National Botanic Garden of Belgium

Institution Code: BR

International Agenda Registration: Y
BGCI Member: Y

About the National Botanic Garden of Belgium

The National Botanic Garden of Belgium is one of the largest botanic gardens in the world. The living plant collections contribute to the botanical and horticultural research as well as to the education and conservation activities of the Garden. The greenhouse and outdoor collections together hold nearly 25,300 accessions of living plants (about 17,400 taxa and 3,170 genera) which is about 6% of all known plant species of the world.. Half of them can be seen in our greenhouses (Plant Palace), the other half, comprising cultivated and indigenous plants, grows outdoors.

The Outdoor Collections accommodate about 7,630 taxa from all temperate regions of the world. A major part of them is planted in thematic collections open to the general public. Three systematic collections form the core of these plantings: the Herbetum (herbaceous plants arranged to the systems of Cronquist & Takhtajan), the Fruticetum (woody plants arranged to the system of Dahlgren) and the Coniferetum (gymnosperms arranged by genus). Nearly all hardy or 'half-hardy' genera are represented in these collections.

Another collection type is shown by the genera collections which give a thorough overview of the representatives of species and cultivars in the genera Quercus, Rhododendron, Hydrangea, Acer (Japanese & Chinese), Magnolia. Other developed thematic collections are the medicinal plants garden, the North American forest theme, the Mediterranean plants collection. A lot of collection plants are displayed in shrubberies and mixed borders all over the park. Rare or unusual tree species and cultivars are dispersed over the lawns and play the role of salt and pepper in the landscape dominated by indigenous tree plantations. Other important collections (e.g. Rosa and Paeonia) are occasionally open to the general public.

Well-represented plant families (on the whole outdoor collections) are Pinaceae (43% of extant species of the world), Aceraceae (42%), Betulaceae (39%), Hydrangeaceae (37%), Caprifoliaceae (33%), Cornaceae (31%), Cupressaceae (20%), Berberidaceae (16%), Ranunculaceae (14%) and Rosaceae (13%).

Some trees are really champion trees of Belgium and need special attention or care.

Main Address:
National Botanic Garden of Belgium
Domein van Bouchout
Meise
B-1860 Belgium

Telephone: 32 (0)2 260 09 20
Fax: 32 (0)2 260 09 45
URL: www.botanicgarden.be
Primary Email: