Floriculture & Garden

Trials with balcony plants

Every year, balcony and terrace plants with a particular theme or as a variety trial are grown and assessed. Themes include new species of balcony geraniums or petunias, fertiliser trials, substrate trials or theme-related plant combinations such as snack vegetables or biodiversity. After a growing season, the results are assessed and passed on to companies and visitors.

Starfish flower (Stapelia grandiflora)

This member of the dogbane family originating in South Africa has developed an extraordinary pollination strategy: its flowers emit an odour of decomposition that attracts carrion flies (mimesis). The flies pollinate the plant and deposit their eggs on the flowers. However, the emerging larvae perish. Only the plant benefits.

Canary Islands Dragon Tree (Dracaena draco)

This specimen was sown in 1990 and came to the tropical house in 1996 as a sapling. The red resin (the so-called “dragon’s blood”) was used in ancient times as a dye for paints, toothpaste, plaster and tinctures and in China was also used to dye pieces of furniture, paper and posters. It was also used as an ingredient in ointments, e.g. for the treatment of syphilis. It has lost its importance as a medication, although it is still used today in traditional Chinese medicine.

Tropical forest

This area features figs (Ficus), Philodendron and palms. In just a few centimetres of soil, a jungle-like vegetation flourishes in the moist, warm climate, such as the golden pothos (Epipremnum aureum) from the Solomon Islands. 

Tropical vegetation - living environments at different levels

The so-called epiphytes account for around 10 % of all plant species. Epiphytes use the trunk or branches of other plant species on which they grow without parasitising their host. In this way they spare themselves the effort of growing their own tall trunks; admittedly though, this means that they can be afflicted by a shortage of water and a lack of nutrients. Many species have therefore developed special organs (for example tubers, aerial roots or trichomes) and are able to absorb water and nutrients directly from the air. Well-known examples of epiphytes include vanilla (Vanilla planifolia).

Water cycle in the tropical rain forest

There is a high level of evaporation and frequent rain showers here. Plants absorb water via their roots and evaporate it via the leaf surfaces (evapotranspiration); clouds are formed from the water vapour and it begins to rain again, making the rain forest a gigantic water pump. 

Giant pelican flower (Aristolochia brasiliensis)

The flower of this plant reaches up to 50 cm in size and is a fraud! At the start of flowering only the female carpel is ripe inside the androgynous flower whilst the stamens are still closed. Its fragrance attracts flies that usually specialise in carrion. These fly into the flower's corolla tube, from which they are unable to escape and in which they are covered with pollen. To sweeten their captivity, they are given nectar in return. After two days, the flower tilts over, the trap hairs (trichomes) lie down and the flies are able to move on to the next flower.

Citrus fruits

Lemons, oranges or kumquat only used to grow in the royal courts in their greenhouses. In summer they stood outside and in winter in the orangeries (limonaias). Today many species are in use as pot plants in conservatories.

Allium

The species Allium is recognised by the nose, since the sharp odour of almost every variety is reminiscent of leeks. Many varieties are used in the kitchen as a seasoning or vegetable, e.g. tree onion (Allium cepa var. proliferum) orchive (Allium schoenoprasum).

Spices

Wild rocket (Diplotaxis tenuifolia), blue stonecrop (Sedum reflexum), horseradish (Armoracia rusticana), lemon basil (Ocimum x africanum) or salad burnet (Sanguisorba minor) should only be used towards the end of cooking or as a salad seasoning, as otherwise they lose their flavour.

Bread spices

Anyone wanting to bake bread themselves can vary the flavour and tolerability of the product using carraway, coriander, fennel, aniseed, poppy seed or blue fenugreek. 

Fragrant plants

Fragrant sage varieties surprise us with the fragrance of pineapple (Salvia rutilans) or honeydew melon (Salvia elegans), others are reminiscent of a tropical fruit mixture of banana, melon, pineapple and mango (Salvia dorisiana). Alongside them, lemon verbena (Aloysia citrodora) and round-leafed mint (Mentha rotundiflolia) are growing.

Tropical crops

Bitter melon, luffa, tobacco, tiger nuts, cotton and yacon are examples of tropical crops that are grown in the show garden as annuals. 

Rare plants

Especially prominent in this bed due to its height, is the monk’s pepper tree (Vitex agnus-castus), which was erroneously believed to inhibit the sex drive and was grown first and foremost in monasteries. Other plants: licquorice (Glycyrrhiza glabra), candyleaf (Stevia rebaudiana), the fragrant round-leaved oregano (Origanum rotundifolium), dyer's chamomile (Anthemis tinctoria) or Job’s tears (Coix lacryma-jobi). 

