Bordeaux-Bastide botanical garden

What to discover at the botanical gardens?

The Bordeaux Botanical Garden is a multi-purpose place! You can take a leisurely stroll, or even sit at the foot of a tree and daydream... But you can also discover a wealth of information about the region's flora and fauna. All the elements that adorn this space are arranged with a certain logic. As you walk along the paths of the botanical garden, you'll discover the history of our biodiversity. Nine natural spaces allow you to discover it in all its aspects.

1. The aquatic garden

This 1,250 m² area showcases aquatic vegetation, the first form of life on Earth. The species on display float, climb, cling or submerge. They represent subtropical and temperate aquatic environments. Plants are classified according to their human use. We discover plants used in medicine, edible plants, decorative plants, fascinating plants and purifying plants.

2. The gallery of environments, a unique space in the world

It's the only one of its kind in the world, with eleven above-ground plateaus showcasing the various ecosystems of the Aquitaine basin. The five gardens to the north represent those on the right bank of the Garonne, while the six to the south are those on the left bank. This garden of environments allows visitors to understand the origins of landforms and geological layers in a single place: Bordeaux's botanical garden!

3. The crop fields

Here, temporary crops are planted, allowing us to study ethnobotany and admire over 500 species. How do humans use them? In these fields of cultivation, you'll discover the plants used to make alcohol, and those that are edible... And if you feel like taking a break to admire these fields, shady lounges welcome you for a few minutes or hours of daydreaming...

4. Pioneer plant alley

These plants are rebels! They don't need very special care to live, as they are born in poor, unstable environments. These pioneer plants grow naturally along a long wooden fence salvaged from the 1999 storm. They grow quietly, with ferns growing alongside lichen and bryophytes.

5. The arboretum

Once again, a certain logic organizes this space, which occupies the entire botanical garden. The arboretum is organized according to the size of the leaves on the trees: on the urban garden side, you'll find the smallest, while the largest are located near the aquatic garden. Three zones make up the arboretum: the Fabaceae Alley, the Pioneer Alley and the Labyrinth.

6. The vertical garden

It's aptly named, since all the climbing plants spread over 190 m² are housed here. Natural methods of attachment and suspension are used to reach the light. These include creepers with stems attached by adventitious roots, and creepers with cauline tendrils.

7. Greenhouses to discover exotic plants

Here, over 750 m², exotic plants such as Chilean matorral, Australian bush and California chaparral thrive. A visit to the Bordeaux Botanical Garden's greenhouses takes you on a world tour, thanks to ingenious climate reproduction systems (no chemical treatments, photovoltaic panels, rainwater harvesting...).

8. The agora to relax or take part in events

It's on this vast green expanse that the events organized at Bordeaux's Botanical Gardens take place. You can also lay out your towel and soak up the sun. The grass is deliberately kept high to prevent excessive evaporation and facilitate irrigation.

9. The patio: home to a rare tree!

Here you'll find not only a collection of ferns, but also a real treasure: a Wollemi pine. This rare tree, a contemporary of the dinosaurs, was discovered in Australia in 1994. The Bordeaux Botanic Garden is fortunate to have one of its own!
  

Botanical garden exhibitions

Permanent exhibitions can be visited inside. In the reception hall, three themes are covered: the aims of the botanical garden, the development and adaptation of plant species and, finally, the history of the Bordeaux Botanical Garden. You can also discover the spice room and the botanical history room.