The Botanical Garden of the University of Latvia is located in the capital of Latvia. It was founded in 1922, and since then it has been continuously enlarged. Now, on the territory of 15 hectares there are collections consisting of 5400 different plants. The collections are unique, with plants from all continents and geographical zones.
Every visitor of the Botanical Garden can choose a plant for home, garden, water body and other purposes from the wide range of plants presented. The specialists working here can provide you with comprehensive information on gardening and floriculture, as well as plant protection and peculiarities of plant care. In addition, by prior arrangement, you can take part in seminars covering plant propagation, the peculiarities of plant cultivation, information on plant diseases and pests, as well as on their use in everyday life.
The greenhouses of the Botanical Garden of the University of Latvia present plants of the tropics, subtropics, succulents and azaleas. The centre of the greenhouse complex is the palm greenhouse, where subtropical plants are represented. The palm greenhouse is 24 metres high and has about 400 plants on display. There is a rather large collection of palm trees with 48 species, as well as one of the oldest plants in the greenhouse, the large-leaved ficus, which has been growing here since 1928. Also here you can look at fruit crops of the subtropics: banana, fig tree, lemon, etc.
In the greenhouse, where the flora of the tropics is presented, the humidity and air temperature are always high. Here you can get acquainted with 350 species of plants. Especially widely represented are the Araliaceae family, a collection of tropical ferns, orchids. In the pools you can admire the largest plant of the lily family - Victoria - which will be remembered for its fragrant flowers.
The succulent greenhouse has about 700 varieties of plants, 345 of which are cacti. Succulents are herbaceous or woody plants that have adapted to life in arid environments. Cacti are distinguished from other succulents by the presence of thorns.
There is another greenhouse in the Botanical Gardens, which features azaleas. These are low evergreen shrubs obtained by multistage crossing. The first varieties appeared in Europe in the 19th century. The first collection of azaleas was created in the 30s of the 20th century, but it perished during the World War II. The present collection was started in 1956. At the moment there are 124 cultivars in the collection.
Herbaceous perennials in the garden's collection appeared in the 20s and 30s. 20th century, at which time the first alpinarium was created. Around the middle of the last century, an exposition of alpine plants was created, arranged according to geographical principle. Today the exposition of herbaceous perennials includes about 1300 varieties, the collection can be viewed from spring to autumn. The decorative and ecological exposition includes 7 gardens: rock garden, phlox garden, lily garden, dahlia garden, rhododendron garden, rose garden, heath garden. In each of them, 3 groups of plantings can be distinguished: background, main and supplementary.
The most extensive open-air exposition is the arboretum, occupying an area of 9 hectares. It was founded in the 30s, the first seedlings were brought from the Berlin nursery. At first, the trees and shrubs were arranged according to the systematic principle, i.e. planting plants by families. However, this planting plan was only partially observed. In the 50s of the last century a collection of thuys and cypresses was planted. Later, trees and shrubs were grown from cuttings brought from other botanical gardens.
The newest and so far the only one in Latvia is the exposition of bog plants, created in 2006. On the territory of 120 sq m, conditions close to bogs have been created. Plants characteristic of Latvian bogs are grown here: andromeda, cranberry, etc.
Since the foundation of the Botanical Garden, work has been carried out on the study of mosses and lichens. About 500 species of mosses have been recorded in Latvia, about 40 species have been identified on the territory of the garden, they grow on the ground, roofs, on stones and walls of greenhouses. In addition, mushrooms that have settled here spontaneously have been detected on the territory of the garden. And there are fungi both visible to the naked eye, and microscopic.
In mid-summer, during the linden blossom, the Botanical Garden hosts a festival that brings together gardeners, breeders and garden lovers to rejoice at the achievements of Latvian gardeners, the diversity of garden plants, to be inspired by ideas for their gardens and to feel the summer, enjoying the magic of colours, sounds and smells. Plants, gardening merchandise and books can be bought and sold during the show.
A visit to the Botanical Garden is a great opportunity to learn about plants from all over the world, as well as to look at interesting and unusual plants, learn about the peculiarities of their cultivation and care.
