Iran's Lush Legacy: A Dive into its Prominent Botanical Gardens
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National Botanical Garden of Iran
One can find the National Botanical Garden of Iran on the highway from Tehran to Karaj. This garden has been under construction for many years and is now ready for visitors. The park offers breathtaking views of the Zagros, Alborz, and Himalayan mountains. The park features six artificial lakes and two rivers, significantly enhancing its appeal.
Additionally, there are two waterfalls in the National Botanical Garden of Iran. The plant diversity in this garden encompasses about 3,000 species, providing an excellent opportunity for research, gardening, education, and increasing public awareness.
The collections in this garden are designed based on various vegetative regions in Iran and the world. Some groups are specifically designed for educational and research purposes. The habitats include Zagros, Southern Alborz, Hyrcanian, Iranian Turanian, Iranian onions, native fruits, and the southern greenhouse relating to Iran. In contrast, the habitats of Europe, Caucasus, American grasslands, China, and Japan relate to foreign countries. Additionally, this botanical garden has systematic gardens, medicinal plant gardens, rock gardens, ornamental plants, and more.
There’s also a museum within the garden that displays around 30,000 different insect specimens that inhabit the forests and pastures of the country. Domestic researchers have identified some of these insects, while foreign researchers have recognized others.
If you are interested in plants and wish to increase your knowledge in this area, we recommend visiting this botanical garden.
Mashhad Botanical Garden
Covering an area of approximately 25 hectares, this garden was established in 2013 in Mashhad. One of the collections in this garden focuses on aromatic medicinal plants, currently showcasing 180 species. This collection can be used for educational purposes and to promote the culture of using medicinal plants. Another collection showcases roses, exhibiting a wide variety of different rose species. The Rock Garden displays rock flowers and seasonal blooms, while the Orchard shows a variety from old Iranian orchard alleys, welcoming visitors with various fruit trees. One hectare of the Mashhad Botanical Garden is dedicated to a permanent exhibition of daffodils. Nearly 700 genetic samples of daffodils are on display here, typically open for visitation in the fall. The garden is located on Mashhad’s Jomhouri Boulevard, between the Moghaddam intersection and the Ghadir Bridge.
Nowshahr Botanical Garden
Nowshahr Botanical Garden is one of the oldest botanical gardens in Iran. Hyrcanian trees thrive in this area. The garden is registered as a natural heritage site. Covering 35 hectares, it is home to 650 diverse species, including trees, shrubs, bulbs, herbaceous plants, cacti, and succulents. The most significant collection in the Nowshahr Botanical Garden is the nursery. It’s nearly 60 years old and attracts many visitors every year. Access to this garden is available from Nowshahr, Langaragah Square, Bahar-e Azadi Street.
Shiraz Botanical Garden
The beautiful and dreamy Eram Garden of Shiraz is one of the city’s main attractions. Known for its intoxicating aroma of orange blossoms and rows of elegant cypress trees, it is recognized as the botanical garden of Shiraz. With 450 diverse plant species, the Eram Garden was considered a botanical garden in 1980. The Eram Botanical Garden of Shiraz is on the list of World Heritage Sites. The tallest cypress tree in the garden stands at 35 meters, also known as the tallest tree in the city. The fruit trees in the garden include oranges, walnuts, almonds, persimmons, plums, pears, etc., while the non-fruit trees include ash, Judas tree, golden rain tree, elegant cypress, silver tree, eucalyptus, and more.
