Introduction

A botanic garden is a collection of living plants that is scientifically managed for the purposes of education, research, conservation and community service. The Manie van der Schijff Botanical Garden currently has about 3 000 plant species that cover approximately 3.5 hectares of the University's West campus.

The primary aim of the garden is to raise awareness of southern Africa's indigenous flora through the dissemination and acquisition of botanical knowledge. This includes the provision of plant material for education and research purposes, the collection and propagation of rare and endangered species, as well as research into indigenous plant species with horticultural potential. The dissemination of this knowledge to the broader community is also considered to be very important and the Garden Route was developed to help meet this need.

The first recorded botanical garden was created around the time of the Red Emperor, Shen Nung, who died in 2697 B.C. The plants in his garden were used for testing herbal medicine. Many of the plants in the Manie van der Schijff Botanical Garden also have medicinal value and are often collected and tested by members of the Botany Department.

Additional Information

•  For more information on the medicinal uses of the plants in the garden please see the Species List.

•  Information about trees can be found at the Dendrological Society of South Africa.

•  It also has a list of the trees of the year and information about tree name tags.

•  Information about cycads can be found at the Cycad Society of Southern Africa.

•  A list of protected tree species, under the national forests act, can be found at the Department of Water Affairs and Forestry.

•  Gedenkuitgawe: Manie van der Schijff Botaniese Tuin - Uit Ons Tuin, 1986.