botanical garden, originally, a collection of living plants designed chiefly to illustrate relationships within plant groups. In modern times, most botanical gardens are concerned primarily with exhibiting ornamental plants, insofar as possible in a scheme that emphasizes natural relationships. Thus, the two functions are blended: eye appeal and taxonomic order.

Britannica Editors. "botanical garden". Encyclopedia Britannica, 27 Jun. 2026, https://www.britannica.com/science/botanical-garden-study-and-exhibition-garden. Accessed 15 August 2026.