Centre for Organismal Studies Heidelberg Botanical Garden

The Botanical Garden is one of the oldest and most tradition-rich institutions of the university and holds significant collections

The garden cultivates documented plant collections to fulfil objectives in science, research, academic teaching, public education, species conservation, and horticulture. The garden’s core collections are Madagascar plants, bromeliads, and tropical orchids. Part of these collections is publicly accessible in the garden and in the greenhouses. The research collections of living plants may also be visited by researchers by prior appointment (bg.sekretariat@cos.uni-heidelberg.de).

The first garden was established in 1593 by Henricus Smetius near Heidelberg Castle as a medicinal garden (Hortus medicus). In the course of its history, the garden’s location was moved several times. The current, seventh garden was opened in 1915. However, shortly before the end of the Second World War, bomb impacts caused the garden to lose most of its plant holdings. Under Werner Rauh—garden director from 1960 to 1982—and the scientific director at the time, Karlheinz Senghas, the garden acquired its present, extensive focal collections (succulents of the Old and New Worlds, bromeliads, neotropical orchids).