Notable Botanical Gardens in Estonia [Back]
Estonia's botanical gardens play a crucial role in plant conservation, research, and education, reflecting the country's dedication to preserving its natural heritage.
Tallinn Botanic Garden
Located in Tallinn, the Tallinn Botanic Garden was established on December 1, 1961, and spans 123 hectares, making it the largest in Estonia. The garden features diverse collections, including an arboretum, rosary, and rock garden. The systematically arranged outdoor collections were opened to visitors in 1970, followed by the greenhouse collections in 1971. The garden also includes the Audaku experimental station in Viidumäe Nature Reserve on Saaremaa and an arboretum in Iru.
University of Tartu Botanical Garden
Situated in Tartu, this botanical garden is the oldest in the Baltic States, founded in 1803. It offers study programs and excursions for visitors of all ages and houses more than 10,000 species and varieties of plants. The garden features various sections, including a palm house, succulent house, subtropical house, tropical house, herbs, native plants, iris section, moss garden, health garden, peonies, alpinarium, and roses.
Luua Arboretum
Established in 1953 in Luua, the Luua Arboretum covers 8.5 hectares and rapidly grew during the 1950s. By 1962, 2,273 plants belonging to 327 taxa had been planted. The arboretum is organized according to the geographical origin of the plants, with sections for Europe, Siberia, Central Asia, the Far East, and North America. The arboretum is protected as a wildlife reserve by Estonian law.
Matsi Arboretum
Located near the Matsi farm in Kehra, the Matsi Arboretum was established in 1965 by Olaf Schmeidt and covers 1.7 hectares. It houses approximately 270 species (more than 360 taxa) of trees and shrubs. The arboretum was designated a protected area in 1989.