University of Northern Iowa Botanical Center

University of Northern Iowa Botanical Center Free and open to the public. Climate and plant diversity. Plant adaptations to climate and ecosystems. Volunteer opportunities are available.

Since 1938 the UNI Botanical Center has been home to a very extensive and diverse collection of plants, which have been studied and enjoyed by generations of students, faculty, staff and public visitors. Through the Botanical Center, UNI students are offered the unique experience of : Learning the relationships between plant species as well as the evolution of plant species. Two full time professi

onal staff are assisted by UNI students who have an opportunity to learn horticultural techniques, while maintaining an extraordinary plant collection.

Welp. This happened.Only a few broken panes.
06/11/2026

Welp. This happened.
Only a few broken panes.

The morning thunderstorm offers a break from the heat inside the greenhouses. It’s so dark and moody. Don’t worry, there...
06/11/2026

The morning thunderstorm offers a break from the heat inside the greenhouses. It’s so dark and moody. Don’t worry, there’s plenty of headhouse work for our team- no rain cancellations today!!

06/08/2026

💚💚💚

🌿

idea credit: on TikTok

We usually have critters that come into the Botanical Center to enjoy the buffet of fig, strawberries, pineapple, guava,...
06/03/2026

We usually have critters that come into the Botanical Center to enjoy the buffet of fig, strawberries, pineapple, guava, peppers and other sun ripened fruit that is grown in the collection.
Student employee, Madeline C. captured this cutie just as it was posing by our sign! Donate if you feel led, but also stop in and see us - we love visitors!
Madeline did have to shoo him out the roof vents before closing them last night- otherwise it would’ve created quite a mess!
Also peep 👀 Diablo, she was right in the middle of a snooze session. 💤💤

Whew!! 😅 Happy Friday everyone! We know we’ve been quiet since the plant sale ended….It’s because we’ve been BUSY!!After...
05/22/2026

Whew!! 😅 Happy Friday everyone! We know we’ve been quiet since the plant sale ended….
It’s because we’ve been BUSY!!
After the sale was finals week and we were busy training 3 new summer staff to water in the greenhouses.
This week was the first week of summer for us and we’ve continued training - but also touring 65 Cedar Falls 5th graders & 18 Hudson high schoolers, mowing trails and boundaries, tending to the display gardens & sterilizing pots & pulling weeds, collaborating with ISU Master Gardeners, and hanging out with Diablo, Columbo and Chiquita!
Summer is 3X as busy for our team.
We’re still open weekdays 8-4 but we’ve gotta tell ya, we are looking forward to the 3 day weekend, enjoy Memorial Day with your family-we will see you the Tuesday after the holiday!

05/07/2026

💛💛THANK YOU! 💛💛
The sale was a success!
We appreciate the community support!

Things to remember about the sale:💚Sale room opens at 7:30AM💜Payment in the form of 💵 Cash or Check only.💛 We have boxes...
05/06/2026

Things to remember about the sale:

💚Sale room opens at 7:30AM

💜Payment in the form of 💵 Cash or Check only.
💛 We have boxes for you, you can bring a wagon. 😝

💚 There are limited metered parking spots. We can help get your boxes to your vehicles.

💜Be sure to water your plants after purchase.

💛Protect plants from frost until the weather is right for planting outside.

We can’t wait to see you!!

It’s the week of the SALE, crunch time for our staff to do all of our last minute preparations!!**Did you know that we r...
05/04/2026

It’s the week of the SALE, crunch time for our staff to do all of our last minute preparations!!

**Did you know that we raise EVERYTHING we are selling from a tiny seed, bulb, tuber or cutting? We don’t buy in ANY plants grown somewhere else with the intention to sell them.
We usually take cuttings from donated material or collection plants and dig and divide garden plants.
Many of the sale plants that we start from seed are also planted in our gardens.
We start planning & planting for sale in November!!
Our student employees carefully care for ALL of the plants,both fall and spring semesters.

💚 We are ready to move these beauties out of our greenhouse and into your house and gardens.

Here are photos of SOME of the sale plants we are offering this year.

We will have: houseplants, annual flower boxes, perennials, herbs, cacti and succulents.

SEE YOU THURSDAY!
💵 Cash or check only! 💵
Lowest priced plants are a $1.00, most expensive are $50.00- with the majority being $5-$10.00.

📸: Thank you Sophia W for capturing the afternoon work.

Hey! Did you know that our plants go on trips across campus?? While we regularly provide podium plants for special event...
05/01/2026

Hey! Did you know that our plants go on trips across campus?? While we regularly provide podium plants for special events at the Union Ballrooms or GBPAC, this is our largest rental.
Today we delivered 44 of our nicest large tropical plants for the UNI Athletics event, Rally in the Valley.
They’ll stay for the weekend and come back home next Monday.
When they are taken out of our greenhouses, you can really see how they enhance a vast concrete space like McLeod!

We still have a few Botanical Center Technical Assistant positions for the summer! We’d love to add you to the team!
04/24/2026

We still have a few Botanical Center Technical Assistant positions for the summer! We’d love to add you to the team!

Address

Center Of University Of Northern Iowa Campus
Cedar Falls, IA
50614

Opening Hours

Monday 8am - 4pm
Tuesday 8am - 4pm
Wednesday 8am - 4pm
Thursday 8am - 4pm
Friday 8am - 4pm

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