National Botanic Garden of Latvia

The National Botanic Garden in Salaspils is like a 14,000-page long nature encyclopaedia and covers 129ha. It is one of the largest collections of living plants in North-eastern Europe.

The National Botanic Garden was founded in 1956, but its origins date back to 1798 when the well-known gardener Johann Hermann Zigra established a plant nursery on Ganību Dambis, a street in Riga. Later the nursery became the property of the Schoch-Bähr family. As the Riga harbour expanded, the horticultural firm C.W.Schoch, which was established there in 1836, moved to what is now Salaspils where a 25ha large garden was created. Before WWI the firm sold 50–60 thousand fruit trees and ornamental plants every year throughout the western parts of the Russian Empire. During the period of Latvian independence between the wars, the Salaspils tree nursery was the largest in the Baltic States in terms of area as well as plant diversity.

Nowadays the National Botanic Garden prioritises research and the preservation of the Latvian plant gene pool. They also focus on research into rare plant varieties from around the world, the introduction of new ornamental and edible plants, as well as organising educational events about the environment.

The abundant collections of woody plants, perennial plants, edible and non-native plants make the garden a popular destination for education and recreation throughout the year. Visitors are particularly attracted by the conservatory that was built in 2015, where plants from all over the world can be seen under one roof. The conservatory is split into four halls – the Succulent Hall, the Tropical Hall, the Humid Subtropical Hall and Cool Subtropical Hall.

Everyone is welcome here to learn about the diversity of plants in Latvia and around the world in a harmonious environment, as well as to get inspiration for their own gardens, linking leisure with environmental education.

Additional info

Coffee and snack machine.