Cultivating knowledge and psychoactive plants

The Mescaline Garden is an ecosystem led by ethnobotanist and natural products chemist Dr Liam Engel, framing psychoactive plants through science, community knowledge and harm reduction.

In an era of shifting regulations and renewed interest around psychedelics and cannabis, we offer a grounded alternative to misinformation and other noise. Our work exists to foster informed, responsible and sustainable understandings of plants that produce altered states of consciousness.

We specialise in mescaline-containing cacti and DMT-containing wattle, but our passions extend across the whole spectrum of psychoactive plants.

A simple and comprehensive guide for a new era.

This isn’t just a catalogue; it’s a synthesis of ethnobotany, chemistry and hard–to-access knowledge. Written by Dr Liam Engel, this book overviews species that have altered human minds across history.

Designed to bridge the understandings of curious laypeople, traditional knowledge holders and scientists, it provides a concise and comprehensive look at the science, folklore and harm reduction of psychoactive plants.

Knowledge is a foundation for a healthy relationship between people and plants.

We are experiencing a global renaissance of interest in psychoactive plants. Despite developments in psychedelic medicine and legislative reforms, psychoactive misinformation and stigma persists.

We believe that transparency reduces harm more effectively than prohibition ever could. Through knowledge and plants we empower individuals to replace fear with science.

Growing connections with plants.

Based in the Blue Mountains of Australia, The Mescaline Garden advocates for plant sentience, sustainability, and the protection of diversity.

The Mescaline Garden takes shape as a living collection, herbarium, repository of knowledge and global classroom combining laboratory research and nursery propagation with frontline harm reduction practice. The Mescaline Garden ecosystem extends beyond a single site. It is a network of relationships connecting psychoactive plants and the people who grow, study and care for them.

Expertise in psychopharmacology, analytical chemistry and harm reduction provides a unique ability to connect psychoactive science with everyday people and develop knowledge through our network.