Botanical Gardens have become a touchstone between different countries and cultures throughout history, and that isn’t about to change. More and more people are seeking out botanical gardens both at home and abroad. We’ve come up with this list on where to find the best botanical gardens in the world, near or far.
Royal Botanic Gardens, United Kingdom
The United Kingdom’s Royal Botanic Gardens boast many incredible achievements. Founded in 1759, the Gardens boast the world’s largest collection of living plants, and their collection includes palms, ferns, cacti and carnivorous plants.
Royal Botanic Gardens, Australia
Sydney’s famous Royal Botanic Gardens was founded in 1816, and is the oldest scientific institution in Australia. It boasts 1.2 million preserved specimens, dating back to 1770. The Royal Botanic Gardens are best known for the gardens focusing on native Australian and South Pacific plants.
Butchard Gardens, Canada
The Butchard Gardens are found in Canada’s British Columbia, and were founded over a century ago when Jennie Butchard converted her husband’s abandoned limestone quarry into a sunken garden. Over the years, more gardens were added, detailing the travels of the Butchards.
Walter Sisulu National Botanical Garden, South Africa
South Africa’s Walter Sisulu National Botanical Garden makes this list because of the incredible diversity of both the plants and the local fauna that make their home around the gardens. The centrepiece of the gardens is the Witpoortjie Falls, where native eagles build their nests.
Denver Botanic Gardens, USA
The Denver Botanic Gardens in Colorado, are internationally acclaimed, and has some of the most incredible examples of rock gardening in the world – with more than 500 tons of rock found around the gardens. With green initiatives in place, many of the gardens are self-sustaining year-round.