Mexican Orchid of the Month: Leochilus crocodiliceps

Mexican Orchid of the Month: Crocodile-Headed Leochilus  Leochilus crocodiliceps By Biól. Karen Muñoz July 7, 2026 During the month of July, a tiny inhabitant of the Vallarta Botanical Garden draws special attention: Leochilus crocodiliceps, an orchid whose name refers to the species’ most striking feature. Although its flowers are small, barely reaching about 2 cm […]

A Living Museum, but there’s more to us than meets the eye!

A Living Museum, but there’s more to us than meets the eye! Our 2025 Annual Report is your way into the fascinating stories, facts, and figures behind the Vallarta Botanical Gardens. By Christopher Jacobs Julio 3, 2026 Twenty years ago, the land where the Vallarta Botanical Gardens now stand was a patchwork of cow pastures […]

Mexican Orchid of the Month: Bletia macristhmochila

Mexican Orchid of the Month: Bletia macristhmochila By Biól. Adolfo Servin June 5, 2026 The orchid of the month for June is one of the most beautiful and ephemeral species in our flora: Bletia macristhmochila. It is a geophytic plant, meaning a species capable of storing energy reserves underground in tubers or pseudobulbs during unfavorable […]

Mexican Bird of the Month: Cypseloides niger

Mexican Bird of the Month: Cypseloides niger By Biól. Adolfo Servin June 3, 2026 The bird of the month for June is a species as remarkable as it is elegant: the Black Swift (Cypseloides niger). This medium-sized bird is characterized by its almost entirely black or dark brown plumage. In flight, it can be easily […]

Mexican Orchid of the Month: Lycaste crinita

Mexican Orchid of the Month: Lycaste crinita Mexican Orchid of the Month: Haired Orchid Lycaste crinita   By Biól. Oscar Rodríguez Ramos March 4, 2026 Lycaste crinita, also known as “Canelita” or The Haired Lycaste, is an epiphytic orchid endemic to Mexico, recognized for its unique appearance and delicate fragrance. This species is found exclusively in the […]

Guaranteeing the future of four endangered orchid species

Guaranteeing the future of four endangered orchid species Guaranteeing the future of four endangered orchid species By Christopher Jacobs July 22, 2025 It may be tucked away inconspicuously in one of our conservatories, but the in vitro Orchid Propagation Laboratory at the Vallarta Botanical Garden is a powerhouse of conservation. Every year the lab cultivates […]

Oncidium hintonii

Oncidium hintonii Oncidium hintonii By Biól. Biologist Jesús Ángel Barajas Fragoso​ April 1, 2025 During spring and summer, the flowers of the Oncidium orchid once again take center stage in the Vallarta Botanical Garden. This time, O. hintonii surprises us with the floral and aromatic display of its long inflorescences. This orchid is endemic to […]

Species new to science found in the Vallarta Botanical Gardens

Species new to science found in the Vallarta Botanical Garden By Dr. Cristobal Sánchez June 19, 2024 During the months of August and September 2023, a detailed exploration of the Naturalista* database for the western region of Jalisco led to the discovery of a species previously unknown to science. There was immense satisfaction in locating […]

Mexipedium xerophyticum

Mexipedium xerophyticum Mexipedium xerophyticum By Jesús Reyes October 1, 2024 “Los Chimalapas” region, located between Oaxaca, Chiapas, and Veracruz, is kaleidoscope of biodiversity, with approximately 595,000 hectares, it is the largest area of tropical rainforest in Mexico, More than 24 years ago in this region a group of Mexican researchers found a true jewel of Mexican orchids: Mexipedium xerophyticum. Of […]