Durban Botanic Gardens

The Durban Botanic Gardens is situated in the city of Durban, KwaZulu-Natal, South Africa. It is Durban’s oldest public institution and Africa's oldest surviving botanical gardens. The gardens cover an area of 15 hectares (37 acres)in a subtropical climate.

History

Early History

The Durban Botanic Gardens was established to participate in the quest of Kew Gardens to establish a series of botanic gardens across the world which would assist in the introduction of economically valuable plants, and to supply plants to Kew that were new to science.The first garden was established in December 1849 by Dr Charles Johnston on the edge of the Berea Ridge next to the Umgeni River (near Quarry Road). He was in charge of the gardens for less than 1 year. A Scot called Mark McKen then took his place and began to establish gardens of plants of economic value such as sugar cane, tea, coffee and pineapples. In 1851 the botanical gardens were relocated closer to town, to its present site. From 1853 to 1860 there were various curators, the most notable of which was Robert Plant, who died of malaria while collecting plants near Lake St. Lucia. McKen then returned in 1860 and was the curator for the next 12 years; until his death in 1872.

A German by the name of William Keit arrived from Glasnevin in Ireland to take over the curatorship of the gardens, but economic depression in Natal, a drought, and the Anglo-Zulu War took its toll. Keit resigned in 1881 to become a nurseryman and was later Durban’s first director of parks.

Later History

William Keit again took over the gardens on 27 August 1916, about a year after the death of John Medley Wood.

Among later curators was Ernest Thorp (from 1950 to 1975) who oversaw the construction of the orchid house at the Durban Botanic Gardens in 1962. The orchid house was named after him as the Ernest Thorp Orchid House. While Ernest Thorp was the curator, F. W. Thorns was the director. Around 1965 the Durban Botanic Gardens was noted for its collection of Cannas, and Ernest Thorp sent rhizomes of 3 varieties to Longwood Gardens in the United States upon request.

In 1999 the gardens were surveyed and mapped so that the various plants and their relevant information could be traced with the aid of GIS software.

Activities and Events

The grounds currently host various social gatherings such as local music bands and ' Victorian tea parties', as well as an indigenous plant fair in spring (September) each year. The fair is hosted by the Botanical Society of South Africa, and in 2009 and 2010 the Lepidopterists' Society of Africa was involved to promote the growing of indigenous butterfly food plants. The theme of the Fair for 2010 was taken from the UN’s International Year of Biodiversity, and more than 750 species of plants indigenous to South Africa were available.

Address: 9A John Zikhali Rd, Musgrave, Durban, 4001

Area: 15 ha

Hours: Everyday: 7:30AM–5:15PM

Phone: 031 322 4021

Website: www.durbanbotanicgardens.org.za