Botanical garden of varied topography located on the south bank of the Colorado River near downtown Austin
General Information
Hours:
Open daily 5am to 8am
Fees:
No entry pass needed from 9pm to 10pm on Tuesday, Wednesday, Friday, Saturday, Sunday. Swim at your own risk hours are daily from 5am to 8am and do not require entry pass.
Child (1-11) Resident: $2.00; Non-Resident: $4.00
Junior (12-17) Resident: $3.00; Non-Resident: $5.00
Adult (18-61) Resident: $5.00; Non-Resident: $9.00
Senior (62-79) Resident: $2.00 ; Non-Resident: $5.00
Patrons 80+, City of Austin Employees, Veterans, Retired and Active Duty Military: Free
On-site ticket sales are available at payment kiosks. Credit card, and exact change accepted.
Child (1-11) Resident: $2.00; Non-Resident: $4.00
Junior (12-17) Resident: $3.00; Non-Resident: $5.00
Adult (18-61) Resident: $5.00; Non-Resident: $9.00
Senior (62-79) Resident: $2.00 ; Non-Resident: $5.00
Patrons 80+, City of Austin Employees, Veterans, Retired and Active Duty Military: Free
On-site ticket sales are available at payment kiosks. Credit card, and exact change accepted.
Pets
Pets NOT allowed
Seasons:
All year
Overview
Zilker Botanical Garden is a 31-acre garden on the south bank of the Colorado River, forming the centerpiece of Zilker Park. Established as a non-profit in 1955, it's really a collection of distinct, independently maintained gardens connected by streams and koi-filled ponds, making it an easy, walkable stop for visitors of all ages.
Popular Attractions and Activities
Themed Gardens
Each garden within the grounds has its own focus and character, from Japanese landscaping to Texas prehistory.
- Isamu Taniguchi Oriental Garden – Built by Japanese immigrant Isamu Taniguchi as a gift to the city, with koi ponds, a bamboo grove, a tea house, and a stone gate from Austin's sister city of Oita, Japan.
- Hartman Prehistoric Garden – Plantings that recreate a Cretaceous-era habitat, inspired by dinosaur tracks discovered nearby in Zilker Park.
- Mabel Davis Rose Garden – Rose plantings alongside the Riparian Streambed.
- Cactus and Succulent Garden and Herb and Fragrance Garden – Compact gardens showcasing drought-tolerant and aromatic plants.
- Doug Blachly Butterfly Trail and Garden – Native plantings that draw butterflies and pollinators.
- City of Austin's Green Garden and the historic Pioneer Village.
Why Visit Zilker Botanical Garden?
- Explore a variety of gardens in one compact, walkable space.
- Learn Austin history through the Taniguchi Garden and Pioneer Village.
- See prehistoric Texas in the Hartman Prehistoric Garden.
- Pair your visit with the rest of Zilker Park, right next door.
This article uses material from the Wikipedia article "Zilker Botanical Garden", which is released under the Creative Commons Attribution-Share-Alike License 3.0
