List of botanical gardens Facts for Kids

A botanical garden is a special place where different kinds of plants are grown and shown to people. These plants include ferns, conifers (like pine trees), and flowering plants. Botanical gardens are not just pretty parks. They have important jobs like helping scientists research plants, protecting rare plants (called conservation), and teaching people about the plant world.

Sometimes, a botanical garden that focuses mainly on trees is called an arboretum. You might even find some botanical gardens connected to zoos!

The very first botanical gardens started a long time ago, during the late Renaissance period in Italy. The University of Pisa opened one in 1543, and the University of Padua followed in 1545. These early gardens were used to teach students about plants that could be used as medicine. Today, many universities still have botanical gardens for teaching and research. Some famous ones include the Arnold Arboretum at Harvard University in the US, the Bonn University Botanic Garden in Germany, and the Cambridge University Botanic Garden in England.

A helpful website called Botanic Gardens Conservation International (BGCI) has a huge list of botanical gardens around the world. BGCI connects over 800 botanical gardens, making it the biggest network for plant conservation and teaching people about nature.

What Are Botanical Gardens For?
Some Amazing Botanical Gardens Around the World
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What Are Botanical Gardens For?

Botanical gardens have several key purposes that make them different from regular parks.

Research and Learning

Scientists use botanical gardens to study plants. They learn how plants grow, how they reproduce, and what they need to survive. This research helps us understand the natural world better. Students also visit these gardens to learn directly from living plant collections.

Protecting Rare Plants

Many plants around the world are becoming rare or are in danger of disappearing forever. Botanical gardens play a huge role in conservation. They grow and protect these endangered plants, sometimes even bringing them back from the brink of extinction.

Teaching People About Plants

Botanical gardens are great places for education. They teach visitors of all ages about the importance of plants, different plant types, and how we can protect our environment. They often have special tours, workshops, and exhibits.

Some Amazing Botanical Gardens Around the World

There are many incredible botanical gardens all over the planet. Each one has its own unique collections and features. Here are just a few examples:

Gardens in Africa

In Cameroon, you can find the Limbe Botanic Garden. It's known for its beautiful African Fan Palms.

The African Fan Palms in Limbe Botanical Gardens, Cameroon

Botswana is home to the National Botanical Garden (Botswana) in Gaborone.
Uganda has the National Botanical Gardens (Uganda).

Gardens in the Americas

The Andromeda Botanic Gardens and Hunte's Gardens are lovely spots in Barbados.
In Belize, there's the Belize Botanic Gardens.
The Queen Elizabeth II Botanic Park is a highlight of the Cayman Islands.
Costa Rica is home to the Lankester Botanical Garden.
The Dominica Botanical Gardens are found on the island of Dominica.
In Guyana, you can visit the Georgetown Botanical Gardens.
Puerto Rico has the San Juan Botanical Garden.
Saint Lucia boasts the St. Lucia Botanical Gardens.
The Botanic Gardens St. Vincent are in Saint Vincent and the Grenadines.
In Venezuela, you can explore the Centro Jardín Botánico de Mérida.

Gardens in Asia and Oceania

Fiji has the Savurua Botanical Gardens and Thurston Gardens in Suva.
In Kuwait, there's the Bayan Botanical Garden at Bayan Palace.
Myanmar features the National Kandawgyi Botanical Gardens.
North Korea has the Korea Central Botanical Garden in Pyongyang.
Pakistan is home to several gardens, including Bagh-e-Jinnah in Lahore.

Bagh-e-Jinnah in Lahore, Pakistan

The Oman Botanic Garden is a special place in the Sultanate Of Oman.
In Tonga, you can visit the 'Ene'io Botanical Garden on Vava'u.

Gardens in Europe

Belarus has the Central Botanical Garden of NAS of Belarus.
The Gibraltar Botanic Gardens are located in Gibraltar.
In Malta, you can find the Argotti Botanic Gardens in Floriana.
Monaco is home to the beautiful Jardin Exotique de Monaco.
Serbia has the Botanical Garden Jevremovac in Belgrade.
In Slovenia, there's the University Botanic Gardens, Ljubljana.
Turkey features the Atatürk Arboretum and Karaca Arboretum.

List of botanical gardens facts for kids

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