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Plants at the Zoo
 The Indianapolis Zoo was designed using the concept of biomes or habitats in which animals live, allowing visitors to see animals in simulated natural environments, see more clearly the importance of preserving the world's varied habitats to maintain diversity of species, and observe more natural behaviors. The habitat collections continued to evolve into a Botanical Collection containing 146 families, 579 genera, 1,782 species that contain 5,620 accessioned specimens. In 1995, the Zoo became the nation's first institution to be accredited in three disciplines - habitat botanical garden, zoological park, and aquarium.
In the Forests Biome Collection, you will find a North American plant collection, an Indiana Native Forest plant collection, and an Asian Temperate Forest collection containing what is probably the largest hardy bamboo collection (34 specimens of hardy bamboo) in the Midwest.
 In the Deserts Biome (xerophytic) Collection, species from specific geographic areas simulate the deserts in both the Old and New Worlds. We have placed particular emphasis on plants form the Sonora Desert, Madagascar (spiny Desert) and Arid Africa. The exterior landscape is intended to demonstrate xerophytic plants hardy to Indiana.
The Plains Biome Collection highlights the predominate plant species form the Grass Family and is characterized with sparse plantings of trees, shrubs and forbs.
The Waters (aquatic) Biome collection really extends throughout the Indianapolis Zoo's campus and includes the pond by the American eagle aviary, forest stream, and the "river of life" that continues from an Indiana bog in the Encounters Biome to large pools in the Plains Biome.
White River Gardens plantings are based on both themes and cultural requirements. To learn more, click here.
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