Gothenburg Botanical Garden: 100 years of biodiversity, balance and beauty

Close to nature but in the heart of the city, Gothenburg Botanical Garden is a place of true beauty. Founded in 1923, the green oasis has been presenting botany and biodiversity to the public for 100 years, and will celebrate its jubilee throughout 2023.

Unlike other gardens, botanical gardens have documented collections of living plants for research, preservation and educational purposes. As the natural habitats for plants change, botanical gardens are becoming more and more important to help protect endangered species. “Our job is simply to preserve, tell stories about and research the diversity of the plant world,” says Agneta Green, head of marketing and communication.

Left: This species no longer exists in its natural environment on Easter Island – good thing you can spot it in a certain Gothenburg garden instead!

During this jubilee year, visitors can look forward to an abundance of flowering bulb plants, a celebratory picnic, art exhibitions in partnership with Konstepidemin – which is a centre for Gothenburg artists – and much more. The actual birthday on 8 July will be celebrated in grand style with a big party and the opening of the new Culture Gardens.

Spread out across 430 acres, Gothenburg Botanical Garden boasts 20,000 plant species and hybrids from over 130 countries – one of the largest collections of its kind in Europe – alongside one of the world’s greatest collections of bulbs and tubers. Add Klippgården, a spectacular waterfall, a lush herb garden, a calming Japanese valley and a multifaceted programme of events and exhibitions to this, and you will see why botany and horticulture enthusiasts are impressed.

“We have over 600,000 visitors to the garden per year, and they come here to enjoy plants from all corners of the earth in beautifully composed sections,” says Green. However, it’s not all about pretty views and serene surrounds; over the years, the garden has become an indispensable supporting body to scientific research.

Gothenburg Botanical Garden also plays an important educational role as a place for children to learn about nature and how to respect it. And new greenhouses are in the works, which will present the world’s fascinating biodiversity to future generations.

With so much botanical brilliance on offer, Gothenburg Botanical Garden is a great summer destination for adults and kids alike – particularly this year of jubilee celebrations.

Web: www.botaniska.se
Instagram: @botaniskatradgarden
Facebook: goteborgs.botaniska.tradgard