National Botanic Garden
A large garden in Harare showing Zimbabwe’s native and exotic plants
The National Botanic Garden in Harare covers nearly 7 square kilometres and features plants from Zimbabwe’s woodlands, as well as species from across Africa and other continents. It is home to the National Herbarium and displays most of the country’s 750 native plant species, along with rare and endangered plants.
- Covers nearly 7 square kilometres north of Harare city centre
- Displays most of Zimbabwe’s 750 native plant species
- Includes rare and endangered African plants
- Home to the National Herbarium of Zimbabwe
What is National Botanic Garden?
The National Botanic Garden is a vast space of almost 7 square kilometres, located about 4 km north of Harare’s city centre in Alexandra Park. Visitors find a wide range of plant life, with half the garden dedicated to Zimbabwe’s woodland species and the rest featuring African and exotic plants. The garden also houses the National Herbarium, which preserves plant specimens and supports research.
The history of National Botanic Garden
The garden began as a recreational area in 1902. In 1962, it was designated the National Botanic Garden under the leadership of Hiram Wild, who also headed the Southern Rhodesian Government Herbarium. Tom Muller from Switzerland became its first curator around 1961 or 1962. The herbarium moved into custom-built premises in the gardens around 1967, with Bob Drummond taking over as Wild moved to the university.
What there is to see
The garden is organised to show off Zimbabwe’s native woodlands, with paths and sections for different habitats. About half the area is set aside for indigenous plants, while other areas display African species and exotics from places like South America, India, Australia, and the Far East. The National Herbarium is located within the grounds, supporting plant study and conservation.
When to go
People visit the National Botanic Garden to see a living collection of Zimbabwe’s native plants and rare species from Africa and beyond. The garden is also a centre for botanical research and education, with the National Herbarium supporting scientific work. It is open for recreation and learning throughout the year.
Parts and collections
The garden includes most of Zimbabwe’s 750 native plant species and features plants from 90% of the country’s ecological habitats. There are also sections for rare and endangered African plants, as well as collections of exotics from other continents.
Why National Botanic Garden matters
The National Botanic Garden plays an important role in conserving Zimbabwe’s plant diversity and supporting botanical research. It helps educate visitors about the country’s natural heritage and the importance of protecting rare and endangered species. The garden is also a green space for recreation in Harare.
Questions people ask about National Botanic Garden
Where is the National Botanic Garden located?
The National Botanic Garden is about 4 km north of Harare’s city centre, in the suburb of Alexandra Park, Zimbabwe.
What can visitors see at the garden?
Visitors can see a wide range of Zimbabwe’s native woodland plants, rare and endangered African species, and exotic plants from other continents. The garden also houses the National Herbarium.
When was the National Botanic Garden established?
The garden was first set up as a recreation area in 1902 and became the National Botanic Garden in 1962.
What is the role of the National Herbarium?
The National Herbarium, located within the garden, preserves plant specimens and supports research and education about Zimbabwe’s plant life.
How many plant species are represented in the garden?
The garden features most of the 750 native plant species found in Zimbabwe, along with other African and exotic species.
Good reading and sources
- National Botanic Garden (Zimbabwe) on WikipediaEncyclopedia
- More photos on Wikimedia CommonsPhotos
- Wikidata recordOpen data
The facts on this page come from the Wikipedia article "National Botanic Garden (Zimbabwe)", written by its contributors and used under the CC BY-SA 4.0 licence, and from its Wikidata record (CC0). Phool rewrote the text in its own words, with AI assistance, and compares every page with the article to make sure no passage is copied. It may be reused under the same CC BY-SA 4.0 licence with a link back.
It may contain mistakes. Opening times, prices and bloom dates change: check with the place before you travel. If something is wrong, tell us. Last refreshed 2026-10-03.
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