Exotics and rarities

Show houses

Orchid show house, tropical show house and cactus show houses with plants from all over the world.

Orchid show house

The Berggarten features one of the largest permanent orchid displays in Europe. Set against a backdrop of numerous tropical shrubs and trees, between 500 and 800 orchids bloom here year-round—the most beautiful plants currently in bloom from a collection of approximately 25,000 specimens. Visitors can experience the orchids in all their fascinating variety of colors and shapes, along with their distinctive fragrance.

Tropical show house

Built in 1958, the show house provides an insight into the tropical and subtropical plant world over an area of almost 300 square meters. Many of these plant species

are popular ornamental plants such as the colorful hibiscus, the Usambara violet or the rubber tree. The many bromeliads sitting on the tree trunks and collecting water and nutrients in their funnels are impressive. At any time of year, it offers visitors a fascinating place to linger.

Cactus show houses

Cacti and other succulents from the Berggarten’s extensive collection are on display in the Cactus House and in the Desert Houses at the edge of the Schmuckhof. All of these plants have water-storing tissues, which allows them to survive in arid regions

View into the show house — Cactus show house

can survive periods of drought. The cacti from America, for example, bloom in May and June, while the African aloe can also be admired in winter.

Canary Islands show house

The building was closed and demolished in 2022. It will be replaced by a new, larger exhibition building. In addition to plants from the Canary Islands, changing plant exhibitions and the tropical giant water lily will be presented there, as well as exotic butterflies in winter.