Tropical House

The Tropical House is the only glass house in the Botanical Garden that is open to the public all year round. Around 120 representatives of tropical rainforest plants are on display here. They represent typical elements of rainforests, including perching plants such as orchids and bromeliads, climbing plants, representatives of the first and second tree layer of the multi-storey rainforest, the shrub layer and the extremely low-light forest floor layer.

A second focus in the Tropical House is on tropical useful plants. If you take a look around, you will discover a cocoa tree, papaya, chili, ginger and many other plants that have become an integral part of our shopping lists. One special feature is the small mahogany tree – this valuable tropical wood bears its scientific name Swietenia in honour of the founder of the Botanical Garden Gerard van Swieten, Empress Maria Theresa's personal physician. Since mahogany has been harvested for centuries, there are hardly any giant trees of this species left in the American rainforests – instead, it now grows as small trees that have no economic benefit.