Sichtungsgarten Weihenstephan

Freising, Germany, Germany

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Sichtungsgarten Weihenstephan is a botanical trial and teaching garden located in Weihenstephan, Freising, Bavaria, Germany, founded in 1947 by horticulturist Richard Hansen based on Karl Foerster’s 1920s vision for specialized plant testing grounds.

The garden covers over 5 hectares (some sources cite up to 7 hectares) and serves as the Lehr- und Versuchsgarten (teaching and experimental garden) for Hochschule Weihenstephan-Triesdorf, where students and researchers study plant identification, ecological relationships, and landscape design.

Its primary purpose is to systematically test herbaceous perennials (Stauden) and woody plants (Gehölze) for their practical usability, aesthetic value, and suitability for urban spaces, organizing plants by family sections for systematic study. The garden features diverse perennial and woody plant collections, new rose varieties, and thematic plantings that emphasize ecologically balanced and aesthetically appealing combinations.

It is open to the public free of charge from April 1 to October 31, daily between 9:00 AM and 6:00 AM (including weekends and holidays), and offers guided tours focusing on plant cultivation methods. Located at Am Staudengarten 9 in Freising, the garden implements the gardenesque principle, allowing individual plants to display their natural characteristics while testing their performance.