Brno Botanical Garden

The garden belongs to the Faculty of Science of Masaryk University in Brno and is located directly on its campus in the city center, between Kotlářská and Veveří streets. It was started by Professor Josef Podpěra in 1922, in the same year as the faculty itself began to be established. Due to its small size, just over 2 ha, the place was considered temporary from the beginning, but the garden is still located today.

In the years 1924-1926, three greenhouses were created, which served until 1995-1997, when five new greenhouses were built. They cover a total area of ​​1100 m2 and include collections of tropical and subtropical plants. The outdoor area covers an area of ​​1.5 hectares and is divided according to geographical areas and their characteristic plants. The botanical garden is open all year round, the outdoor part is accessible free of charge, the entrance to the greenhouses is 50 CZK.

Right in the first tropical greenhouse you will find the pride of the garden, the world's largest water lily, Victoria, which is very popular with visitors. It is not Victoria Victoria, as is often incorrectly stated, but Victoria Cruz, although there are not many differences in them. You can read interesting information about this plant here and also look at popular photos of children on the leaves of this water lily. Victoria bloomed in the garden for the first time in 1924 and has been blooming every year since. However, the water lily is not the only interesting plant in this greenhouse. Do you know, for example, what rice, cocoa, banana or vanilla looks like? Here you can thoroughly inspect these plants. The second greenhouse offers ferns and cycads. The third palm greenhouse is the highest of all, measuring 10.5 m in height. You can also look at palm trees and other subtropical plants from a height from the gallery, which can be reached by a spiral staircase. This is followed by a greenhouse of cacti and succulents, and in the last you will find representatives of bromeliads.

The outdoor garden is complemented by ponds, fountains and other landscape and artistic elements. It directly encourages sitting on benches and pleasant relaxation. And from spring to autumn you can sit on the small roof garden. You can reach it by a spiral staircase at the entrance to the greenhouses and various types of rock gardens await you in the flowerbeds.

The garden is undoubtedly the most beautiful in spring and early summer, when everything blooms. But it has its charm in every season, for example the Japanese part of the garden is beautifully colored right now in autumn. You will certainly not regret her visits.

Author: Martina Limbergová