The Water Gardens in the Great Basin, consisting of tens of thousands of native and ornamental plants, extend gardens into the water in a way never seen before at a botanic garden.

An array of aquatic and semiaquatic plants that range from native grasses to sedges help prevent erosion on the miles of Chicago Botanic Garden shoreline. Lotuses and waterlilies provide color and drama during the summer months and well into autumn.

The Water Gardens blend beauty with environmental sensitivity. Lush growth at the water’s edge provides a rich ecosystem for birds, insects, fish, turtles, and other wildlife. At the same time, the shores of the Great Basin demonstrate ways to restore and protect shorelines of lakes and ponds.