University of Oxford Botanic Garden

Institution Code: OXF

BGCI Member: Yes

About the University of Oxford Botanic Garden

The University of Oxford Botanic Garden is based in the historic centre of Oxford and is the oldest Botanic Garden in the United Kingdom and has recently celebrated its 400th anniversary..

Founded in 1621 as the 'Oxford Physic Garden' it was renamed the Botanic Garden in the 1830s by Sherardian Professor Charles Daubeny to reflect its growing focus on experimental botany and taxonomy. In 1946 the Garden was expanded with the lease of a further three acres from Christ Church at the southern end adjacent to Christ Church Meadow.

In 1963 the Botanic Garden expanded further by taking on the management of eight acres of pinetum at the University’s Nuneham Estate at Nuneham Courtenay which then expanded to become the 130 acre Harcourt Arboretum.

The Walled Garden has a taxonomic collection aligned to the APGIV system, Medicinal plant diplays and Geographic collections from South America, New Zealand and Japan (conservation program). The Lower garden has a large Rock garden comprising species which illustrate John Sibthorp's Flora Graeca and extensive Prairie style plantings with flora from South Africa's Eastern cape, North America and the Mediterranean. A Plants that Changed the World feature provides an education resource on cultivated food and economic crops.

Glasshouses (built 1970) hold collections of economic, arid, carniverous and tropical plants as well as a heated water-lily tank constrcuted in 1853. There is a particular research focus on Nepenthes and Victoria species.

Currently there is an active focus on local native species conservation through the propagation of critically endangered freshwater habitat plants. A reference collection of Orobanche and parasitic plants has been cultivated and forms part of the gardens research program.

Main Address:
University of Oxford Botanic Garden
Rose Lane
Oxford
OX1 4AZ United Kingdom

Telephone: 01865 286690
Fax: 01865 286693
URL: www.obga.ox.ac.uk
Primary Email: postmaster@obg.ox.ac.uk