Mercer Botanic Gardens

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United States of America - Texas - Humble

Institution Code: MERCA

BGCI Member: Yes

About the Mercer Botanic Gardens

An oasis of serenity and natural beauty along Cypress Creek, Mercer Botanic Gardens is a horticultural masterpiece. These 400+ acres of East Texas Piney Woods showcase the region’s largest documented collection of native and exotic cultivated plants. A living museum, it is also home to a wealth of animal life.

Main Address:
Mercer Botanic Gardens
The Mercer Society
22306 Aldine Westfield Road
Humble
Texas 77338 United States of America

Telephone: 713-274-4160
Fax: 713-437-8639
URL: www.hcp4.net/mercer/
Primary Email: mercerbotanicgardens@hcp4.net

Staff Details

  • Director's Name: Chris Ludwig, Garden Director
    Curator's Name: Anita Tiller, Botanist and Conservation Manager
    Plant Records Officer's Name: Anita Tiller
  • Total Staff:
    Horticultural Staff Number: 23
    Educational Staff Number: 2
    Research Staff Number: 3
    Administration Staff Number: 6

About the Garden

  • Institution Type: Botanic Garden
  • Status
  • Status: Municipal: Yes
  • Date founded: 1974
  • Physical Data
  • Natural Vegetation Area: Yes
    Natural vegetation area: Size: 138 Hectares
  • Landscaped Area: Yes
    Landscaped Area: Size: 24 Hectares
  • Total Area: 162 Hectares
    Latitude: 30.0390200
    Longitude: -95.3808110
    Annual Rainfall: 1346 mm
    Altitude: 26.00 Metres
    Total area of shadehouses: 138 Metres
  • Additional Locations
  • Satellite Garden Names: Harris County Precinct 4 Prairie Dawn Preserve
  • Locality: Information
  • Locality: Garden Name:
  • Local Address: 29.955787 -95.526537
  • Locality: City: Houston
  • Locality: State: Texas

Features and Facilities

  • Herbarium: Yes
    Herbarium: Number of Specimens: 52000
    Arboretum: Yes
    Arboretum Size: 70
  • Seed Bank: Yes
    Published Plant Catalogue: No
    Computer Plant Record System: Yes
  • Open to public: Yes
    Friends society: Yes
    Retail Outlet: Shop: Yes
    Retail Outlet: Plant Sales: Yes
    Disabled access: Yes
  • Number of Visitors: 200000
    Number of Volunteers: 300

Plant Collections

  • Special Collections:Acanthaceae, Apocynaceae, Malvaceae, Solanaceae, Zingiberaceae, Crinum (20 spp., 45 taxa), Impatiens (18 spp., 33 taxa), Plumerica (3 spp., 30 taxa), Bambusoideae -bamboos (40 taxa), ferns, daylilies, Azaleas, Louisiana Iris (175 taxa), Hibiscus, water li
  • Invasive Species Monitoring: Yes
    Invasive Species Policy: Yes
    Plant Collection Policy: Yes

Conservation Programmes

  • Conservation Programme: Yes
    Ex Situ Conservation Programme: Yes
    Reintroduction Programme: Yes

Research Programmes

  • Conservation - Biology: Yes

Education Programmes

  • Visitor/Education Centre: Yes
    Education Signs in Garden: Yes
    Public Lectures/Talks: Yes
    Education Booklets/Leaflets: Yes
    Guided Tours: Yes
    Permanent Public Displays: Yes
    Special Exhibitions: Yes
    Courses for School Children: No
    Courses for University/College Students: No
    Courses for General Public: Yes
    Education Programme: Yes