Montréal Botanical Garden – Space for Life

Cultivate a patch of happiness at the Space for Life. An oasis in the middle of the city for over 80 years, the Montréal Botanical Garden is recognized as one of the largest and most beautiful in the world.

Collections

At the Montréal Botanical Garden, visitors of all ages can explore and learn about plants from every corner of the world. Its rich collection of 22,000 plant species and cultivars, its 10 exhibition greenhouses, the Frédéric Back Tree Pavilion and some 30 thematic gardens make the venue exceptional. Magnificent cultural gardens invite you to travel to places like China, Japan, and the First Nations through botanical traditions.

The Main Exhibition Greenhouse showcases a seasonal array of flora and special events. Complete with a cascading indoor waterfall, this vast, two-tiered space hosts major happenings all year long, such as Butterflies Go Free in the spring and The Great Pumpkin Ball in the fall.

While all of the thematic gardens offer something extraordinary, the Rose Garden is especially spectacular. One of the largest in North America, it covers more than six hectares and features close to 10,000 rose bushes showcasing some 900 species and cultivars, laid out in carefully manicured beds.

History

The idea of a botanical garden in Montréal started germinating in the mid-19th century, but the project didn’t actually sprout until 1920, when young botany teacher, Brother Marie-Victorin, joined forces with Henry Teuscher, a leading horticulturalist and landscape architect, to create what would become a living monument to Montréal’s diversity.

Together, they designed the foundation for the modern-day Garden, from the official founding of the Garden in 1931 to the opening of the exhibition greenhouses in 1956. A true visionary, Teuscher had planned in the 1930s to create an Asian Garden and a First Nations garden!

It was in the 1970s, however, that the garden really began to thrive and flourish into the oasis it is today, thanks to the work of dedicated partners and collaborators.

Activities

Solitary meditation, romantic rendezvous, guided tours, family get-togethers—these are just a few of the many ways to sample the delights of the Garden.

To this, add a full calendar of events, activities and exhibitions to pique your interest, cultivate your admiration and teach you a few things along the way.

The plant world opens up all sorts of possibilities for adventure and discovery at the Garden, where visitors can travel to a multitude of exotic lands.

Little gardeners especially enjoy getting their hands dirty in the Youth Gardens, designed to introduce children to the joy of gardening and the wonders of the natural sciences.

No matter where you wander in this vibrant Space for Life, original and authentic experiences flourish!