Jardín Botánico Lankester
Institution Code: JBL
BGCI Member: Yes
About the Jardín Botánico Lankester
Officially founded in 1973, the mission of the University of Costa Rica's Lankester Botanical Garden is to promote conservation, enjoyment and sustainable use of the epiphytic flora through scientific research, horticulture, and environmental education.
Lankester Botanical Garden was established as a center for the exhibition, conservation and research of tropical epiphytic plants, with a special interest in orchids. On 11 hectares, the field collections, collections in greenhouses and secondary forests host over 3,000 species of plants.
The origin of Lankester Botanical Garden goes back to the 1910's when the British naturalist Charles H. Lankester (1879-1969) became interested in the study and cultivation of Costa Rica's epiphytic plants. As an amateur botanist, he collaborated with the most prominent orchidologists of his time and dedicated his life to the creation of a private garden in his farm. After his death, the importance of preserving his garden became evident. Through the joint efforts of the American Orchid Society and the Stanley Smith Horticultural Trust, the garden of “don Carlos” was donated to the University of Costa Rica on March 2nd, 1973, with the promise to transform it into a botanical garden. With dedication and much effort, the Lankester Botanical Garden has become one of the most active and important botanical institutions of the Neotropics.
Main Address:
Jardín Botánico Lankester
Universidad de Costa Rica
Cartago
Cartago 302-7050 Costa Rica
Telephone: (506) 2511-7931
Fax: (506) 2511-7937
URL: www.jbl.ucr.ac.cr
Primary Email: jardinbotanico.lankester@ucr.ac.cr