Zilker Botanical Garden, Botanical garden in Austin, Texas, United States

Zilker Botanical Garden is a botanical garden in Austin that spreads across a large property with different themed areas. Each section displays different plant types and garden designs, ranging from traditional Japanese layouts to gardens with plants from prehistoric times.

The garden was founded as a non-profit organization in 1955 and forms the centerpiece of Zilker Park on the south bank of the Colorado River. In 1992 an amateur paleontologist found over 100 preserved footprints of six or seven prehistoric reptiles, plus fossils of an ancient turtle, within Zilker Park; the tracks were traced, molded and reburied, and about 2 acres around the Cretaceous habitat became the Hartman Prehistoric Garden.

The Isamu Taniguchi Oriental Garden is named for the Japanese-American landscaper who designed it, and the Mabel Davis Rose Garden honours a local rosarian. Pioneer Village gathers historic log cabins relocated to the grounds, and the Hartman Prehistoric Garden grew from a 1992 discovery of more than 100 fossil footprints left by six or seven reptiles.

The 28-acre grounds sit on varied topography on the south bank of the Colorado River at 2220 Barton Springs Road, near downtown Austin. Paths connect the themed gardens, so allow time to walk between the Japanese, prehistoric and rose sections. The entrance is off Barton Springs Road, beside Zilker Park.

One section of the garden is dedicated to recreating a Cretaceous environment and displays plants that existed during the time of dinosaurs. This unusual concept offers visitors a rare look at plant life from a distant geological period.