Botanischer Garten

Botanischer Garten stands in Heidelberg as a University of Heidelberg botanical garden, covering about two hectares. More than 14,000 plant taxa fill its grounds and glasshouses. Founded in 1593 as a Hortus Medicus, it served the university as a medicinal plant garden. Seven relocations followed before the present site was established in 1915. Georg Albrecht Klebs and head gardener Erich Behnick directed that move, while reconstruction followed severe damage during the Second World War.

The greenhouses cover about 4,000 square metres, with roughly half accessible to visitors. Their strongest collections feature succulents, orchids and bromeliads, alongside carnivorous plants, cycads and tropical ferns. The orchid holdings contain almost 5,000 accessions and more than 3,500 species. Outside, an alpine garden, fern ravine, inland dune, bog, heath area and unusual weedy vineyard create contrasting habitats. A systematic collection arranges plants to reveal relationships between species.

Research, university teaching and conservation shape the work carried out among these collections. Guided tours, workshops and the Grüne Schule introduce biodiversity to visitors and children from about eight years old. The herbarium preserves around 350,000 specimens, including about 2,300 type specimens. South American material from the Andes and African plants from Madagascar and Kenya form its main geographic focus.