There are more than 7,500 plants of 472 genera. These plants come from different regions of the State, including arid and humid climates, low tropical zones, and temperate and cold mountainous areas.

It is located within the Santo Domingo Cultural Center, which occupies the historical convent constructed during the 16th and 17th centuries for Dominican friars.

The garden's land was once part of the convent's orchard. Over the years, the space served different purposes, such as barracks from the mid-19th century until 1994.

The purpose of the garden, and the definition of ‘ethnobotanical’, is the exploration of the relationship between plants and people. The garden tells a story about the cultural and artistic traditions of Oaxaca and its place in the natural history of Mexico. 

This garden was designed by two of the most important Oaxacan artists, Master Francisco Toledo and Master Luis Zárate. The first designed the “Patio del Huaje” and the “La Sangre de Mitla” fountain, while the second designed the “Espejo de Cuanana” fountain and the sculptures that modify the level and direction of the water along the canal.

In the garden you will also find some other works in stone and wood by other artists such as Jorge DuBon, José Villalobos and Jorge Yázpik.

Another of the garden's must-see attractions are the lime kilns where the mortar was prepared to build the magnificent convent of Santo Domingo. The Historical Ethnobotanical Garden is part of a cultural complex that includes the Temple of Santo Domingo.