La Botánica explores cultural conflicts in East Harlem among an old Puerto Rican woman, her daughter, and her granddaughter, who has just graduated from an Ivy League university.

 

The old woman, Doña Geno, runs a business dealing in herbs, spells, and spiritual powers. She and her daughter, Anamu, expect Anamu's daughter, Milagros Castillo, to take over the shop, La Ceiba.But, Milagros -- who began calling herself Millie at college since, as she says, Miracles Castle isn't a great name in English -- plans to take up a career in a big bank downtown and forget about the barrio.

 

But she has things to learn that the Ivy League doesn't teach, and Doña Geno is just the professor she needs.