HISTORY OF THE BOTANIC GARDEN
| 18 July 1961 | The parliament of North Rhine-Westphalia decides to found a university in Bochum |
| 1965 | Start of construction of the Ruhr-University Bochum |
| 13 June 1965 | Ceremonial opening of the Ruhr-University Bochum |
| 1 October 1966 | Start of preparatory works to create a Botanic Garden at the Ruhr-University Bochum |
| 1 April 1968 | Recruitment of the first gardener and the first curator; beginning of acquistion of woody plants |
The area in front of the N-Buildings on which the Botanic Garden was to be developed
| October 1969 | First glasshouse operational, getting started with the 2,5 ha large propagation and experimentation field |
| January 1970 | Start of construction of the operational building an the glasshouses for propagation and experimentation |
| January 1971 | Start of the second phase of construction of the outdoor areas of the Botanic Garden (Alpine Garden, Systematic Botany, Geobotany) |
| 15 June 1971 | Inauguration and opening of the completed areas of construction phase 1 (propagation area, useful plants, biological plant communities, 3 glasshouses) |
| 15 December 1971 | Move into the operational building with offices and staff rooms |
| August 1972 | Completion of construction of the glasshouse complex for propagation and experimentation |
| October 1972 | Completion of construction phase 2 of the outdoor areas (Alpine Garden, Systematic Botany, Geobotany) |
The glasshouse complex for propagation and experimentation during construction in 1971
The Alpine Garden whilst still under contruction in 1971
| May 1975 | Start of construction of the Tropical Glasshouse; first-time planting in the Alpine Garden, Dune, Heath and Native Forest Communities |
| 1976 | Completion of the Tropical Glasshouse (713 sqm, 17 m clear height) First apprentice gardeners |
The Tropical Glasshouse during its contruction
View into the yet unplanted Tropical Glasshouse
| 4 April 1977 | Opening of the Tropical Glasshouse |
| 1980 | Construction of the outdoor Infomation Centre (3 wooden pavilions covering 150 sqm) Start of construction of the first Cloud Forest House |
| 1983 | Construction of the second Cloud Forest House |
| 1984 | Contruction of the Alpine House (140 sqm) |
| 1985 | Refurbishment of the roof of the Tropical Glasshouse |
| 1987 | Construction of the third and fourth Cloud Forest House |
| 1988 | Publication of the first guide book about the Botanic Garden |
| September 1988 | Completion of the Desert House (400 sqm) to celebrate the 20th anniversary of the Botanic Garden on 20.09.1988 |
| 1990 | Opening of the Chinese Garden "Qian Yuan" inside the Botanic Garden |
The Desert House just after completion
The first plants moving into the new Desert House
The Chinese Garden whilst under construction
| 1998 | The Botanic Garden goes online |
| 2000 | Foundation of the charity "The Chinese Garden" to support the urgent restoration of the Chinese Garden |
| Spring 2001 | Restoration of the Chinese Garden |
| Autumn 2001 | Re-opening of the Chinese Garden Opening of the Savannah Houses to display the flora of Australia and South Africa |
| Summer 2004 | Publication of the second guide book (Part 1: Outdoor) "Botanischer Garten der Ruhr-Universität Bochum - Konzept und Themen des Freilandes in 75 Tafeln", von Annette Höggemeier & Bernd Kirchner |
| August 2005 - September 2005 | Renovation and re-opening of the Tropical Glasshouse |
| 2009 | Publication of the third guide book: "Botanischer Garten der Ruhr-Universität Bochum - Botanisch-dendrologische Streifzüge", von Veit Dörken & Annette Höggemeier |
| 2015 | Publication of a history of the Botanic Garden by Karl Esser ("Der Botanische Garten - Planung und Aufbau 1964-1989") |
2004: Publication of the second guide book
BOTANISCHER GARTEN DER RUHR-UNIVERSITÄT BOCHUM
KONZEPT UND THEMEN DES FREILANDS IN 75 TAFELN
by Annette Höggemeier & Bernd Kirchner
2009: Publication of the third guide book
BOTANISCHER GARTEN DER RUHR-UNIVERSITÄT BOCHUM
Botanisch-dendrologische Streifzüge
by Veit Dörken & Annette Höggemeier
2015: Publication of a history of the Botanic Garden
DER BOTANISCHE GARTEN
PLANUNG UND AUFBAU 1964-1989
Von Karl Esser
| 10 & 11 September 2017 | First ever Titan Arum (Amorphophallus titanum, Araceae) flowering event in Ruhrgebiet at the Botanic Garden of the Ruhr-University Bochum |
| 16 June 2019 | First Open Day |
| 03 December 2019 | The founder of the Botanic Garden, Prof. Dr. Dr. h.c. mult. Karl Esser, dies at the age of 95. |
POSTAL ADDRESS
Ruhr-University Bochum
Botanic Garden
Universitätsstraße 150
D-44801 Bochum
GERMANY
ADDRESS FOR SATNAVS
"N-Südstraße 6" or
GPS-COORDINATES 51.444761, 7.269031
CONTACT
phone: +49 (0)234 32 22005
E-Mail
OPENING TIMES
Summer
April 01 - October 31
Outdoor: Mon-Sun 9:00 am - 6:00 pm
Glasshouses: Mon-Sun 9:00 am - 5:00 pm
Winter
November 01 - March 31
Outdoor: Mon-Sun 9:00 am - 4:00 pm
Glasshouses: Mon-Sun 9:00 am - 3:30 pm
Closed from 23 Dec 2024 until 06 Jan 2025 (University-wide energy saving measure) as well as during storms and icy conditions
- Admission free
- No bicycles, e-scooters and drones
- Dogs are allowed outdoors but only on the lead
