A university garden has existed in Lund since 1690 and was located on the present site of the university building. According to eyewitnesses it was neglected, overgrown, vandalized and a swampy refuge for the town´s free-roaming swine.

 

In 1746, Carl Hårleman´s plan for a new botanical garden with an orangery was approved. Eric Lidbeck acted as administrator but became most well known for planting 50 000 mulberry trees and for production of Swedish silk.

 

This botanical garden was in operation for 110 years. By then the university had expanded and the orangery doubled as a lecture hall for anatomy as well as a student prison. When the university presented plans for a chemistry laboratory in the same building it was apparent that the botanical garden must be moved to its present lacation in the ”Tornalyckan” section of Lund, Which at the time was on the outskirts of the town.

 

This time it was J. G. Agardh who designed the garden and greenhouse. According to records, by 1868 over 6 000 different species of plants were already being raised.

 

Today there are over 7 000 species grown on 8 hectares (20 acres) in the middle of Lund. The garden runs a diversified operation within the areas of botany, gardening and ecology, not only for education and research but also for schools, the public, the public sector and others.

 

In 1974 Lund´s Botanical Garden was named a historical landmark which shall ”thereafter enjoy special suitable care”.