National Botanic Garden of Belgium - A tour of the Plant Palace

Mark and I have had a well deserved short break in the Belgian capital Brussels. Although we did all the typical tourist activities (Atomium, Grand Place, various museums, waffles and chocolate! to name a few), we also decided to pay a visit to the Botanical Gardens. 

The first Botanical Garden in Brussels was situated in what is now part of the financial district and closed its doors in 1938 (the glasshouses eventually becoming concert venues). The important plants and botanical collections were moved to the present location in Meise, in the grounds of Bouchout Castle, just to the north of Brussels. Meise is about 4km from Atomium and the Heysel underground train stop, so it was just a short taxi ride (which almost ended up with us going back to the old botanic garden site) to the garden.

With the continental weather a little colder than at home, autumn was much further on than in our garden, however there was still plenty to see.

First off and we headed to the large glass house, grandly named the Plant Palace, which is a series of 13 interconnected glasshouses. The palace is currently undergoing some restoration so the main entrance was closed and we had to walk round to the back.

On entering, the first section was a Mediterranean themed area. Many of the plants in this glasshouse were in pots awaiting this section's turn for building work to create the new beds. The pots were so tightly placed together they didn't detract from the overall look.

Sonchus canariensis

The next section was much more tropical, with an emphasis on bananas, aroids and other exotic species. They had a huge Titan arum, (with Mark for scale), that really was a stunning example, probably better than the plants Kew usually have on display each year.

Mark and the Titan arum (Amorphophallus titanum)

Carica papaya in fruit

Cryptanthe - Starfish plant

Cocos nucifera, complete with coconuts

The Victoria house is home to a large pond which usually contains a Victoria water lilly (Victoria amazonica), which sadly was not there. These are grown annually at Kew, so it may be that the Belgium Botanic Gardens adopt the same approach. However the Victoria house was still packed with interesting plants, including a Mauritia flexuosa palm with its pot submerged into the water.

View across the pool in the Victoria House 

Mauritia flexuosa

Cyperus prolifer

The unusual prickly stems of Cyrtosperma johnstonii.

From the Victoria House we moved into the first of two arid sections, this had a mix of agaves, cycads as well as a few more leafy plants.

Ficus abutilifolia

Hechtia marnier-lapostollei

From the arid house we entered the main glasshouse at the front of the Plant Palace, this was palm heaven, although with so many large specimens in pots it was difficult to admire individual plants. To the right hand side builders were busy preparing what will be a renewed section. This gave a tempting glimpse of what the Plant Palace will look like in a few months time when the main sections have been finished.

Works being undertaken in one of the front glasshouses.

Through the next three glasshouses large specimens in pots were all waiting their turn at being planted. This led us back into the Mediterranean zone and the end of the first half of the Plant Palace.

Medinillia magnifica

Double flowered white Brugmansia

Heading back to the Victoria House this time we left via a different exit and into a second (and much more stunning), arid house. The newly renovated display area really set the plants off to their best. Although someone obviously felt one of the cacti could be enhanced!

Nolina stricta

Stapelia variegata var. Planifora

An enhanced cactus!

Leaving the arid glasshouse we entered a temperate house, with huge Trachycarpus fortuneii, camelias, and rhododendrons giving the feel of the Himalayan foothills. A particularly large Trachycarpus martianus caught our attention.

Trachycarpus martianus in the center.

Mark is always drawn to fishponds!

The final section was an evolution house, and I was expecting to be disappointed. These educational displays are normally home to the same stereotypical selection of real and plastic plants, organised in the same way with a lack of gardening 'design'. However the Evolution House in the Plant Palace is fabulous, well laid out, interesting features, and quality plants, we really enjoyed this house.

The Plant Palace was a great start to the gardens, and we probably spent over half of the time of our visit in the glasshouses. I will post a follow up from the grounds in the next few days.

Gaz
National Botanic Garden of Belgium

Posted in: Belgium , Garden visit
Location: Meise, Belgium