Evonymusaceae 
Colchis · Samegrelo · Zugdidi
Zugdidi Botanical Garden
The ornamental garden of the princely residence beside the Dadiani Palace, laid out by Ekaterine Chavchavadze in the 19th century.
About the garden
A living collection with two centuries of history
Zugdidi Botanical Garden was laid out by Ekaterine Chavchavadze in the 19th century as the ornamental garden of the ruling prince's residence, next to the Dadiani Palace in the town of Zugdidi, Samegrelo.
The garden is home to trees, shrubs and other plants of many species from nearly eighty genera, including six species of magnolia, various species of oak, Atlas and Himalayan cedars, Canary poplar, and relict and endemic plants brought from Asia (including India and Japan), the Mediterranean, the Americas and elsewhere. The Zugdidi garden acquired its ornamental appearance after its development was taken up by David Dadiani, the last ruling prince of Samegrelo.
Both in its location and in its climatic conditions, Zugdidi Botanical Garden is one of the best bases for the introduction, study and acclimatization of valuable subtropical plants.
Read the full history- 1840David Dadiani began laying out the palace garden
- up to 80genera of trees, shrubs and other plants
- 6species of magnolia
- 36plant profiles on this website
Plant of the season · Autumn
liqvidambar styraciflua
liqvidambar styraciflua l.
Family: Hamamelidaceae
It is native to North and Central America, Asia Minor and Taiwan. In Zugdidi Botanical Garden we can see it in sector III, pattern N7. It is deciduous 27m. in height, 52cm. diameter, crown projection 9,3X7,5m. Flowing and blooming starts in April and ends in A...
Flowers or fruits in this season (according to its description)
DiscoverCollection
Plants from all over the world
Relict and endemic species brought from Asia, the Mediterranean, the Americas and beyond.
Evonymusaceae 
Sterkuliaceae Sterkulia platranifolia
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Hamamelidaceae liqvidambar styraciflua
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Magnoliaceae Magnolia soulangiana
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Rhamnaceae Hovenia dulcis Thunb
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Cupressaceae Thujopsis dolobrata Sieb.et Zucc
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Magnoliaceae Magnolia grandiflora L
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Fagaceae Fagus Silvatica L
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The collection
Families and origins
The plants described on this website, by botanical family and native range.
By native range
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East Asia
16 plants
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The Americas
9 plants
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Europe & the Mediterranean
8 plants
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Caucasus, Crimea & Asia Minor
6 plants
By family
Heritage
Historical facts
Palaces, the orangery and monuments that tell the story of the garden.
Central Government Palace
The palace was built in 1824 - 26 y. by Levan Dadiani, the head of Samegrelo. It was called as "Mtsutri". It burned down in 1835y. and in 1838-1840y. a new palace was built in the same place by Davit Dadiani, which was two-storied and consisted of 28 rooms. In...
History of the monument
A Cross-shape palace
According to Iona Meunargia, a well-known public figure and a master of Samegrelo history, the palace was built in the 40s of the 19th century to rece...
History of the monument
The green house
The estimated date of construction of the orangery in the botanical garden is the 40s of the 19th century. On the second floor of the orangery, there...
History of the monument
The stone of justice, "Kvatakhti"
According to the story, the peasants, being harassed by lords, in order to search for the truth, used the customary tradition, which made it easier fo...
History of the monument
Chronicle
The garden through the years
Events from the garden's history article.
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1840
David Dadiani takes over the principality and begins building an ornamental garden: part of the forest around the palace is fenced off and a permanent staff of gardeners is appointed.
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1853
David Dadiani dies; the principality and the care of the garden pass entirely to Ekaterine Chavchavadze.
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1856
During the Russo-Turkish War of 1853–1856 the garden is uprooted and destroyed on the orders of Iskander Pasha.
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1869
After Ekaterine Chavchavadze returns from France, the full restoration of the garden becomes possible.
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1882
After Ekaterine Chavchavadze's death the introduction and spread of exotic plants stops, though the garden is still looked after.
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1896
The garden designers Gaetano and Giovanni Zamberletti are invited from Varese, Italy; the great plane-tree avenues (1,182 m) date from this period.
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1903
Niko Dadiani and the gardener Gaetano Zamberletti die, and the upkeep of the garden declines.
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1917–1921
Under Menshevik rule the garden is run by the zemstvo and is left neglected.
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2018
In February 2018 the reconstruction of the garden begins, carried out by the Municipal Development Fund of Georgia.
Gallery
Colours of the garden
News
What is happening in the garden
Albizzia julibrissin l
It is native to Azerbaijan, Lenkoran, Iran. It is deciduous tree 5-7m. height. It grows in sector III, pattern N7 with an umbrella...
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Caesalpinia japonica
It is native to North America and Asia. It is evergreen, deciduous 2.5 m tall, 3cm. diameters bush. It grows in Zugdidi Botanical...
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pyracantha roem
It is native to Europe, Asia, Italy, Caucasus. It grows in Zugdidi Botanical Garden in sector 1 patten N4. It’s evergreen 3m. tall...
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Visit the garden
The garden is in the town of Zugdidi, next to the Dadiani Palace.
- Address
- 1 Zviad Gamsakhurdia Avenue, Zugdidi, Georgia
- Phone
- 599 63 96 78
- info@zbg.ge
- Opening hours
- To be announced Please call us to confirm
- Ticket prices
- To be announced Information coming soon
This information will be updated once the garden confirms it.
TicketsOnline tickets — coming soon
Live viewsLive stream — coming soon
Frequently asked questions
Questions and answers
Where is the Zugdidi Botanical Garden?
In the town of Zugdidi, next to the Dadiani Palace. Address: 1 Zviad Gamsakhurdia Avenue, Zugdidi, Georgia.
Who founded the garden, and when?
In 1840 David Dadiani, ruling prince of Samegrelo, began building an ornamental garden, and soon entrusted its care to his wife, Ekaterine Chavchavadze-Dadiani.
Who designed it?
Ekaterine Chavchavadze invited the gardener Joseph Babin from Trieste, Italy, who laid the garden out in the French symmetrical style. The artificial lake with an island that he created survives to this day.
How many plants grow there?
Trees, shrubs and other plants of many species from nearly eighty genera, including six species of magnolia. This website describes 36 of them.
What work is going on in the garden?
Reconstruction began in February 2018: eight kilometres of internal paths, lining of the artificial lake and water channels, an administrative building and lighting are planned.
When is the garden open and how much is admission?
Opening hours and prices have not been published yet — please call us: 599 63 96 78.
