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Gardens

Botanic Garden and Herbarium has two distinct gardens in Helsinki: Kaisaniemi and Kumpula. The plant collection contains plants from all over the world.

Key data

The garden is situated in two localities in Helsinki, the old garden in Kaisaniemi in the city-centre and the new one ca. 4 km N of it in Kumpula.

  • Contact information
  • Date of foundation: 1678 (originally established in the city of Turku, moved to present location in Helsinki in 1829)
  • Area: 11,01 ha (Kaisaniemi 4,91 ha, Kumpula 6,1 ha)
  • Latitude and longitude: Kaisaniemi 60°11'N, 24°57'E, Kumpula 60°12'N, 24°58'E
  • Altitude: Kaisaniemi 2 - 5 m, Kumpula 2 - 10 m
  • Annual rainfall (Kaisaniemi): 650 mm
  • Mean annual temperature (Kaisaniemi): +5,6 °C ( January -4,2 °C, July +17,2 °C; 1971 - 2000)
  • Number of horticultural staff: 10
  • Different origins of taxa in cultivation: 5.601 origins in total (Kaisaniemi outdoors 2.804, greenhouses 910; Kumpula outdoors 2.222, nursery 44; March 29, 2004)
  • Special collections: Hokkaido, northeastern China, Canada, Tanzania (in particular Saintpaulia); Musa (section Callimusa)
  • Special gardens: Hortus Geobotanicus (Kumpula)
  • Greenhouses: Greenhouse collections: 926 m²; 2 greenhouses for propagation: 127 m² (for greenhouse plants) + 300 m² (for outdoor plants)
  • Arboretum: Inside gardens
  • Associated nature reserves: None
  • Natural vegetation in garden: None
  • Herbarium: Specimens are kept in the Botanical Museum of the University of Helsinki(H)
  • Horticultural herbarium: Specimens are kept in the Botanical Museum of the University of Helsinki (H)
  • Research facilities: Some
  • Research: Systematics (Musa section Callimusa), conservation biology (Saintpaulia), boreal flora, hardiness of new garden plants
  • Seed list: Biennial
  • Seed bank: None
  • Publications: Delectus Seminum (seed list), Ulmus (periodical), guide booklets, Pimpinella (together with other Finnish botanical gardens)
  • Catalogue: Yes
  • Records system: Computerised, FileMaker pro 4.1
  • Other facilities: Lecture hall, seminar rooms
  • Education programme: Issue booklets/leaflets, display labels
  • Training courses: None