Botanical Events & Plant Sales

The Cincinnati Zoo & Botanical Garden began as a Zoological Garden in 1875. Our commitment to beautiful gardens remains just as strong. With a dedication to a great diversity of plants, Zoo guests enjoy thousands of accessioned plants through the seasons, along with the comfort and color they provide and the many pollinators and birds they attract. Through outreach, the Zoo’s Horticulture Team works hard to share their plant knowledge and experience to the green industry and home gardeners.

Get updates for new programs and events!

Native Plant Symposium

November 18, 2023

The CZBG Native Plant Symposium is a favorite event for native plant lovers and gardeners from all over the region. Many of the country’s best speakers have presented on a wide range of topics, from the best native plants for your garden to in depth looks at the flora from native ecosystems.

Doors open at 8am, the event begins at 9am. Lunch included. Social hour to follow.

Speakers & Bios

Important Details

Dates: Saturday, November 18, 2023
Time: 9:00am-5:00pm. Doors open at 8:00am
Location: Frisch’s Theater, Harold C Schott Education Building
Cost: In-Person: $129
CEU: CEUs for ONLA, ISA, APLD, ASLA, and PGMS pending. Student discount and sponsorships available. Contact [email protected]for details.

Native Plant Sale at Bowyer Farm 2023

The 2023 Native Plant Sale dates are here! 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. Native plants, including ones found throughout the Bowyer Farm ecosystem, will be for sale. The preferred payment for all sales is credit card.

MORE DETAILS

Dates: Sept 9, Sept 23 & Oct 7, 2023
Time: 9:00am-3:00pm
Location: Bowyer Farm, 2210 Mason-Montgomery Road, Mason, OH 45040
Accepted Payment: credit cards payments only

Native Plant Sale Sponsor:

Zootanical

Friday, April 12, 2024
5:30 pm – 9:00 pm

Zootanical 2024 with a Hint of Tulips will be held on Friday, April 12, 2024, from 5:30–9:00 pm at the world-famous Cincinnati Zoo & Botanical Garden. Event chairs Alexa & Jack Oliver invite you to join a unique evening with friends, fellow-gardeners, and lovers of landscape.

Set against the vibrant array of 120,000 magnificent tulips and flowering plants in peak spring bloom, Zootanical 2023 will attract over 350 well-connected community members and leaders passionate about growing our region and the opportunity to impact the Cincinnati landscape at one of the city’s most treasured attractions.

Event & Ticket Information will be available January 2024!

For sponsorship information, please contact David Plogmann at [email protected] or 513.487.3324. Sponsorship Packet

Annual Events

February - Landscaping for the Homeowner Series

A late winter 5-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! Perfect for the beginning and advanced gardener.

March - Sustainable Urban Landscapes

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.

April - Tunes and 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! Free with admission to the Zoo.

August - 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].

November - 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.