For over 200 years, Darmstadt Botanical Garden has been a centre of plant diversity. Its history began in 1814 in the castle moat; since 1874, it has shaped its current picturesque area in the east of the city. Spanning five hectares of open land and extensive greenhouses, the garden of Darmstadt Technical University is home to up to 10,000 plant species – far more than the entire flora of Germany. Visitors can stroll among botanical wonders from around the world: from succulents collected in Mexico around 1900 to one of Europe's first primeval forests.

Visitors can stroll among botanical wonders from around the world: from succulents collected in Mexico around 1900 to one of Europe's first primeval sequoias, dating from 1946. The miniature orchids from South American cloud forests are particularly fascinating. In times of rapid species extinction, the garden serves as an indispensable Noah's Ark and place of learning. With exhibitions, guided tours and a ‘green classroom’, it conveys complex ecological relationships and raises awareness of the need to protect our natural resources.