Arboretum Brno

Arboretum Brno is a botanical garden and tree collection run by Mendel University, sitting close to the city centre along třída Generála Píky. It blends its original teaching role with a green space open to visitors, offering a quiet escape despite its proximity to downtown Brno.

How did this place come about?

The story starts in 1926, when a botanical garden was founded next to the university buildings to help students studying plant systematics. The arboretum itself — the woody plant collection — followed in 1938, planted on just one hectare by Professor Augustin Bayer. Growth continued over the following decades, and in 1967 the grounds were expanded to the current 11 hectares, allowing for a far richer plant collection than the original site could hold.

What is there to see inside?

The grounds are split into five thematic sections, each focused on a different group of plants. The centrepiece is the woody plant collection itself, with around 4,000 species — the very reason the site carries the arboretum name. Alongside it sits a collection of 2,000 perennials and 500 rock plants, arranged in compositions that echo natural mountain habitats.

The greenhouses are a particular highlight, home to a collection of roughly 4,000 orchid species — one of the largest of its kind in Europe. The same greenhouses also host 300 species of tillandsias, epiphytic plants known for surviving without soil by drawing moisture and nutrients from the air. Flower lovers will also find a collection of 350 cultivars of large-flowered iris (iris macrantha), which puts on a striking display in late spring and early summer.

When is the best time to visit?

The garden holds regular plant exhibitions and themed weekends in spring and autumn, a good opportunity to catch the collections at their peak — blooming irises, for instance, or the autumn colours of the deciduous trees. Standard opening hours run on weekdays from 7:00 to 15:00, and entry through the upper gate on třída Generála Píky requires ringing the intercom (office or greenhouse button).

Frequently asked questions

Is the arboretum part of the university? Yes, the garden and arboretum function as a teaching unit of Mendel University in Brno and have served students studying plant systematics and identification since their founding.

What is the arboretum's biggest draw? The greenhouse orchid collection, with around 4,000 species, is considered one of the largest and most diverse in Europe.

How large is the garden today? The arboretum currently covers 11 hectares, though it started out on just 1 hectare when it was founded in 1938.

Can you visit on weekends? Standard opening hours are on weekdays, but spring and autumn bring special themed weekends and exhibitions, so it is worth checking the current schedule before a visit.