The Botanical Garden
Gothenburg´s Botanical Garden is the largest – and by many considered the finest – botanical garden in Northern Europe, with a total area of 150 acres, conveniently located in central Gothenburg.
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The Botanical Garden |
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Photo: Kjell Holmner/Göteborg & Co |
Some of the favourites of the over half a million annual visitors are the herb garden, the kitchen garden and the exuberant beddings of perennials. The true gem, however, is the rock garden, awarded three stars in the Michelin ”Green Guide”, boasting over 6,000 different marsh and shade plants.
The Japanese glade is yet another lovely place for quiet contemplation. The garden´s collection of wild rhododendrons is impressive, as is the orchid collection, with 1,600 species. In the greenhouses, there are another 4,500 species too tender for outdoor cultivation in the Nordic climate – even if the West Coast climate is quite mild for these latitudes, due to the Gulf Stream passing through the North Atlantic, making conditions for cultivation favourable. A special attraction is the Easter tree, a unique tree now extinct in its place of origin, Easter Island. Also counted as part of the Botanical Garden is the Trädgårdsföreningen park by the canal in downtown Gothenburg, a very popular meeting place especially in the summer, when concerts and shows are frequently held. In this park, there is also the popular Palm House, with tropical and Mediterranean trees and plants, and the rose garden, with over 4,000 different roses. Gothenburg´s Botanical Garden is open year around.