Lotus flowers and lilies

This imposing water plant produces large, fragrant pink flowers. On the surface of their leaves sit small papillae with waxy, rough crystals. This surface structure ensures that water and dirt roll off. The plant is thus self-cleaning. The tropical lilies spend the winter months in the greenhouse. 

Bug hotel

In Europe, 78 % of wild flower species and 84 % of crop species depend at least in part on pollination by insects. The insect populations contribute to the production of fruit and are themselves food for other animal species such as birds. Everyone can make their garden more insect friendly, for example with local plant species, nesting sites and shelters, dry habitats and flower meadows.

Edible buds alias capers

It is rare that flowers or buds find themselves on our menu, but with Capparis spinosa, it is the flower buds that are primarily used and preserved in salt or vinegar. The fruits and the leaves are also edible. Capers need a hot and dry mediterranean climate; they grow in cracks in the wall or between rocks. They are mentioned in the Old Testament.

Two climatic zones

In the humid hothouse, the temperature is between approx. 18 and 25 ºc whilst in the dry cold house it stands at between approx. 10 and 35 ºC. By controlling the climate parameters, it is possible to cultivate many tropical and subtropical plant species, including well-known house plants, crops and spice plants or succulents.

Exotic fruits and spices

Nowadays, eating tropical crops seems all too normal, however in the process we often forget that in some cases these products have travelled long distances to reach us and have a large ecological footprint. Coffee, cocoa, pineapple, avocado, banana and papaya can be seen here.ph. Laimburg Research Centre/ivo corrà

SHOW GARDEN

THE GREENHOUSE

Lilies

Anyone who doesn’t have their own garden can cultivate lilies on their balcony or terrace, even with low water levels. These smaller species of tropical lilies can grow in water that is only 20 to 30 cm deep.

Bay laurel (Laurus nobilis)

The fresh or dried leaves of this evergreen spice plant from the Mediterranean climatic area go well with hearty dishes. Apart from this, the plant also symbolises a particular distinction (the victor’s laurel wreath). 

Medicinal plants

The name of the St. John’s Wort (Hypericum perforatum) is derived from the start of the flowering period around St. John’s Day on 24th June. Other medicinal plants in this bed: chamomile (Matricaria chamomilla), peppermint (Mentha × piperita), lemon balm (Melissa officinalis), pale purple cornflower (Echinacea pallida) and wormwood (Artemisia absinthium).

Local South Tyrolean varieties

For generations, through selection farmers have created crop varieties that are especially well suited to local conditions. This treasure trove should not be lost in an age of large seed monopolies. In this bed are broom corn, Tramin maize, Truden garlic (Allium sativum), purple salsify, Altrei (Tyrolean) coffee.

Tropical plants that especially like warmth

Amaranth or Inca wheat (Amaranthus sp.) is a pseudocereal and is used as an easily digestible power grain. Like the sweet potato (Ipompoea batatas), it comes from America. Both are becoming increasingly popular in European cuisine.

Medicinal plants

The Verbascum species includes over 300 varieties of mullein, whose flowers are still collected today as a healing substance. In the garden they usually prefer poor, dry and sunny locations. 

Mother-in-law’s cushion (Echinocactus grusonii)

This cactus is an excellent example of the botanical adaptation of cacti to the dry conditions in their habitat. The leaf surface is reduced (leaves have become spines in order to reduce evaporation), water is stored in special organs (succulent shoots in the case of stem succulents or underground storage organs) and have developed protection against predators.

Cider Gum Eucalyptus (Eucalyptus gunnii)

This tree, which originates in Tasmania, flowers in July with yellow, spherical inflorescences. Its leaves are unique in that the young leaves are round and grey, whilst older leaves are thick and broadly lanceolate or elliptical. This heterophylly is also displayed by the native ivy (Hedera helix). 

Tropical spices

The wealth of famous trading cities was based on importing expensive spices, such as pepper, cardamom and vanilla, which all come from South East Asia. The coffee tree originally grew in Africa, whilst cocoa came to us from South America.

Ferns

This very primeval plant group does not belong to the spermatophytes, but rather to the pteridophytes (plants with alternating generations with roots and stem). The sporogenic plant (sporophytes) of the fern develops large leaves, on the underside of which or on their own fronds, the spore stores (sori) sit. The spores develop into gametophytes (haploid phase), which form embryos in damp environments.

Kitchen herbs

No kitchen should be without classic herbs such as sage, rosemary, thyme, hyssop, tarragon, basil, lovage, savory and parsley. They improve the taste of food, and their constituent substances support our digestion. Want to know more? Here you'll find the answers. 

NURSERY

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