Alexandru Buia
Botanical Garden

The first sector to greet you at the visitor entrance on Iancu Jianu Street, the Ornamental Sector is also the most loved by the general public — an explosion of colors, scents and surprising shapes throughout the vegetation season. With 145 taxa of decorative plants, it ensures a spectacular and pleasant scenery from the garden gate.

The most appreciated collections include: dahlias in hundreds of varieties, irises, tulips (featured at the June 1st exhibition), peonies, water lilies and numerous rare decorative plant species. It is the ideal place for photography in any season — tulips and peonies dominate in spring, dahlias and irises in summer, and the red and gold leaf displays in autumn are unforgettable.

A very special sector — because Romania's nature had to be recreated artificially. The initial terrain was completely flat, and to provide the specific ecological conditions for each Romanian phytogeographical region, artificial hills and valleys with heights from 1.5 to 30 meters were created relative to the water surface of the lakes. An impressive botanical engineering feat for the '50s!

The sector reconstitutes the spontaneous flora from the main provinces of Romania: the Carpathians, Dobrogea, the Danube Delta, the Danube Plain, Moldova. The species are grouped geographically, offering a living lesson in Romanian botany. 120 taxa of rare and endemic plants from the native spontaneous flora — some hard to see in the wild.

The richest sector in terms of species count — 1,000 taxa organized according to the theoretical classification developed by Alexandru Borza in 1925, following the stages of evolution from lower to higher plants and highlighting lineage relationships (phylogeny). It is practically an outdoor botany textbook.

Located in the central area of the garden, the sector also includes the main lake — a body of water populated with aquatic plants, water lilies, and various bird species. Plants are represented by cormophytes: pteridophytes, gymnosperms, and angiosperms — a complete collection for both study and contemplation.

With 1,200 taxa, this is the richest and most captivating sector of the garden — a true journey around the world without leaving Craiova! The sector features five major geographical provinces: Mediterranean, Caucasian, Central Asian, Southeast Asian, and North American.

Each province recreates specific ecological conditions: soil type, humidity, light exposure. The artificial relief with elevation differences up to 30 meters allows the cultivation of species with very different requirements. 1,200 plants from 5 corners of the world — by far the most varied and spectacular in the whole garden.

One of the botanical stars of the garden is the Taxodium (Taxodium distichum) — popularly known as the "bald cypress" — a fascinating North American tree species that naturally grows in swampy areas of the southern USA (Louisiana, Florida). In Craiova, it was strategically planted near the stream that crosses the garden, recreating its natural habitat conditions.

What makes it special: pneumatophores (aerial roots that emerge from the ground around the trunk), the imposing crown, and the spectacular rusty color of the needles in autumn before they fall. It is one of the rare deciduous conifers — meaning it loses its needles in autumn, just like deciduous trees, much to the surprise of many visitors.

The 3 lakes of the garden (total area 0.3 ha) were arranged using water from the Jianu Fountain — a historical monument built around 1800 by Hagi Stan Jianu. The lakes host species characteristic of the Systematics, Global Floristic Provinces, and Oltenia Phytogeography sectors.

The Greenhouse sector is, undoubtedly, the most impressive and photographed space in the Craiova Botanical Garden. On 750 square meters of greenhouse, organized into 4 distinct compartments, an authentic tropical jungle unfolds — a corner of Amazonia in the heart of Oltenia.

The 4 compartments of the greenhouse: Corridor Greenhouse (transit and introductory species), Succulent Plant Greenhouse (cacti and succulents from the world's deserts), Tropical and Subtropical Plant Greenhouse (the jungle itself), and Propagation Greenhouse (reproduction of rare species). In total, 630 exotic taxa.

Absolute stars of the tropical greenhouse:

One of the most pleasant surprises of the Botanical Garden is the Japanese Island — a space tastefully and sensitively arranged in the spirit of Japanese gardening traditions. Fragrant roses, stone lanterns, Asian-style wooden furniture, miniature bridges, and carefully maintained vegetation compose a picture of unique peace and elegance.

It is the favorite place for couples and photographers in Craiova — an intimate retreat, away from the hustle and bustle, where you can spend an afternoon in complete silence. The zen atmosphere contrasts beautifully with the tropical exuberance of the nearby greenhouse, offering a complete and varied experience in a relatively small area.

In spring and summer, when the roses bloom wave after wave, the Japanese Island becomes practically a place of pilgrimage for all who love discreet beauty. Bring a book, a thermos of coffee, and prepare for hours of total peace.

Located in the west and southwest of the garden, the Rosarium spans 2,000 square meters and houses an impressive collection of over 250 rose varieties — from classic Damask and Gallica varieties to modern hybrids with unique shapes and fragrances. Alongside roses, the collection includes numerous tulip varieties, completing the spectacular chromatic palette.

The Cultivated Plant Sector (northwest of the garden, 225 taxa) is divided into 6 sections for educational and scientific purposes: agrophyto-technics, vegetable growing, fruit trees, vineyard, decorative shrubs and medicinal plants. A sector less known to visitors, but essential for students of the Faculty of Agronomy.

The Nursery — adjacent to the Rosarium — is the garden's reproduction laboratory: this is where young specimens are produced to replace damaged plants in all sectors. A place of intense, discreet, but essential work for the survival of the collections.