Botanical Garden Klein Flottbek

Why do some plants disappear while others suddenly conquer entire habitats? This tour shows how biodiversity changes in heathland, moor, meadow, and forest. The focus is on invasive species, natural succession, and the effects of climate change. Vivid examples illustrate how dynamic and yet sensitive our plant world is – and what this means for the future of biodiversity.Drought, cold, nutrient deficiency, or flooding – plants have developed amazing strategies to survive even under extreme conditions. The tour showcases fascinating adaptations from a wide variety of habitats: from desert succulents and carnivorous bog plants to resilient alpine and aquatic plants. Ecological connections and special survival strategies are clearly explained.

Poisonous plants are simultaneously dangerous, fascinating, and medically significant. This tour provides insight into their active ingredients, effects, and their role in the past and present. The focus is on well-known and lesser-known poisonous plants, as well as their fine line between remedy and deadly poison. It also shows how important medicines have been developed from some of these plants and the significance of botanical gardens for their research.

In 2026, the Botanical Garden of the University of Hamburg will offer a complete cycle on the topic of "Distilling Oils" for the first time. In the individual practical workshops, the most important aspects of distillation will be learned and put into practice directly, so that all participants can create their own oil or hydrolat and take it home with them.