Large cities often have a botanical garden, either in the center or in the surrounding area. Madrid was not going to be less. The Botanical Garden of Alcalá de Henares is a point of great interest for professionals in this world and also for lovers of plants and nature.
In this article we will explain what is this park and what does it contain. In addition, we will give some practical information related to the prices and opening hours of the Botanical Garden of Alcalá de Henares, in case someone wants to visit this beautiful place.
What is the Botanical Garden of Alcalá de Henares?
Known as the Royal Juan Carlos I Botanical Garden, or Botanical Garden of Alcalá de Henares, this park located on the Campus of the University of Alcalá is an institution that was created in 1990. Today it has a land of more than 20 hectares. It should be noted that is a member of the Ibero-Macaronesian Association of Botanical Gardens and also of the BGCI (International Association of Botanical Gardens for Conservation).
In addition to containing ornamental and scientific collections related to flora, this botanical garden also turns out to be an ideal educational and experimental resource for teachers and students of the University of Alcalá. Of course, other universities, schools and people in general can also visit you. It should be noted that the creation of an environment so alive and full of plants favored the confident and spontaneous establishment of various animal populations, such as rabbits, hares, quails, foxes, partridges and country birds.
Regarding the organization of the Botanical Garden of Alcalá de Henares, we can find a various groupings:
- World flora: taxonomic garden
- Iberian flora: Iberian arboretum
- Regional Flora: Organic Agriculture, Wetlands, Plant Communities and Systematic Schools
- Special collections: Cicadas, exotic trees, conifers, rose garden, “orchidearium” and cacti
We will discuss this in more detail below.
world flora
First, we have the global flora group, which would be the taxonomic garden. There are around 3,000 specimens of some 1,500 different species from around the world. In order to have specimens from elsewhere, each year seeds are exchanged with more than 200 gardens spread over the continents. It is one of the main collections of the Botanical Garden of Alcalá de Henares. Among the most notable vegetables are the following:
- deciduous magnolias
- Gleditsia African
- fragrant bushes
- climbers
- hardwood
Iberian flora
Let’s continue with the Iberian arboretum, or Iberian flora. In this enclosure one can appreciate how tree vegetation develops in the Iberian Peninsula, since each of the tree species present on this territory is present in this collection. In addition, the most representative bushes of this peninsula have been incorporated. Here are some examples of species that can be found in this enclosure:
- Andalusian fir trees
- willows
- elms
- Spanish quercíneas (cork oaks, oaks, Welsh oaks, kermes oaks and holm oaks)
- Mediterranean scrub (heather, thyme, cistus, cornicabras, papilionaceae, etc.)
regional flora
The largest enclosure of this park is that of the regional flora. You will find different spaces specialized in various subjects:
- Systematic school: It provides information on the diversity of the regional flora.
- Natural communities: It shows the plant communities or groupings that eventually form the landscape.
- Ecological garden: Exposes the different traditional cultures of this region.
- Wetland: This is a small lagoon that helps regulate the microclimate of the area and serves as a resource for the park’s wildlife.
special collections
Finally, we still have to talk about the special collections area. There are a total of sixand are the following:
- Cycads: The Tunnel des Cigales contains very primitive conifers. They are authentic living fossils which were very abundant in the time of the dinosaurs, but today they are very rare. They keep them inside a tunnel, as they are very sensitive to drying out and freezing, as they are subtropical plants.
- conifer arboretum: This collection contains approximately 500 specimens of 226 different species and subspecies. Redwoods are the oldest trees in this area and were planted in 1990.
- Exotic Arboretum: In this area there are trees that are not native to Spain, but can be successfully acclimatized. Here is a great diversity, both trees and shrubs. Among the most unique species are, for example, the American oaks and the paper mulberry.
- Rose garden “Ange Esteban”: Ángel Esteban González is a Spanish Rosalist philanthropist who donated his collection to the Botanical Garden of Alcalá de Henares. This includes various tea hybrids, old roses, award-winning roses in various international competitions, miniature roses and climbing roses. A total of 285 exclusive varieties can be found here.
- orchidarium (minitropicarium): It is a research greenhouse on loan from the Complutense University. Currently, cacti, orchids and tropical plants can be found in this space.
- Cacti and succulents: Finally, there is the collection of cacti and succulents, one of the largest in Europe. It has more than 3000 plants and presents a great diversity of genera and species.
Alcalá de Henares Botanical Garden: Opening hours and prices
If you plan to visit the Botanical Garden of Alcalá de Henares, You have to consider opening hours and entrance prices. We will provide you with all this information, starting with the schedule:
- From Monday to Friday: From 10:00 a.m. to 1:00 p.m.
- Saturday, Sunday and public holidays: From 10:00 a.m. to 5:00 p.m.
Keep in mind that the park It is closed during the month of August as well as the public holidays of December 24, 25 and 26 and January 1 and 6. Now let’s see the prices that exist:
- General admission: 4 €
- Reduced ticket: 2 € (valid for pensioners, people over 65, student card, large families, groups of at least 10 people, members of Bonsai Circle and ACUA, legally unemployed people)
- Theme of the month: €6 (€3 for regular members)
- Individual annual subscription: 20 €
- Annual family subscription: €35 (maximum four companions)
- Annual collective subscription: 50 € (maximum nine companions)
We can also access the park for free every Friday until 12:00 p.m. In addition, minors and people with disabilities always enter for free. Students and staff assigned to the University of Alcalá and associated entities CRUSA, ALCALINGUA and FGUA also do not have to pay admission.
I hope you are encouraged to spend a day in this beautiful park. The Botanical Garden of Alcalá de Henares is a wonderful and ideal place for all lovers of botany and nature in general.