Moscow State University Apothecary Garden ("Aptekarsky ogorod")

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Russian Federation - Moscow

Institution Code:

BGCI Member: Yes

About the Moscow State University Apothecary Garden ("Aptekarsky ogorod")

The Botanical Garden of Moscow State University (known as the "Apothecary Garden", or “Aptekarsky ogorod”) is a part of Moscow’s historical and cultural heritage, and is the oldest botanical garden in Russia. Founded in 1706 by decree of Peter the Great, it originally belonged to the Aptekarsky Order, then to the Moscow hospital, and later, in the 18th century, to the Medico-Surgical Academy. In 1805, the former garden was purchased by Moscow University, which still owns it today. In 1953, it became a branch of the Agrobiological Garden, which was created as part of the new Moscow State University complex on Sparrow (Lenin) Hills, and in the late 20th century its historical name – Apothecary Garden – was restored.

Many famous scientists invited from Europe worked in the Garden, including Traugott Gerber, who was the first to study the flora of Russia in the 18th century, and Georg Franz Hoffmann in the early 19th century. In 1805, the garden was given the status of botanical garden of Moscow University and Hoffmann became its first director. It was during this period that the first catalogue of plants was compiled and construction of the hothouses began. By the end of the 19th century, the garden had become a centre of Russian botany and was well known abroad. Amongst the famous scientists who worked here after Hoffmann were I.D.Chistyakov, N.N.Kaufman, I.N.Gorozhankin and K.I. Meyer. They and their students not only compiled wonderful collections of plants from Russian and global flora, but also created the Russian school of botany.

The last 2 decades have been a time of reconstruction and renewal – reconstruction of the hothouses and reorganization of the garden itself, and renewal of all its activities, including the creation of new displays, education, outreach and exhibitions.

The hothouse complex currently includes: the Palm Hothouse with tropical plants and 4 sections for maintaining tropical plant collections (Bromelia-Filicinae and 2 orchid sections); the Succulent Hothouse; the Subtropical Hothouse; the Aquatic Plants Hothouse; and a hothouse for changing displays and exhibitions. The collection includes historical specimens which are 100 years old or more. In the arboretum, where a collection of lianas, trees, shrubs and herbs has been created, a number of new displays have recently been laid out, including Flora of The Central Belt of Russia, a Medicinal Plant Garden, a Shade Garden, Heather Hill and Conifer Hills. It also features plants of the natural flora of the Northern Hemisphere, with rare and protected species from Russia and the Moscow Region. The arboretum also contains areas of decorative plants.
The garden’s collections include many plant species on the IUCN list.

Main Address:
Moscow State University Apothecary Garden ("Aptekarsky ogorod")
Prospect Mira, 26, Building 1
Moscow
129090 Russian Federation

Telephone: (495) 680-7222
Fax: (495) 680-7222
URL: www.hortus.ru
Primary Email: hortus@mail.ru

Staff Details

  • Director's Name: Alexey Reteyum
    Curator's Name: Artyom Parshin, Landscape architect
    Plant Records Officer's Name: Maxim Antipin
  • Total Staff:
    Horticultural Staff Number: 23
    Educational Staff Number: 2
    Research Staff Number: 6
    Administration Staff Number: 7

About the Garden

  • Institution Type: Botanic Garden
  • Status
  • Status: Private: No
    Status: State: Yes
    Status: Satellite: No
  • Date founded: 1706
  • Physical Data
  • Landscaped Area: Yes
    Landscaped Area: Size: 6 Hectares
  • Total Area: 7 Hectares
    Latitude: 55.77877
    Longitude: 37.63522
    Annual Rainfall: 708 mm
    Altitude: 164.00 Metres
    Total area of glasshouses: 1500 Metres
    Total area of shadehouses: 200 Metres

Features and Facilities

  • Herbarium: No
    Arboretum: Yes
    Arboretum Size: 4
  • Micropropagation/ Tissue Culture Facilities: Yes
    Published Plant Catalogue: Yes
    Computer Plant Record System: Yes
  • Open to public: Yes
    Friends society: Yes
    Retail Outlet: Shop: Yes
    Retail Outlet: Plant Sales: Yes
    Disabled access: Yes
  • Number of Visitors: 350000
    Number of Volunteers: 7

Plant Collections

  • Accession Number: 7000
    Cultivation Taxa Num: 5500
  • Special Collections:The hothouse complex currently includes: the Palm Hothouse and 4 sections for maintaining tropical plant collections (Bromelia-Filicinae and 2 Orchid sections. In total – 1769 taxons of tropical plants; the Succulent Hothouse (3200 taxons); the Subtropical Hothouse with the section for Conifer plants; the Aquatic Plants Hothouse; and a hothouse for changing displays and exhibitions. The Garden also has specific collections: plants of pyrophilic flora from the dry subtropics, a collection of geophytes and a carnivorous plant collection.
    The collection includes historical specimens which are 100 years old or more.
    In the arboretum, where a collection of lianas, trees, shrubs and herbs has been created, a number of new displays have recently been laid out, including Flora of The Central Belt of Russia, a Medicinal Plant Garden, a Shade Garden, Heather Hill and Conifer Hills. It also features plants of the natural flora of the Northern Hemisphere, with rare and protected species from Russia and the Moscow Region.
    The arboretum also contains areas of decorative plants and displays for disabled people.
    The garden’s collections include many plant species on the IUCN list.
  • Invasive Species Monitoring: Yes
    Invasive Species Policy: Yes
    ABS Policy: Yes
    Plant Collection Policy: Yes

Conservation Programmes

  • Conservation Programme: Yes
    Medicinal Plant Programme: Yes
    Ex Situ Conservation Programme: Yes
    Reintroduction Programme: No

Research Programmes

  • Biotechnology: Yes
    Ecology: Yes
    Education: Yes
    Ethnobotany: Yes
    Exploration: Yes
    Horticulture: Yes
    Sustainability: Yes
    Agriculture: Yes
    Urban Environments: Yes

Education Programmes

  • Visitor/Education Centre: Yes
    Education Signs in Garden: Yes
    Public Lectures/Talks: Yes
    Education Booklets/Leaflets: Yes
    Guided Tours: Yes
    Permanent Public Displays: Yes
    Special Exhibitions: Yes
    Courses for School Children: Yes
    Courses for University/College Students: Yes
    Courses for General Public: Yes
    Education Programme: Yes