Jardim Botanico Garden (Brazil)
The 140-hectare Jardim Botanico is located at the foot of Corcovado Mountain in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil. It is home to more than 6,500 rare and diverse plant species. Founded in 1808 by King John VI of Portugal, the Jardim Botanico originally grew spices such as nutmeg, pepper, and cinnamon from the West Indies before they were imported to Europe. In 1822, the Jardim Botanico was opened to the public and continues to be one of the most important botanical research sites in Brazil. In addition to growing many rare plants, Jardim Botanico is also an ideal place for bird lovers, because they can admire the rare white-necked falcon, an animal that is not easily found in the wild.
Brooklyn Botanical Garden (USA)
The Brooklyn Botanical Garden is located in the Prospect Park neighborhood of New York, United States. The 52-acre garden was founded in 1910 and attracts over 900,000 visitors each year. The garden boasts over 200 cherry trees, including 42 different species, and is the best place outside of Japan to see cherry blossoms.
The Brooklyn Botanic Garden has a Steinhardt area, which controls the air and temperature to grow flowers from tropical, warm temperate and desert regions. In addition, the garden has an art gallery and a children's garden, the oldest operating children's garden in a botanical garden in the world.
Singapore Botanic Gardens (Singapore)
The Singapore Botanic Gardens has been located along the bustling Orchard Road for over 158 years and is the only tropical garden to be listed as a UNESCO World Heritage Site. The garden is considered a Mecca for orchid lovers, with over 20,000 delicate species of flowers scattered around the grounds.
This 183-acre garden also has a children's garden, an evolution garden, a ginger garden, a rainforest and a troop of wild monkeys. It is also one of Singapore's most popular tourist attractions.
Royal Botanic Gardens Sydney (Australia)
Situated on the edge of Sydney’s towering central business district, the Royal Botanic Gardens enjoy a prime location in the Sydney Harbour City. To the west of the gardens is the iconic Opera House. Opened in 1816, the gardens are not only home to many rare plant species, but are also the oldest scientific institution in Australia. The park is also home to a huge bat colony of more than 20,000.
Royal Botanic Gardens, Kew (UK)
The Royal Botanic Gardens, located along the River Thames in Kew, England, is home to the world's largest collection of plants. Founded in 1840, the garden has more than 30,000 different types of plants. The garden is one of the world's largest heritage sites and also has a huge library with more than 750,000 invaluable texts by famous botanists, including scientist Joseph Banks. The park also owns the Water Lily House, Temperate House, Palm House, Conservatory and is one of three botanic gardens listed as a UNESCO World Heritage Site.
Denver Botanic Gardens (USA)
The Denver Botanic Gardens not only has the largest collection of plants in North America, it also boasts a magnificent concert hall. The 23-acre garden sits atop the old cemetery of Prospect Hill, Colorado. In 1893, most of the bodies, including those of notorious bandits from the Wild, Wild West, were removed. In 2010, four more graves were discovered during renovations to the park's irrigation and sprinkler systems.
Kirstenbosch National Botanical Gardens (South Africa)
Situated on the eastern slopes of Table Mountain in Cape Town, Kirstenbosch National Botanical Gardens is one of the most beautiful destinations in the world. It was the first national park to be designated a UNESCO World Heritage Site and is one of the few in the world to grow only native plants. In 1913, to mark its 100th anniversary, the park commissioned the Centenary Tree Walk, a curved steel and timber bridge. Inspired by the skeleton of a snake, the bridge was nicknamed “Boomslang” by locals.
Montreal Botanical Garden (Canada)
The Montreal Botanical Garden was founded in 1931 and is a popular oasis in the heart of the city. It features a Chinese garden with a collection of bonsai and rock gardens, a Japanese garden with many Japanese trees, and a national garden with only Canadian native plants.
The park is also known for its unique art installations. In 2018, the management built a tour path right above the animal cages, all of which are very large in scale. Visitors will be able to see a wide variety of Quebec mammals, birds and insects.
Nongnooch Tropical Botanical Garden (Thailand)
Situated on 500 acres of rolling hills and valleys behind the Pattaya tourist area, Nongnooch Botanical Garden is the brainchild of Dr. Nongnooch, who was inspired by the beauty of world-famous gardens to transform his orchard into a spectacular tropical flower and ornamental garden.
Opened to the public in 1980, the garden quickly became one of the most popular attractions in Southeast Asia. The garden is a blend of Thai architecture and European-style gardens.
Nongnooch Tropical Botanical Garden has a French garden and a European garden, orchid garden, flower valley and a dinosaur valley with life-size replicas of species such as Oviraptors, Styracosaurus, Cyrolophosaurus…
