The Palmengarten and the Botanical Garden have different collection focuses that complement each other: while the Botanical Garden mainly houses representatives of the native flora and other regions of the temperate zones, the show and collection greenhouses of the Palmengarten comprise a wide variety of tropical plants.

 

  • Acer:

    The Botanical Garden displays over 50 species of maple; others can be seen in the Palmengarten, giving our visitors an impression of the diversity of this large genus.

     

  • Agave:

    With about 180 accessions, most of the known species are covered. Some of the plants are exhibited, and in the summer most of them are accessible to the public.

     

  • Aloe (incl. Aloidendron, Aloiampelos):

    About 220 accessions, approx. 40 % of the known species, geographical focus Madagascar, Arabia, southern Africa. Some of the plants can be seen in the succulent collection, others are planted in the Tropicarium.

     

  • Amorphophallus:

    About half of all species in 60 accessions, important collection, of which individual plants, especially the titan arum, are exhibited at flowering time and find a great resonance with the public.

     

  • Arecaceae:

    The palm collection dates back to the founding time of the Palmengarten and is a particularly extensive collection with 390 accessions of 220 species. Palms are displayed in large numbers in the show houses and are a trademark of the Palmengarten. In 2018, a large exhibition on palms was also held.

  • Azaleas:

    Extensive horticultural assortment with over 300 cultivars and hybrids, which are shown almost every year at flowering time as part of a flower show. Cooperation with the Rhododendron Genebank.

     

  • Begonia:

    About 100 accessions, a good part of them propagated to suit the habitat displays of the Tropicarium and used as underplanting.

     

  • Bromeliaceae:

    With about 1600 accessions and 700 species, one of the most important collections of the Palmengarten and one of the largest bromeliad collections worldwide. Intensive use for research projects, high proportion of wild origin.

     

  • Camellia:

    Historic horticultural collection with about 100 cultivars traditionally shown almost every year in the first flower show of the season. Winter-hardy species and varieties are also planted outdoors.

     

  • Canna:

    About 60 varieties and thus a rare horticultural collection. Large parts of the assortment are displayed outdoors in summer.

     

  • Citrus:

    Collection expanded in recent years for the 2019 Citrus exhibition, with around 70 cultivars. Also used for guided tours and educational programmes

     

  • Cycadales:

    With about 140 accessions, the cycads represent an exceptionally large collection of the Palmengarten and include numerous rare and endangered species. The genus Encephalartos is particularly well represented. Numerous plants can be seen in the show houses.

     

  • Fuchsia:

    Larger horticultural assortment, of which many plants are exhibited outdoors.

     

  • Haworthia:

    With about 70 species a larger group, which is looked after and partly exhibited in the Succulent Collection.

     

  • Orchids:

    Tropical orchids, as particularly valuable plants, were already part of the basic stock of the Palmengarten when it was founded. Especially under Director Schoser, the collection was considerably expanded and also became internationally known in connection with the World Orchid Congress. Today, the orchids are still the most diverse collection at the Palmengarten with approx. 1140 species.

     

  • Pachypodium:

    With 85 accessions, this collection comprises the majority of known species, including many of documented wild origin. Self-propagated through controlled pollination.

     

  • Paeonia:

    In the perennial plant garden of the Palmengarten (but also distributed in other locations) there are about 70, partly old cultivars of herbaceous and tree peonies, which are a visitor attraction at flowering time. More varieties can also be seen in the Botanical Garden.

  • Pelargonium:

    The assortment of about 90 cultivars includes mainly scented and leaf-scented pelargoniums, which are used to create a bed for visitors outdoors in summer.

     

  • Rubus:

    The Frankfurt Botanical Garden displays 42 of the approximately 150 Hessian blackberry species, allowing a broad insight into the diversity of this large native genus.

  • Sansevieria:

    The Palmengarten cultivates about a third of the known species and displays some of them in the Tropicarium.

     

  • Uncarina:

    Our 45 accessions cover the majority of known species. Most of our plants are of documented wild origin.

     

  • Vegetation of the temperate zones:

    In the Botanical Garden, typical species of native beech forests, mixed oak-hornbeam forests, alluvial forests, pine and birch-oak forests, dwarf shrub heaths, swamps, dunes, high mountains, steppe heaths and meadows are displayed in near-natural themed gardens.

     

  • Tropical habitats:

    In the Tropicarium, the plants are arranged according to habitats and provide an insight into the most diverse forms of vegetation and their dependence on climatic factors. One large display house each is dedicated to species of tropical mangroves and coastal forests, lowland rainforests, mountain rainforests/cloud forests, monsoon forests, savannahs and dry forests, spiny forests and semi-deserts. Within these houses, the plants are partly subdivided geographically to enable the comparison of plants of similar habitats in different parts of the world.

     

  • Succulent plants:

    The Botanical Collection of the Palmengarten holds a large number of rare and valuable succulents from various plant families. Some of the plants are displayed in the summer succulent garden, others can be seen through the collection houses' display windows. 

     

  • Carnivorous plants:

    A popular group of plants among visitors and used for educational purposes, displayed in two large showcases. The collection currently comprises around 200 accessions of 150 species.

     

  • Plants of the fog desert :

    In the Tropicarium's Fog Desert House, about 90 rare species from fog deserts are on display, mainly from the Namib Desert, including famous specialties such as Welwitschia mirabilis.

     

  • Germany:

    The Botanical Garden displays a large number (1459) of plant species native to Germany and, by arranging them by habitat, provides a good insight into the diversity of native species and their associations.

     

  • Subantarctica:

    The Palmengarten is one of the few botanical gardens that collect plants (300 accessions) from the southernmost parts of the world. Our Subantarctic House is accordingly unique. The focus is on South America from the Valdivian rainforest to Patagonia and Tierra del Fuego, the southern island of New Zealand and the subantarctic islands.

     

  • Canary Islands:

    Almost 100 plant species from the Canary Islands are kept in the Botanical Garden and shown outside in summer.

     

  • East Asia:

    The Botanic Garden displays an extensive selection of East Asian plants that are particularly worth seeing. The Palmengarten also has an assortment of East Asian species that has been growing for years.

     

  • Madagascar:

    With 360 species in 600 accessions, the Palmengarten holds significant stocks from this particularly interesting region, many of which are threatened. The ecological focus is on dry areas and spiny forests, to which one house in the Tropicarium is dedicated. Other species can be seen in the display houses and the collection. 

     

  • North America:

    The Botanical Garden cultivates a selection of North American perennials and woody plants that allow a comparison with the flora of climatically similar regions in Europe.

     

  • Mediterranean area:

    In the Botanic Garden and the Palm Garden, a large number of species from the Mediterranean area can be seen, which many visitors may know from travelling, but which can be overwintered outdoors.

     

  • Notocactus/Parodia:

    Since 1977, a conservation collection has been established at the Palmengarten with the aim of propagating endangered species of this group and reintroducing them to their countries of origin after a large part of their natural habitats have become destroyed. Currently there are about 230 accessions, making this collection one of the largest of the group and therefore also of interest for international research projects.

     

  • Red-listed species:

    The Botanic Garden cultivates many plant species that are endangered or threatened with extinction in Germany and that nature lovers rarely get to see in their natural habitat, even with great effort. Over 500 such red-listed species are identified by red labels.

     

  • Conservation cultures of local species:

    The Botanic Garden cultivates and propagates endangered plant species for which Hessen has a special responsibility and, in coordination with authorities and nature conservation associations, partly reintroduces the plants at suitable sites to support their populations.