Garden Time Machine: Plants That Tell Idaho’s Story

Step into the Garden and travel through time. At the heart of the Idaho Botanical Garden is a living archive, where every plant tells a story. Together, these plants reveal the rich ecological and cultural history of Idaho. Two standout collections—the Idaho Native Plant Garden and the Lewis and Clark Garden—serve as portals to the past. In particular, they show how plants shaped the lives of Indigenous peoples, explorers, and settlers. Even today, they continue to define the spirit of the Intermountain West.

The Idaho Native Plant Garden: Preserving the Pulse of Place

The Idaho Native Plant Garden is located on Garden grounds. It’s more than a beautiful landscape—it’s a botanical conservation collection with purpose. Specifically, this thoughtfully curated space highlights plants native to Idaho’s diverse ecosystems, from sagebrush steppe to alpine meadows.

Why it matters:

• Because these plants evolved with Idaho’s climate, soils, and wildlife, making them models of resilience and ecological harmony.
• In addition, they serve as living lessons in water conservation, biodiversity, and habitat support for native pollinators like the monarch butterfly and the metallic green sweat bee.

Standout species include:

• Sagebrush (Artemisia tridentata): A keystone species of the high desert, its aromatic leaves have deep ties to Indigenous medicine and ceremony.
• Arrowleaf Balsamroot (Balsamorhiza sagittata): With its sunny yellow blooms, this plant was used for food and medicine by Native peoples and is a springtime icon.
• Western Penstemon (Penstemon spp.): Part of our accredited Penstemon collection, these vibrant bloomers are not only gorgeous but also essential for native bees.

With each visit, you witness how native plants anchor ecosystems and offer a glimpse into a pre-settlement Idaho.

The Lewis and Clark Garden: A Journey Reimagined

Retrace the famous 1804–1806 expedition through a garden dedicated to the plants discovered—or first recorded for science—by Meriwether Lewis and William Clark.

As you explore the paths of the Lewis and Clark Garden, you’re retracing steps taken across the American West, including significant stops in what is now Idaho.

This means the geographic display collection features plants that were collected during the expedition and are native to the areas the Corps of Discovery passed through.

Plants of note:

• Lewis’ Monkeyflower (Erythranthe lewisii): Named for Meriwether Lewis, this alpine wildflower thrives near Idaho’s mountain streams.
• Blue flax (Linum lewisii): Its delicate blooms and fibrous stems represent beauty and utility, once used by Indigenous communities for weaving and clothing.
• Bitterroot (Lewisia rediviva): The Montana state flower with deep cultural importance to Indigenous peoples and a critical food source historically.

Meanwhile, interpretive signage throughout the garden brings these stories to life, connecting botanical science with history, exploration, and cultural heritage.

Why These Gardens Matter Today

These historic and native plant collections aren’t just beautiful—they’re vital.

• For example, they serve as living classrooms, educating visitors about conservation, ecology, and cultural landscapes.
• Furthermore, they help protect biodiversity by preserving rare and endemic species.
• Most importantly, they reflect the Garden’s commitment to ecological stewardship, in line with our Horticultural Mission to inspire, enrich, and educate our community through sustainable practices.

In a rapidly changing world, the Idaho Botanical Garden’s curated living collections act as time capsules and teaching tools—reminding us where we’ve been and pointing toward a more ecologically thoughtful future.

Visit the Time Machine

Whether you're a history buff, plant nerd, or just looking for inspiration, the Idaho Native Plant Garden and Lewis and Clark Garden offer a compelling narrative experience like no other. So, come stroll through time and rediscover Idaho—one plant at a time.