Explore the Collections of the Botanical Garden of the University of Porto

The proximity to the Atlantic and the granite substrate create favourable conditions for the cultivation of a diverse, robust and multi-stratified plant community, which includes plants from the most varied bioclimatic regions of the planet.

The entrance bosquets, the Cedars' Bosquet and the Araucaria's Bosquet, host collections of large trees and shrubs, such as the two Norfolk Island pines (Araucaria heterophylla), the Brazilian-pine (Araucaria angustifolia), the large Sweetgum (Liquidambar styraciflua), the Galician oak (Quercus orocantabrica), the Atlas Cedar (Cedrus atlantica), the six Himalayan Cedars (Cedrus deodara) and the fragrant Snow-in-summer (Melaleuca linariifolia).

Here, one finds specimens of California redwood (Sequoia sempervirens), Blue gum (Eucalyptus globulus), Maidenhair tree (Ginkgo biloba), Bishopwood (Bischofia javanica), Vinagar tree (Lophostemon confertus), Southern magnolia (Magnolia grandiflora) and Cork oak (Quercus suber).

In this collection there are 19 species and 20 hybrids of the Camellia genus and 759 planted specimens. In 2020, this remarkable collection led to the Garden's recognition as an International Camellia Garden of Excellence by the International Camellia Society.

The central beds of the Rose Garden are home to a large collection of hybrid tea roses. This type of rose is the result of a cross between Chinese roses and ancient European roses, and began to appear in European gardens in the first half of the 19^th century. It stands out for its remontant blooming, i.e. continuous flowering from April to October, and for its flowers of different colors and sizes.

The selection of the varieties in this collection was aimed at the chromatic diversity of the flowers, but also at their resistance to pests and diseases, which allows to reduces the intensity of maintenance and phytosanitary treatments.

In the Fish Garden there is a collection of citrus trees, punctuated by cypress trees and a small collection of old roses on the tops.

Native species can be found throughout the Garden, with remarkable specimens representative of species from Portuguese landscapes. In addition to enhancing the ornamental character of the spaces, the use of these species in the gardens promotes local biodiversity, as they increase the supply of food for local wildlife. At the same time, these native plants require less watering and fertilizing, as they are better adapted to the existing soil and climate conditions.

The Dwarves’ Garden has been restructured and was chosen as the place to house various native species. Here, we would highlight the Portuguese oaks collection. There are specimens of the most common species such as the cork oak (Quercus suber) and the Pyrenean oak (Quercus pyrenaica), but also of less well-known species, such as the Estremadura Oak (Quercus estremadurensis) and the Algerian oak (Quercus canariensis), from Serra de Monchique, in Algarve.     

Some species of endangered native aquatic plants are being cultivated in the lakes of the Shale Garden, such as the yellow waterlily (Nuphar lutea) and the Swamp Rose Mallow (Hibiscus palustris), among others, as part of an ex-situ conservation project. The aim of this project is to preserve specimens in order to re-colonize natural habitats in the event of extinction, and also to increase the density of existing populations.

The Cactus and Succulents Garden exhibits a pseudo-arid environment where plants grow almost like sculptural elements of different sizes and shapes, mainly stressed by aloe, opuntia, cereus, agave, and euphorbia.

The Desert Greenhouse presents a collection of cacti and succulents that need dry winters and humid summers and therefore could not grow outside the greenhouse.

The Tropical Greenhouse houses the collection of tropical plants and a lake where, in the warmer months, the Santa Cruz water lily (Victoria cruziana) and other tropical aquatic plants grow and flourish.

The Orchid Greenhouse houses a beautifully varied and ancient collection of orchids, including the Lady Slipper Orchid (Paphiopedilum spp.) and the Butterfly Orchid (Zygopetalum spp.), as well as a collection of carnivorous plants.

Come and visit the Botanical Garden of the University of Porto and learn more about its botanical collections.