Founded in 1670 the botanical garden original served as a physics garden in the Holyrood Palace grounds used to grow medicinal plants with a rough size of a tennis court for plants to grow. Today it has a vast collection housing plants in four locations of Edinburgh, Benmore, Dawyck and Logan.
It still continues through more than 330 years to function as a centre for plant study in the scientific field and is well recognised amongst individuals of plant science.
With 4 sites to house its variety of plant species is second richest botanical garden in the world. Although the garden has a wide variety of plants for people to see its main purpose is for scientific research and findings. Its aims to discover more about plants while helping the world understand and preserve plants.
Founded in 1670 the botanical garden original served as a physics garden in the Holyrood Palace grounds used to grow medicinal plants with a rough size of a tennis court for plants to grow. Today it has a vast collection housing plants in four locations of Edinburgh, Benmore, Dawyck and Logan. It still continues through more than 330 years to function as a centre for plant study in the scientific field and is well recognised amongst individuals of plant science. With 4 sites to house its variety of plant species is second richest botanical garden in the world. Although the garden has a wide variety of plants for people to see its main purpose is for scientific research and findings. Its aims to discover more about plants while helping the world understand and preserve plants.
4 Botanical Gardens
The four botanical gardens are separate by their locations and the climates created inside them of the for the kinds of plants which they have housed in them:
Edinburgh: Having a very wide range of plants features collections like the rock garden and Chinese Hillside in its selection of plants.
Benmore: Has a milder oceanic climate ideal for plants which would naturally be found in rainfall areas as well as plants like rhododendrons.
Dawyck: Sustains drier and cooler climate for the plants that grow there making it a calmer place which is reflected by its plants.
Logan: Is the garden for the more tropical style plants due to its climate making it an ideal place for plants normally found in the southern hemisphere.
The Edinburgh Royal Botanical Gardens can be found just one mile out of the city centre housing over 70 acres of plants to see. As a scientific body sponsored by the Scottish Government’s Environmental and Forestry Directorate it is still open to the public to visit.
With 10 glasshouses providing different climates and atmospheres housing you can expect to see a plant found in a desert or the tropics along with 3000 others which are also as unique and exotic. Most notably a palm tree which is over 200 years old.
Relevant information
It hosts many exhibitions and tours with someone to guide you around the vast gardens. You can also find The Terrace Café and Gateway Restaurant if you feel hungry which are both close to the gardens.
Entry for adults is £6.50 but children under 15 can come in for free.
Open daily (March to Sept) 10am – 6pm, (Feb & Oct) 10am – 5pm, (Nov to Jan) 10am -4pm. Closed 25 December and 1st January
If you would like to know more about The Royal Botanical Gardens try the Wiki https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Royal_Botanic_Garden_Edinburgh or if you would like to try one of our tours that will take you to The Royal Botanical Gardens and other sites in Edinburgh come to our tours page https://eoscs.co.uk/car-tours-of-scotland/
To find out more about the attractions and places to see we have created a list to help you decide on some the best that Edinburgh has to offer Edinburgh Tourist Attractions.