Free visit Botanical Garden

With around 10,000 plant species, the Botanical Garden collection plays a major role in scientific research at Ghent University and other national and international research institutions. Various research groups at Ghent University study these plants, often in collaboration with foreign researchers. The research is very broad: from the discovery and description of species as yet unknown, the examination of relationships between plants based on their DNA and the establishment of new classifications to the study of evolution. When a new plant species has been thoroughly studied, scientists can also use this knowledge in ecological and applied research.

Botanists from Ghent University collect plants from all over the world, especially Africa, Central America and China. They can count on fellow botanists based in these areas to help them locate the plants, among other things. The Botanical Garden also shares cuttings and seeds with foreign partners in turn. 

The more plants are shared, the better the chances of survival of the species. This applies in particular to species at risk of extinction. The Botanical Garden plays an important role in plant conservation. It provides a safe haven for various endangered species such as Ceratozamia robusta, Dracaena umbraculifera and Hyophorbe verschaffeltii. You can recognise them by the special sign next to the plant.