VU Botanical Garden was established in 1781. In over 240 years, the Garden has become an integral part of the science, as well as the educational and social life of the communities of Vilnius University and the Lithuanian capital. Historical circumstances have led to the Botanical Garden being relocated several times. Today it is located, awaits visitors, and provides various services even in two places:  the main part of  191,5 ha (since 1974) is in Kairėnai, and the other part of  7,35 ha is in Vingis Park (since 1919). The total area of the Garden is 199 ha, which is the largest in Lithuania. The Garden can be interesting for history lovers, because in Kairėnai it is located in an old manor site, and the Vingis Department does not lack traces of history as well.

The Garden in Kairėnai is open to visitors all year round, and the Vingis Department is open only during the warm season.

The Garden provides various services: use of the infrastructure, gazebos, picnic areas, as well as rental services for various premises. Every year, the Garden hosts educational, art, sports and healthy lifestyle-promoting events. Here you can book an educational program or various excursions.

Vilnius University Botanical Garden, Kairėnų str. 43, Vilnius.

Vingis Department of Vilnius University Botanical Garden, M. K. Čiurlionio str. 110, Vilnius.

Plant Collections at VU Botanical Garden

Each year, thousands of visitors come to the VU Botanical Garden to enjoy the colors and scents of spring, summer, and autumn flowers and trees. The garden invites exploration of plant biodiversity through its collections and displays. Among the most abundant and impressive collections are rhododendrons, lilacs, climbers, peonies, dahlias, irises, daylilies, and others. More than 40 different plant collections are maintained for educational, scientific, and public engagement purposes. These collections are grouped into six categories: educational, thematic, scientific, breeding, biodiversity, and cultural plant gene pool conservation. In total, the garden cultivates around 10,000 plant taxa – from native species to exotic ones, including trees, shrubs, tropical plants, and herbaceous ornamentals.

 

Dendrological collections consist of local and foreign woody plants: trees, shrubs, bushes, and lianas. In the territory of the VU Botanical Garden - Kairėnai Manor park and forest, arboretum, Vingis Department and other collection areas - about 2600 names (species, subspecies, varieties and varieties) of woody plants grow, in total they are located on an area of almost 100 ha. Plants make up the following collections of: lianas, pine trees, woody magnolia varieties, ornamental lilacs, ericaceae family plants, ornamental roses and thorns, magnolias, ornamental apple trees, maples, and diversity of woody flowering plant genera.

 

Herbaceous ornamental plant collections ) include more than 2900 plant names, commonly referred to as flowers. In the central part of the garden ( 24), five thematic collection displays are arranged: alpine plants; plants growing in sun, shade, and semi-shade; and collections based on spring, summer, and autumn flowering periods. Surrounding these displays are cultural plant gene pool collections, showcasing morphological and ornamental diversity: primroses, irises, peonies, lilies, daylilies, dahlias, and gladioli. These collections are used for education, plant studies, demonstration of biodiversity, and conservation of genetic resources.

 

Japanese and Rhododendron Gardens. The Japanese Garden was created on a 0.6 ha area, following the principles of Edo-period stroll gardens. It features the aesthetics of the Sukiya architectural style – naturalness, rustic simplicity, and harmony between built structures and the surrounding landscape. In 2003, Japanese landscape architects Hajime Watanabe and Hiroshi Tsunoda prepared and donated the conceptual design of the garden, with support from the Embassy of Japan in Lithuania. The garden merges with the Rhododendron Garden – part of it gradually transitions into the Japanese Garden space.

The Ericaceae plant collection area, known as the Rhododendron Garden, covers about 1.5 ha and includes over 500 plant names. Due to the global abundance and diversity of rhododendrons, this group dominates this collection. Plants are arranged geographically, considering terrain and ecological needs.

   

Green Building. Once a very unsightly building built in 1962, it was reconstructed in 2013–2016. Today, it is the only such building in Lithuania that has received international recognition: in 2017, it won first prize for its landscaping technology in an international competition organized by the European Garden Association (European Garden Association – "Natur in Garden" International). The author of the design of the reconstructed building is the national prize-winning architect Rolandas Palekas. Today, the reconstructed building serves both garden employees and visitors. The southern entrance to the building is for garden visitors, through which you can go up to the observation terrace, and on the way, you can explore the exposition – "The Spiny Garden".

 

Lilac Hill. The collection covers an area of 1.5 hectares and includes around 600 lilac shrubs – 17 species and more than 180 cultivars. The diversity of the collection is expressed through a wide range of flower colors: white, violet, bluish, lilac, pink, reddish-pink, and purple. The flowers vary in structure – both single and double blooms are represented. Lilacs bloom at different times, from early to mid-season and late cultivars, creating a long and dynamic flowering period throughout spring.

  

European Union Ring. Representatives of the European Union Parliament member states and ambassadors, visiting Vilnius on 7th of April 2014, planted 28 European linden trees, thus leaving a symbolic mark of the largest parliamentary event held in Lithuania to date. The European Union Ring is a joint idea of the Seimas and VU Botanical Garden specialists. It was implemented as one of the first events of the Lithuanian Presidency of the European Union Council.

Lithuanian Flora. About one-third of the Botanical Garden's territory consists of natural habitats – forested or grassy slopes, low hills, hollows, spring-fed meadows, streams, and ponds. These areas preserve spontaneous flora and fauna, growing without human intervention. The habitats vary in size, from just a few square meters to several hectares. In total, 505 species of vascular plants grow naturally in the garden, representing 37% of Lithuania’s native flora. Visitors can observe plants typical of deciduous and coniferous forests, dry and wet meadows, water bodies and their shores, as well as ruderal and segetal vegetation.