Tashkent Botanical Garden

The garden was founded in 1950 by the botanist Fyodor Rusanov and the Academy of Sciences of Uzbekistan as a scientific institution for the study of plants and their acclimatisation in the hot, dry climate of Central Asia. It covers a large area, around 65 hectares, and is organised by geographical region, so that walking through it you pass from the plants of Central Asia to those of the Far East, Europe, North America and other parts of the world.

Its collection includes thousands of species and varieties of trees, shrubs, flowers and other plants. Among them are wild relatives of fruit trees that originated in the mountains of Central Asia, such as apples, apricots, walnuts and pistachios, a reminder that many of the fruits we eat today came from this region.

• The Central Asian section: plants of the Tian Shan and Pamir mountains, deserts and steppes, including junipers, wild fruit trees and spring bulbs such as wild tulips, many of which originated in Central Asia.
• The East Asian section: Japanese and Chinese trees, including magnolias, ginkgos and maples.
• Rose and flower gardens: colourful in late spring and summer.
• Greenhouses: tropical and subtropical plants, open at certain times.
• Ponds and shady avenues: pleasant for walking, with benches.

The garden is not manicured like a European park; some areas are wild and overgrown, which gives it a romantic, natural character.

• Spring (late March to May): the best time. Fruit trees, magnolias, lilacs and tulips blossom, and the garden is fresh and green.
• Summer: shady and cooler than the city streets, a good escape from the heat, though some flowers are past their best.
• Autumn (October to November): the leaves of maples, oaks and other trees turn gold and red, beautiful for photography.
• Winter: quiet and bare, but still pleasant for a walk on sunny days.

Scientists believe that the wild forests of the Tian Shan mountains, shared by Kazakhstan, Kyrgyzstan and Uzbekistan, are the original home of the domestic apple. Wild apricots, walnuts, pistachios, almonds, pears and cherries also grow in the mountains of Central Asia, and the region is the origin of many tulip species that were later taken to Turkey and then to the Netherlands. The botanical garden preserves many of these plants and their varieties, and its scientists have studied them for decades. For visitors, it is a chance to see the wild ancestors of familiar fruit and flowers.

Location: in the north of Tashkent, near Bodomzor metro station and the Tashkent zoo.

Getting there: by metro to Bodomzor on the Yunusobod line, then a short walk, or by taxi. See the Tashkent metro.

Tickets: a small entrance fee.

Opening hours: daily, from morning to early evening; check seasonal times.

Time needed: 1.5–2 hours.

Tips: wear comfortable shoes, as the garden is large; bring water in summer. There are few cafés inside. Combine with the TV tower and the Japanese garden nearby, or with the zoo for children.

Tashkent is one of the greenest cities in Central Asia, with tree-lined avenues, parks and canals. Before the 1966 earthquake, it was known for its old plane trees and gardens, and the rebuilding of the city included large parks. Alongside the Botanical garden, visitors can enjoy the Japanese garden, the parks along the Ankhor canal near the Minor mosque, and the green spaces of Independence Square.