Botanical Garden

The Botanical Garden Jena is a garden complex featuring five greenhouses spread across several hectares with diverse collections of cacti, palms, tropical plants, and ancient plant species. The different areas are organized by plant type, with dedicated sections for trees and alpine varieties.

The garden was founded in 1586 as a medicinal plant garden and underwent significant development under Werner Rolfinck in the 17th century. The first heated greenhouse was built in 1674, enabling the cultivation of heat-sensitive plant species.

The garden belongs to Friedrich-Schiller-University Jena and remains an active research space for plant studies. You can observe how different plant species are examined and recorded, especially among medicinal and useful varieties.

The garden is open most days, with extended hours during warmer months and shorter hours in colder seasons. Visitors should wear comfortable shoes and check ahead if interested in specific plant collections to confirm which sections are accessible.

The collection holds thousands of different plant species from around the world, with special holdings of trees and alpine plants cultivated in separate zones. This diversity makes the garden an important place for understanding different ecosystems in a single location.

Location: Jena

Accessibility: Wheelchair limited access

Operator: Friedrich-Schiller-Universität Jena

Opening Hours: April-October 10:00-19:00; November-March 10:00-18:00; December 24,December 31 off; "letzter Einlass 30 Minuten vor Schliessung"

GPS coordinates: 50.93111,11.58555

Latest update: December 8, 2025 19:46