Giardino Botanico Alpino Saussurea, Alpine garden in Courmayeur, Italy.

The Giardino Botanico Alpino Saussurea covers 7,000 square metres on the Pavillon du Mont Fréty, a natural saddle between the Mont Fréty glacier and moraine and those of the Aiguille de Toula, at 2,173 metres on the south side of the Mont Blanc massif. It holds 900 species in two parts: natural environments such as alpine pasture, wetlands and alder groves, and rockeries where plants are grouped by geographical origin, from the Aosta Valley to North America.

The garden was founded in 1984 by the Donzelli, Gilberti and Ferretti Foundation, with support from the Aosta Valley region and the State Forestry Corps, and inaugurated three years later. It is named after Horace-Bénédict de Saussure, who made the first known ascent of Mont Blanc in 1786, and after whom the flower Saussurea alpina is also named. Since 1987 the Espace Mont Blanc project has been active, seeking conditions for a future international park.

The garden takes its name from Horace-Bénédict de Saussure, who made the first known ascent of Mont Blanc in 1786; the flower Saussurea alpina also bears his name. Each plant carries a label giving family, genus, species, Italian name and country of origin, so visitors can read the collection as they walk. Since 1987 the garden has taken part in the Espace Mont Blanc project, which works toward a future international park.

The site is reached via the Skyway Monte Bianco cable car to Pavillon station, operating from late June through September. Visiting on clear days works best since you get the fullest view of the plants and surrounding mountains.

The garden holds 900 species and is divided into two parts: natural environments such as alpine pasture, wetlands and alder groves, and rockeries where species are grouped by geographic origin, from the western Alps to North America and the southern hemisphere. A seed index (index seminum) is already in place, while a fern wall, herbarium and seed bank are being prepared.