Botanical Garden

Saint Petersburg, Russia

The Saint Petersburg Botanical Garden, also known as the Botanic Gardens of the Komarov Botanical Institute, is the oldest botanical garden in Russia. It consists of outdoor and indoor collections situated on Aptekarsky Island in Saint Petersburg and belongs to the Komarov Botanical Institute of the Russian Academy of Sciences.

The garden was founded by Peter the Great in 1714 as a herb garden in order to grow medicinal plants and re-established as a botanical institution under the name Imperial Botanical Garden in 1823. Ivan Lepyokhin was in charge of the botanical garden from 1774 until 1802. Beginning in 1855, Eduard August von Regel was associated with the garden, first as Scientific Director and then as Director General (1875-1892). Regel had a particular fascination with the genus Allium, overseeing collections of these plants in the Russian Far East and writing about them in two monographs. More than 60 of the alliums he identified bear his name, e.g., A. giganteum Regel and A. rosenbahianum Regel. Many alliums can be viewed in the Northern Yard of the garden.

In 1930 the garden became subordinate to the Academy of Sciences of the Soviet Union and in 1931 was merged with the Botanical Museum into the Botanical Institute.

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Founded: 1714
Category: Miscellaneous historic sites in Russia

More Information

en.wikipedia.org

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4.6/5 (based on Google user reviews)

User Reviews

Yolanda Komen (6 years ago)
What a huge disappointment! The gardens around the palaces and parks are better kept than the botanical gardens which should be a city's showcase. They are closed on a Monday and one would think this would be when they now the 'lawns' or weeds but no, they do do it when you are trying to enjoy a tranquil stroll. The gardens are poorly maintained with very little colour only two areas had flower beds with some colour. The roses need to be dead headed could not fit the peonies. The little river is in a dreadful state. There are two ticket offices and despite this it still took ages to process the people in the queue.
Pablo (6 years ago)
Have to pay for pretty much everything. Some places are only accessible with groups. Overall, not impressed. The tropical section is quite good though, but you have to pay a fee as well.
Natalia Armata (6 years ago)
Nice place to see. Only be aware the entries are on time with a guide. So in the glasshouses you will walk with a Russian speaking guide :) I don’t know if they have English guides. Though place it safe is just great if you are a fan of plants! I visited the garden in winter, but the outside park is supposed to be magnificent in spring and summer.
Natalie Petrova (6 years ago)
During winter holidays I saw an Internet advert for the exhibition of orchids. We decided to go. Unfortunately, they didn't give the information about the booking offices in Professor Popov Street for the winter time. So we had to walk there along the icy street. I think the tickets were a bit too expensive for this exhibition. I paid 400 and my mom as a pensioner paid 300. The orchids were absolutely lovely, but it's a pity that only some of the employees told us stories about them. So, I was amazed by the fact that one of the plants was presented by the Princess of Thailand.
Roger Pratchet (7 years ago)
Good trees collection, nice greenhouse rare plants collection. Impossible to take excursion without group.
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