to see the hosts and not be visible to other registrants.

Will I be able to ask questions during the programs?

During the program, you may add questions to the chatbox on the side. Time will be allotted at the end to answer some of these questions.

Virtual Landscaping for the Homeowner Series

Join Steve Foltz, the Cincinnati Zoo & Botanical Garden’s Director of Horticulture and one of the nation’s top horticultural experts, for one of the most informative and complete landscape series for homeowners. Experienced gardeners and new homeowners will find this course extremely useful!

Steve has offered this series for over twenty years, and has many years as an adjunct professor for both U.C.’s and Cincinnati State’s horticultural programs. Benefit from his breadth of knowledge and experience on design, trees & shrubs, annuals & perennials, maintenance practices, and much, much more in this informational and inspirational series of two hour sessions. Makes an excellent gift for any new homeowner or garden enthusiast!

Design for Your Landscape, February 3, 7PM-9PM (Sold Out)
The Best Trees and Shrubs for Your Landscape, February 10, 7PM-9PM
Bringing in Color, Annuals and Perennials, February 17, 7PM-9PM
Now That I Have It, How Do I Take Care of It? February 24, 7PM-9PM
Putting It All Together, March 3, 7PM-9PM

Tickets

Purchase Non-Member Tickets Purchase Member Tickets

Series Tickets currently unavailable.

Members: $10 each session

Non-Members $15 each session

If you do not receive your confirmation email, please contact [email protected].

Expand for Class Information

Expand for Class Info

Design for Your Landscape

This class provides common-sense concepts for proper plant selection and siting within landscapes and gardens. It will introduce how various types of plants serve different aesthetic and functional roles. It will also guide the homeowner on how to prioritize projects and plantings for long-term beauty.

The Best Trees and Shrubs for Your Landscape

Trees and shrubs are the anchors of your landscape and are long term investments for both beauty and function. Choosing them wisely is paramount to your enjoyment of your garden. Steve will share his long experience of growing hundreds of species and selections, which will quickly usher you forward in the learning curve!

Bringing in Color, Annuals & Perennials

Everyone wants to add color to the garden! This class will give you the knowledge and tools to do it well. Guidance on plant selection, siting, planting, care, and much, much more will have you filled with ideas and energy for spring.

Now That I Have It, How Do I Take Care of It

So much internet, so much bad information. Bad gardening advice is everywhere. This class cuts through all that and provides good, practical knowledge based on science and many, many years of experience.

Putting It All Together

A review, a wrap up, a confidence session, a chance to ask your remaining questions, and much, much more, this session closes the series with a flourish and will have you feeling excited about implementing all your new ideas.

Expand for FAQs

Expand for Virtual FAQ

What platform are you using for virtual programs?

We will be using Zoom as our platform for each program. A link to the live program will be emailed the day before each program. A link to a recording will be emailed the day after the live program.

Zoom Guide

Where do I get the link for the virtual program?

A link to the live program will be emailed the day before each program. A link to a recording will be emailed the day after the live program.

I can’t attend the live virtual program. Can I watch it later?

A link to the live program will be emailed the day before each program. A link to a recording will be emailed the day after the live program.

If you do not receive your link, please contact us at [email protected] Please be sure to add [email protected] and [email protected] to your email safe sender list so no emails are blocked.

I missed the live class. Can I get a recording?

A link to the live program will be emailed the day before each program. A link to a recording will be emailed the day after the live program.

If you do not receive your link, please contact us at [email protected] Please be sure to add [email protected] and [email protected] to your email safe sender list so no emails are blocked.

Will I need supplies for these programs?

You will not need any supplies for these programs, however, you may wish to have a notebook and writing utensil to take any notes.

Can other participants see me during the program?

Virtual Horticulture Programs will be a presentation, so registrants will only be able to see the hosts and not be visible to other registrants.

Will I be able to ask questions during the programs?

During the program, you may add questions to the chatbox on the side. Time will be allotted at the end to answer some of these questions.

Native Plant Sale at Bowyer Farm 2021

9am – 1pm

Bowyer Farm: 2210 N Mason Montgomery Rd

We have expanded the schedule for our 2021 Cincinnati Zoo & Botanical Garden’s popular Native Plant Sales! Sponsored by the Klosterman Baking Company and located at the Zoo’s Bowyer Farm (2210 Mason Montgomery Road, Lebanon, OH), these sales offer a wide selection of reasonably priced, well-grown, hard to find, and ecologically important native plants.

Important! Slots are set to promote social distancing. Assistance by staff will be limited. There are no public restrooms at the farm. To ensure your safety and ours, please wear a mask and maintain safe distance from others. Payment will be by credit card only. Thank you for your understanding and cooperation until pandemic conditions allow for less stringent measures.

Native plants, including ones found throughout the Bowyer Farm ecosystem, will be for sale. The preferred payment for all sales is credit card.

Reservations will open on March 1, 2021.

2021 Plant Sale Dates

April 24
May 8
May 22
June 12
June 26
July 10
August 14
September 11
September 25
October 9

General Events

Zootanical 2021

Thursday, June 17

Stay tuned for more info!

Zoo Blooms

The saturated colors and sun-catching glow of masses and masses of tulips in bloom is a truly spectacular experience. Zoo Blooms delivers not only the region’s largest tulip display, but also hundreds of trees and shrubs in full regalia. Magnolias, cherries, crabapples, serviceberries, viburnums, other bulbs, loads of perennials, and more all in their spring glory! Generally the best tulip display is around the middle of April, but the peak varies somewhat according to the weather. Each week all through spring the landscape continuously changes as the many plants of our extensive collection come into bloom. You need to visit several times to experience the fullness of the season!

Garden Tours/Need a Speaker

Garden Tours

Schedule your own garden event at the zoo! Industry groups, Master Gardener groups, garden clubs, plant societies, private companies, families, and others frequently schedule their own garden tours and/or parties. You can too! Email us at [email protected] to schedule a tour.

Need a Speaker?

Need a speaker for your academic, Master Gardener, garden club, or other event? Contact us at [email protected] for one of the zoo’s expert horticulturists to speak.

Native Plant Symposium

The annual all day symposium about native plants. Great outside speakers along with the zoo’s Native Plant Program Manager, Brian Jorg. CEUs available. Affordably priced. Includes lunch.

Plant Trials Day

The Cincinnati Zoo & Botanical Garden horticultural staff and volunteers, in conjunction with several other organizations, conducts plant trials on annuals, grasses, and perennials in accordance with regimented protocols. Such trials enable us to develop useful data for gardeners, other public gardens, plant producers, and others in the green community. For more information regarding our Plant Trials programs, please contact us at [email protected].

Sustainable Landscapes Day

The concepts of “going green” have come down on the green and building industries in a big way in recent years and a lot of argument over the meaning of sustainability and the means of achieving it has ensued. This program is designed to sort out fact from fiction regarding such issues as soils, irrigation, and the very best low input plants for landscape applications. CEUs available. Affordably priced. Includes lunch.

Home Landscapes Lecture Series

A late winter ten week series of lectures regarding all aspects of landscaping for the homeowner by one of the region’s top horticulturists and the zoo’s Director of Horticulture, Steve Foltz. If you are planning on garden renovation or a new installation in your landscape these classes provide great insight on design, preparation and plant selection with emphasis on plants that do best in the Tri-state area. A different aspect of landscaping is covered each week such as perennial design and tree care, but one way or another everything is covered! Sign up for individual classes, or for the entire series and save! Very affordably priced.