N.V. Tsitsin Main Botanical Garden

The N.V. Tsitsin Main Botanical Garden is a research institute and protected area in the Ostankinsky District of Moscow, covering 361 hectares and displaying over 16,000 plant taxa from around the world. Part of the grounds preserves an old oak forest of 4 hectares that is under special protection.

The Russian Academy of Sciences founded the garden on April 14, 1945, immediately after the war ended, with Nikolai Tsitsin as its first director. Over the following decades the grounds expanded continuously and became one of the most important botanical centers in Europe.

The Japanese garden was created through collaboration with landscape architect Ken Nakajimu and shows traditional design principles from Japan in its planting and pathways. Visitors experience silence and order following eastern principles that clearly differ from the European sections.

Paths lead through different climate zones and plant collections, so longer walks are worthwhile and sturdy footwear is helpful. In spring and autumn there are special color impressions, while in summer the shaded areas under old trees offer pleasant resting spots.

The Nova Orchis GBS orchid collection counts over 1,120 species and 300 hybrids and serves other botanical gardens as a donor source for rare plants. Many of these orchids come from tropical rainforests and require special temperature and humidity conditions that are recreated in dedicated greenhouses.