Karoo Desert National Botanical Garden
TypeBotanical garden
LocationWorcester, South Africa
Coordinates33°36′58″S 19°27′03″E / 33.61611°S 19.45083°E / -33.61611; 19.45083
Established
  • 1921 (1921) - Logan Memorial Garden
  • 15 August 1945 (1945-08-15) - Karoo National Botanical Garden
Hiking trails
  • Malmesbury Shale Trail
  • Grysbokkie Trail
  • Heuweltjie Trail
WebsiteKaroo Desert National Botanical Garden

The Karoo Desert National Botanical Garden is a botanical garden focused on succulents and other plants of arid regions, that lies at the foot of the Hex River Mountains range, in the town of Worcester, South Africa.

Karoo Desert National Botanical Garden

History

It was originally set up in 1921 near Matjiesfontein further inland. However, in 1945 it was moved to Worcester.[1][2] It is today one of nine National Botanical Gardens that are run by the South African National Biodiversity Institute (SANBI).

Layout

"Vygie" succulents in flower. Spring is generally when the majority of the succulents are in flower and is therefore the most popular time to visit.

The Garden spans an area of 154 hectares (380 acres) with only 11 hectares (27 acres) being cultivated.[3] The remainder preserves the natural vegetation of the area, such as the succulents of the unique Robertson Karoo vegetation type, and patches of the threatened Breede Shale Renosterveld vegetation type.

The cultivated area, with its network of pathways, includes a very large succulent collection. Including the greenhouses it maintains nearly 3,000 species. There are another 400 plant species that are naturally indigenous to the garden's premises.[4]

A range of wild animals also naturally occurs in the garden, including the shrub hare, grey mongoose, three tortoises species (Chersina angulata, Stigmochelys pardalis & Homopus areolatus) and a range of other small mammals, reptiles and amphibians.[5]

References

  1. ↑ Willis, Christopher; Smith, Gideon (2006). "From Whitehill to Worcester" (PDF). pza.sanbi.org. Retrieved 2023-09-03.
  2. ↑ "History". SANBI. Retrieved 2023-09-03.
  3. ↑ "Information". SANBI. Retrieved 2023-09-03.
  4. ↑ "The Karoo Desert Botanical Gardens close to Worcester offer a unique view of South Africa's flowers and plants (GL)". www.southafrica.net. Retrieved 2023-09-03.
  5. ↑ "Biodiversity and Wildlife". SANBI. Retrieved 2023-09-03.

See also

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