The Cienfuegos Botanical Gardens

Cuba, Cuba

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The Cienfuegos Botanical Gardens, located on the outskirts of the city of Cienfuegos, Cuba, cover about 97 hectares and are one of the oldest botanical gardens on the island, founded in 1901 by American sugar entrepreneur Edwin F. Atkins and his wife Katherine.

Initially connected to the Harvard Botanical Station for Tropical Research and Sugar Cane Investigation, the garden became a tropical laboratory where plants from around the world, including rare and exotic species, were cultivated. Today, the garden houses over 2,000 catalogued species from more than 670 genera and 125 botanical families, with notable collections of orchids, palms, ficuses, and bamboos.

It serves as an important center for plant conservation, education, and tourism, offering visitors a rich experience of tropical and subtropical plant diversity along with opportunities for birdwatching and exploring well-maintained natural landscapes.