San Diego Zoo Botanical Collection

The San Diego Zoo Botanical Collection is an internationally prominent collection with more than 4,500 species of plants. The American Association of Museums has accredited it since 1993 as a botanical garden. Prized collections include orchids, cycads, fig trees, palms, and coral trees.  Naturalistic animal exhibits are heavily planted and resemble the animals' native habitats. Some plants, such as bamboo, eucalyptus, acacia, and hibiscus, are grown for animal food.