The Zagreb Botanical Garden (Croatian: Botanički vrt u Zagrebu) is a botanical garden located in downtown Zagreb, Croatia. It is part of the Faculty of Science at the University of Zagreb.
History
The garden was founded in 1889 by Professor Antun Heinz of the University of Zagreb. The original concept was proposed by Professor Bohuslav Jiruš, the first botany lecturer at the university, but it was Heinz who realized the plan. Prior to founding the garden, Heinz toured European botanical gardens and, together with head gardener Viteslav Durhanek, crafted the master plan. Construction began in 1890, the garden opened to the public in 1891, and planting commenced in 1892. Since 1971, it has been statutorily protected as a monument of garden architecture and nature.
Location and Layout
The garden covers an area of approximately 5 hectares (12 acres) and is situated at an altitude of about 120 meters (390 ft) above sea level. It forms the southern part of Zagreb's "Green Horseshoe" (Lenuci's Horseshoe), a system of parks and squares in the lower town. The majority of the garden is designed in the naturalistic English landscape style, featuring informal clusters of trees and shrubs, winding paths, and two small artificial lakes. In contrast, the floral parterre near the greenhouse follows a formal, symmetrical French aesthetic.
Collections
The garden hosts approximately 5,000 to 6,000 plant taxa from various parts of the world, including around 1,800 exotic species. The arboretum occupies about 3 hectares and is divided into 53 irregular plots. Notable specimens include:
- "Living fossils": Dawn redwood (Metasequoia glyptostroboides), ginkgo (Ginkgo biloba), and Wollemi pine (Wollemia nobilis).
- The oldest tree: A pedunculate oak (Quercus robur), estimated to be 150–200 years old, with a trunk girth of approximately 430 cm.
- Other notable species: Swamp cypress (Taxodium distichum), giant sequoia (Sequoiadendron giganteum), handkerchief tree (Davidia involucrata), Persian ironwood (Parrotia persica), and numerous magnolia and rose cultivars.
A special collection of native Croatian flora is cultivated in several rock gardens. The garden also maintains greenhouses for tropical and subtropical plants, though these are generally not open to the public; many tropical specimens are placed outdoors during summer.
Governance and Function
The garden is operated by the Faculty of Science, University of Zagreb. Its core mission is educational, supporting students in the natural sciences, alongside scientific research and conservation of endemic and rare Croatian plants. Botanists at the garden conduct field research and participate in seed collection and exchange programs with other botanical gardens worldwide.
Visiting
The garden is open to the public seasonally (typically from late February through early December). Entry fees apply, with reduced rates for students and free entry for children under 7 and Croatian pensioners. The garden is located at Marulićev trg 9a, accessible by tram lines 2, 4, and 9. Strict rules prohibit walking on grass, cycling, picnicking, and bringing dogs, in order to protect the plant collections. The garden receives over 100,000 visitors annually.
