Official Botany Rules

Last Updated on March 1, 2026 by The Official Game Rules Team

Players take on the role of Victorian-era plant hunters, traveling the world in search of rare specimens, wealth, and the prestigious Queen’s Prize in Botany. Each turn, players move to locations matching the specimen cards in their hand, managing expedition funds, navigating events, and gathering useful items, crew, and pets. Upon returning to their estate, they add live and pressed specimens to their garden while constructing features like orangeries and conservatories. The player with the highest score at the end of the game wins the Queen’s Prize in Botany.

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How to Play Botany

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Overview

Botany is a strategy board game where players immerse themselves in the world of plant collecting and scientific discovery. The objective is to cultivate a thriving botanical collection by managing resources, conducting expeditions, and making strategic choices to acquire rare specimens.

Components

• 1 Game Board
• 100 Cardboard Coins
• 6 Character Cards
• 5 Conservatory Cards
• 5 Scoring Bonus Cards
• 10 Wooden Pawns
• 2 Dice
• 38 Expedition Cards
• 10 Wardian Case Cards
• 5 Poisonous Path Cards
• 5 Turn Reference Cards
• 5 Estate Boards
• 5 Botanical Press Cards
• 1 Queen’s Prize in Botany Card
• 100 Specimen Cards
• 10 Orangery Cards
• 70 Event Cards

Game Board Setup

1. Game Setup
2. Board: Place the game board in the center, ensuring enough space for each player’s Estate mat and Expedition area.
3. Pawns: Each player selects a pawn color. Place one pawn on the number 1 spot of the Reputation Tracker and another on the Estate space. Move the Estate pawn as you travel the map and adjust the Reputation Tracker pawn as you gain or lose reputation.
4. Event Cards: Shuffle the Event deck and place it face down on the game board.
5. Expedition Cards: Shuffle the Expedition deck and place it face down. Draw three cards from the top and place them face up beside the deck.
6. Specimen Cards: Shuffle the Specimen deck and place it face down on the board.
7. Remaining Cards & Coins: Keep the Garden Features cards, additional Wardian Case cards, and extra coins to the side of the play area.

Player Setup

• 1 Estate Mat: Place it in front of the player.
• 1 Wardian Case Card: Place it in the player’s Expedition area. Each Wardian Case can hold up to 3 Specimen cards.
• 1 Botanical Press Card: Place it in the player’s Expedition area. The Botanical Press can hold an unlimited number of pressed Specimens.
• 10 Coins: Place them in the player’s Expedition area. These are used to fund expeditions.
• Character Cards: Shuffle the Character cards and deal 1 to each player. Place the card in each player’s Expedition area.
• Expedition Cards: Deal 2 Expedition cards to each player. Place them in each player’s Expedition area.

SPECIMEN CARDS: Shuffle the Specimen cards and deal 4 of them to each player. If a player has an item, ability, etc. that increases their max hand size, that player may draw ad- ditional Specimen cards up to their maximum. Players keep these cards secret. Once only, each player may choose any number of their Specimen cards, discard those cards, and draw back up to 4 Specimen cards.

Turns: Each player rolls 1 die. The player with the highest score goes first.

Game Phases

The game proceeds in turns, with each player performing actions during their turn. A player’s turn consists of the following phases:

1. Start of Turn:
   • Draw a card if you do not have any Expedition or Specimen cards in your hand.
   • Players may also activate certain abilities based on their character or ongoing game conditions.
2. Action Phase: The player can take up to 3 actions during their turn. Actions include:
   • Go on an Expedition:
     • To go on an expedition, a player must spend coins to draw cards from the Expedition deck. Each Expedition card represents a journey to collect plant specimens.
     • After spending the necessary coins, draw the top Expedition card from the deck. The card will list the plant species you collect.
     • The number of specimens you collect from an expedition is determined by the Expedition card and any bonuses granted by your character or conservatory cards.
     • Once you’ve collected specimens, you can place them in your Wardian Case (up to 3 specimens per Wardian Case) or use the Botanical Press to convert them into pressed specimens.
   • Play Conservatory or Scoring Bonus Cards:
     • Conservatory cards and scoring bonus cards can be played during your turn. They may offer additional bonuses like extra coins, additional points for specimen collections, or help manage resources.
     • Conservatory cards often provide extra bonuses, such as increasing the storage capacity for specimens or boosting the number of coins you receive.
   • Use Character Ability:
     • Each character has a unique ability that can influence the game in various ways. This could be earning extra coins, drawing extra cards, or gaining additional points under certain conditions. Be sure to use your character’s ability to maximize your strategy.
   • Buy Specimen Cards:
     • Players can buy additional Specimen cards using coins to expand their collection. Specimen cards are collected during expeditions and can provide both points and specific bonuses based on their plant family or type.
3. End of Turn:
   • Once you have completed your actions, the turn ends, and the next player takes their turn.
   • If you have reached the maximum number of cards in your hand (based on your Wardian Case or other card limits), discard any excess cards.

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Key Game Mechanics

• Specimen Storage: Players can store specimens in either their Wardian Case (3 cards maximum) or Botanical Press (unlimited). Pressed specimens are usually worth more points.
• Expedition Cards: These cards dictate the success of your expeditions, the types of specimens you gather, and the conditions of the expedition. Some expedition cards may include special effects, like gaining extra coins or triggering certain events.
• Turn Reference Cards: These cards help remind players of the game phases, the rules for each action, and any unique abilities that can be used during their turn.

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Scoring and Winning the Game

The game has multiple ways to score points. These include:

1. Specimen Collections: Players gain points for collecting complete sets of specimens. Some specimens may provide direct points, while others may provide bonuses when combined in specific ways.
2. Botanical Press: Pressing specimens can earn extra points. The more specimens you press, the greater the rewards.
3. Character Abilities: Some character cards provide scoring opportunities at the end of the game, either through collections, bonuses, or additional objectives achieved during the game.
4. Conservatory Cards: These cards can provide points for completing certain collections or achieving specific conditions during the game.

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End of the Game

The game ends when one of the following occurs:

• Players have gone through the entire deck of Expedition Cards or Specimen Cards.
• A set number of rounds have been completed.

Final Scoring

Once the game ends, players tally their points based on the following:

• Points from collected specimen cards.
• Points from pressing specimens.
• Points from conservatory bonuses, character card abilities, and any additional scoring methods.
• The player with the most points wins the game.

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Strategy Tips:

• Balance Your Expeditions: Don’t go on too many expeditions without managing your resources. It’s essential to find a balance between gathering specimens and preparing your collection for pressing.
• Use Your Character Ability Wisely: Each character has a unique ability that can significantly influence your strategy. Be sure to use it at the right moment to maximize its impact.
• Conservatory Cards Are Key: Make sure to invest in conservatory cards early on, as they can provide valuable bonuses and extra points.

With these strategies in mind, Botany becomes a deep and engaging game of resource management, planning, and competitive plant collection. For a complete guide please refer to the original rules pdf at the top of the page!