Botanical tourism

Botanical tourism is travel for the purposes of viewing the varied flora of a region, district or in the case of some species even a single plant!

Understand
Botanical tourism is travelling to see plants, either in their native environment or in managed botanical gardens and parks. Generally a greater variety of plants can be seen in the one place by visiting a botanical garden and no special preparation is needed, so gardens are a good introduction to the subject.

Parks and gardens have been created and managed over many centuries. Gardens are said to have been created in Mesopotamia around 3,000 years ago. Botanical gardens started to appear during the Renaissance in the sixteenth century, although there were some earlier physic gardens devoted to medical herbs. These gardens were used for research, often connected to universities, and received plants from returning explorers.

In the 18th century many botanical gardens were established, and parks for the general public (rather than a select few) to enjoy were built. In particular, the British established many botanical gardens modelled after the Royal Botanical Gardens in Kew throughout their vast colonial empire. Heated glasshouses (greenhouses) enabled gardens to grow and display plants from around the world.

Prepare
Know in advance, if there are any plants you want to see specially. Specialist guides like Wikispecies can help you get a detailed taxonomy, if you already have the technical name of a plant you are really interested in.

In addition, knowing seasons is essential in appreciating plants, especially flowers and colored leaves. Time of the day may be important, too – some species, such as Calonyction aculeatum (moon flower), bloom only in the night. Linné even made a clock based on the circadian rhythm of different flowering plants.

As a variation of botanical tourism, tourist farms offer experiences like harvesting and eating fruits in the best season.

Equip
This is in general up to the traveller, but should be picked appropriately for the region visited. If you are visiting wilderness areas to look at native plants, ensure that your equipment is thoroughly cleaned, so that you don't introduce seeds, diseases or pests from home. Some botanical gardens require you to clean your feet on entry.

See
It is outside the scope of Wikivoyage to act as a detailed botanical guidebook to where individual species might be specifically found. The listings given below are either major tourist sites, or regions visited specifically because of their floral or botanical heritage.

Africa
The wildlife of Madagascar has more than 10,000 endemic plant species.

China

 * Classical Gardens of Suzhou

Japan
As well as specific tourist sites, there are myriad examples of Japanese Gardens, ranging from the traditional to not so traditional.


 * Japanese gardens
 * Japan's Three Famous Gardens
 * Hiraizumi – UNESCO World Heritage "Temples, Gardens and Archaeological Sites Representing the Buddhist Pure Land", including Moetsuji temple garden.

Aside from gardens:
 * Japan's Top 100 Cherry Blossom Spots — hanami, or looking at the cherry blossom, has been a Japanese tradition for centuries. A popular pastime all around the country (and nowadays in other parts of the world too), the Japan Cherry Blossom Association has compiled a list of 100 locations where a large number of cherry trees grow in historically important and naturally beautiful environments.
 * Saitama - bonsai captal of the world.

Austria

 * Palace and Gardens of Schönbrunn, Vienna

Belgium

 * Royal Greenhouses in the garden of the royal palace in Brussels.
 * Arboretum of the Sonian Forest near Tervuren.
 * Arboretum of the Sonian Forest near Tervuren.

Czech Republic
Gardens and Castle at Kroměříž, South Moravia

France
France has over 100 botanical gardens and arboretums. There are also many formal gardens around chateaux (castles) open to the public.



Germany
Germany has the - perhaps somewhat baffling - tradition of the Bundesgartenschau ("Federal Gardening Exhibition") and in many of its states a Landesgartenschau ("State Gardening Exhibition") which usually takes the form of some former industrial brownfield site being turned into a park with the latest in gardening and landscape architecture being put on display. However, as early as the 1980s there were complaints that some of those Gartenschauen destroyed perfectly fine natural landscapes for the sake of "prettyfying" them and there has been a certain fatigue (akin to the anti-Olympics movement in many cities) which led to criticism of the concept or the awarding of a planned Gartenschau to a different city (as was the case with Erlangen 2023 which rejected the planned Landesgartenschau in a referendum)
 * Mainau — the "flower island" in Lake Constance is made up of several parks, including an Italian rose garden, an arboretum and a palm house with tropical plants.
 * Würzburg Residence with the Court Gardens and Residence Square, Bavaria, Franconia
 * Würzburg Residence with the Court Gardens and Residence Square, Bavaria, Franconia

Netherlands

 * Bulb fields can be found in the Bollenstreek, the region surrounding Lisse. This is also where Keukenhof tulip park, one of the county's most popular attractions, is located. But the Bollenstreek is not the only region in the Netherlands with these fields. If you're looking for more, try the area between Haarlem and Alkmaar in North Holland. While relatively unknown, the largest tulip fields can actually be found in the Noordoostpolder, and a signed bicycle route is set up every spring to give more prominence to the occasion.

Russia

 * Polar-Alpine Botanical Gardens in Kirovsk, Russia, previously the northernmost.

Sweden

 * Garden of and museum on Carl von Linné, Uppsala

United Kingdom
Many horticultural organisations in the UK, including the Royal Horticultural Society, hold annual shows or galas. The most prestigious show is held in the grounds of the Royal Hospital, Chelsea in London. During the late summer, there are countless local horticultural shows in many areas, so ask around, or check local media. You may be surprised at the efforts exhibited!

Floral or botanical displays in public parks are widespread. In many cities and towns, their design and upkeep are a matter of considerable civic pride.

Australia

 * Royal Exhibition Building and Carlton Gardens, Melbourne/Inner north

New Zealand

 * The mild temperate coastal climate, and relative remoteness has resulted in New Zealand retaining many areas of temperate rain forest, which can be explored when walking (tramping) in the country.
 * There are many good parks and several botanical gardens. Of particular note are the botanical gardens in Christchurch, Wellington and Dunedin, and the parks in Hamilton and New Plymouth.

Eat
In conservation areas you should take care that the food that you bring with does not cause biosecurity breaches. Check your bags for any pests that may be trying to hitch a lift. Avoid bringing any food with you which would grow if accidentally dropped - you may need to leave fresh fruit and nuts behind, although cooked fruit may be fine.

Many botanic gardens have cafes which provide a pleasant setting to eat in, but the cafe may open for shorter hours than the garden and be closed on some days.

Buy
Many botanical gardens have shops, selling guidebooks and souvenirs and often gardening tools and plants. On long summer days, the shop may close earlier than the garden.

The purchase of cut-flowers, which are not easy to transport, and perish easily should be considered very carefully. In Europe commercial cut flowers are often a nice thank-you, but be aware of any cultural meanings attached; sending lilies, chrysanthemums or roses for example; certain colours; or an even number of flowers, may well be mis-read in some areas.

It should also be borne in mind that nearly all plants (including their seeds and bulbs) are subject to tight import controls regardless of jurisdiction, in order to prevent the spread of plant pests and to protect native ecosystems from non-native invasive species. If buying plants to take home check the regulations carefully. It is often much easier to buy seeds or plants once you have returned home, and the varieties which you buy are more likely to be suitable for your climate.

Stay safe
A number of plants are toxic or act as irritants; see Dangerous plants for some with which contact should be avoided.

Pollen allergies should also be borne in mind.

Respect
Plants look their best when in a natural environment, so resist the temptation to remove even "just one" specimen. If visiting a formally arranged garden, collecting "specimens" is also going to get you ejected, without discussion. In some regions, you may also find that owing to a highly specific ecology, you are unable to get very close to some flora, this is done for protective reasons as the cumulative effect of many visitors could destroy the very flora that visitors come to see!