The Outdoor Collections feature nearly 7,630 taxa, brought from all temperate regions of the world. A great part of these plants is designed in thematic collections and is opened to the visits of the public. Three systematic collections create the beautiful heart of these plantings, for example the Herbetum that represents the herbaceous plants displayed to the systems of Cronquist & Takhtajan, the Fruticetum represents the woody plants beautifully arranged to the system of Dahlgren and finally the Coniferetum which feature the gymnosperms perfectly arranged by genus. Almost all hardy genera are included and represented  in these marvelous collections.

 

Another  wonderful collection type is represented by the genera collections which offer an incredible  overview of the representatives of species and cultivars, that can be found  in the genera Quercus, Rhododendron, Hydrangea, Acer, Magnolia. Other interesting thematic collections are definitely the medicinal plants garden, the North American forest theme, the Mediterranean plants collection. Many adorable collection plants are presented in shrubberies and combined borders all over the park. Some rare, unusual and unique tree species and cultivars are arranged over the lawns and are seen as the salt and pepper in the picturesque landscape dominated by indigenous tree plantations. Some more amazing collections are sometimes open to the general public.

 

Remarkable plant families, included in the outdoor collections are Pinaceae, that comprise over 43% of extant species of the world, Aceraceae with 42%, Betulaceae with 39%, Hydrangeaceae with 37%, Caprifoliaceae  with 33%, Ranunculaceae representing 14% and Rosaceae with 13%. Some special and notable trees are considered truly champion trees of Belgium and need special attention and great care.

 

 

The National Botanical Garden of Belgium consists  of the plant collections at Meise, located beautifully on the outskirts of Brussels, in Belgium. The garden features around 18,000 different species of plants. Initially founded in 1870 on a 17-acre territory in the very heart of Brussels, the Botanical Garden was transferred to an overwhelming estate at Meise, the Domaine de Bouchout, that happened after the middle of the 1960’s. The largest greenhouse in the world, the Palace of Plants, was founded on the 230-acre estate in the region. In the marvelous area, within  the imposing glass complex that comprises 2.5 acres,  are designed 13 greenhouses, dedicated to plant shows, special arranged for the public and for students view, featuring special attention for the tropical plants of commercial value, while 22 greenhouses are devoted to research collections and 20 more dedicated for service functions. This wonderful estate, which was used as a park around a castle, is tastefully landscaped. A unique herbarium, that hosts about 2,000,000 dried specimens, and a library collection comprising 150,000 volumes have been moved to a new designed building at Meise. The research program of the National Botanical Garden has based and offered care on the plants of tropical Africa and also on those of Belgium. The park, that covered a surface of about 92 acres, houses the historic Castle of Bouchout, with its square 14th century tower. The veritable castle includes an exhibition room and the conference rooms of the National Botanic Garden. The Park, comprising its own age-old trees, ponds and broad lawns, opens several interesting walks for its guests. Endless promenade walks take the tourists through extraordinary open-air collections of medicinal plants, herbaceous plants, shrubs, trees, and conifers. Another superb world is presented  in the Plant Palace, representing an immense glasshouse covering 2,5 acres with more than 10,000 plant species, which is considered a perfect location to introduce its guests to unusual tropical and subtropical plants from America, Africa, Asia, New Zealand and Australia.

 

The gardens are an exquisite center for research on tropical and European botany, that leads in one of the largest herbarias in the world. Moreover the fabulous garden contributes towards plant conservation and protection, that supposed to protect as many plants as possible in their natural environments, keeping them in the original stage of life. This task is made in partnership with many other important  national and international botanic gardens and conservation organizations, that are interested to preserve the nature and its natural beauty. This lovely garden is an excellent example of scenic world, surrounded by picturesque landscapes, that leave  nice and unforgettable impressions on visitors. It is a total pleasure to get to walk through the scenic beauty of this fascinating garden. Try to escape in this fantastic ambiance and rest in tranquility and silence.