Botanical Garden of the City of Linz

The Linz Botanical Garden is one of the oldest and most diverse botanical gardens in Austria. Founded in 1853, it covers an area of 4.2 hectares on the Gugl hill, offering a panoramic view of the city and the Danube river. The garden is open to the public all year round and can be easily reached by bus line 27. It consists of an open-air part, a greenhouse complex, and an arboretum, each with its own attractions and specialties. Garden receives about 200,000 visitors per year. This makes it one of the most popular attractions in the city.

The Open-Air Part: A Journey Through the Plant World

The open-air part of the garden is divided into 31 sections, each representing a different theme or geographical region. Visitors can admire the seasonal beauty of the entrance area, where various plants are arranged according to the time of the year. They can also explore the sunken garden, where a rich variety of perennials create a colorful display.

The garden also showcases the natural flora of different habitats, such as swamp meadow, alluvial forest, lime beech woodland, and acidic mixed forest. Some of these areas include rare and endangered plants that are protected by law. The garden also educates visitors about the importance of biodiversity and conservation.

One of the highlights of the garden is the crops department, where visitors can learn about the origin and cultivation of various vegetables, fruits, herbs, and spices. Some of the vegetables are uncommon or exotic, such as okra, quinoa, and amaranth. The department also hosts special exhibitions on topics such as edible flowers, medicinal plants, and dye plants.

The system garden is another interesting section, where plants are arranged according to their evolutionary relationships. This allows visitors to see the similarities and differences among the major groups of plants, from algae and mosses to ferns and flowering plants.

The natural garden is a relatively new addition to the garden, created in 2007 by merging the natural history station and the botanical garden. It provides a habitat for a variety of animals, such as birds, insects, amphibians, and reptiles. The garden also features facilities for the breeding and protection of beneficial small animals, such as hedgehogs, bats, and bees. These animals help to control pests and pollinate plants.

The garden also has sections dedicated to specific types of plants, such as water and bank plants, heath plants, and roses. The water and bank plants are located near the spring stream and two small ponds, where visitors can see aquatic plants such as water lilies, lotuses, and irises. The heath garden displays plants that thrive in acidic and nutrient-poor soils, such as heathers, blueberries, and cranberries. The rose garden, or rosarium, contains a wide range of rose varieties, including some that are no longer available in the market.

The Alpinum is one of the most impressive sections of the garden, where visitors can see plants from the alpine regions of all continents. The Alpinum has about 600 different plant species, some of which are endemic to specific mountains or countries. The Alpinum also has areas for Pannonian flora, African plants, and a Japanese slope that resembles a Japanese garden.

Other sections of the garden include the daffodil meadow, where thousands of daffodils bloom in spring, the Ferngrund, where ferns of different shapes and sizes grow, the Wiesenmoor, where wetland plants such as sundews and orchids can be found, and the Biological Group, where plants are grouped according to their biological characteristics, such as leaf shape, flower color, or fruit type.

The Greenhouse Complex: A Tropical Paradise

The greenhouse complex consists of five greenhouses, connected by the entrance building. The greenhouses house plants that require a warm and humid climate, such as tropical and subtropical plants. The greenhouses are also home to some of the most beautiful and fascinating plants in the world, such as orchids, bromeliads, carnivorous plants, and cacti.

The tropical house is the largest and most diverse greenhouse, where visitors can see plants that have various functions and uses, such as food, medicine, fiber, and ornament. Some of the plants in the tropical house are banana, pineapple, coffee, cocoa, vanilla, ginger, turmeric, and cinnamon. The tropical house also has a waterfall, a pond, and a bridge, creating a natural and relaxing atmosphere.

The orchid house is the second largest greenhouse, where visitors can admire the city’s second largest collection of orchids. The orchid house has about 1,500 orchid species, some of which are rare and endangered. The orchid house also displays orchids that are native to Austria, such as the lady’s slipper orchid and the bee orchid.

The other greenhouses are the succulent house, the palm house, and the fern house. The succulent house contains plants that can store water in their stems, leaves, or roots, such as cacti, aloes, and agaves. The succulent house also has a rock garden, where visitors can see plants that grow on rocks, such as lithops and living stones. The palm house contains various types of palms, such as date palms, coconut palms, and fan palms. The palm house also has a collection of cycads, which are ancient plants that resemble palms but are more closely related to conifers. The fern house contains ferns of different sizes and shapes, from tiny moss-like ferns to tree ferns that can reach several meters in height.

The Arboretum: A Forest of Trees and Shrubs

The arboretum is located on the south-western slope of the Freinberg, a hill that overlooks the city of Linz. The arboretum covers an area of 2.5 hectares and has over 700 different species and varieties of trees and shrubs from around the world. The arboretum is divided into sections according to the geographical origin of the plants, such as Europe, Asia, North America, and Australia. The arboretum also has sections for conifers, magnolias, rhododendrons, and roses.

The arboretum is a place where visitors can enjoy the beauty and diversity of trees and shrubs, as well as learn about their ecology and history. Some of the trees and shrubs in the arboretum are rare and endangered, such as the Wollemi pine, the dawn redwood, and the Franklin tree. Some of the trees and shrubs in the arboretum have cultural and historical significance, such as the ginkgo, the olive, and the Judas tree.

The arboretum also offers a scenic view of the city and the surrounding landscape, especially in autumn, when the leaves change color and create a stunning contrast with the sky.

The Linz Botanical Garden: A Place for Everyone

The Linz Botanical Garden is not only a place for plants, but also a place for people. The garden aims to combine nature and culture, by displaying sculptures by Austrian artists along the sculpture walk and by having a section dedicated to geology, where visitors can see rocks and minerals from different regions of Austria. The garden also has a sun terrace, where visitors can relax and enjoy the view of the garden and the city.

The garden also offers various activities and events for visitors of all ages and interests, such as guided tours, workshops, lectures, concerts, and exhibitions. The garden also has a library, a shop, and a café, where visitors can find books, souvenirs, and refreshments.

The Linz Botanical Garden is a green oasis in the heart of the city, where visitors can discover the wonders of the plant world, learn about the importance of nature and conservation, and enjoy a pleasant and enriching experience.

Linz, Austria