Jardin des plantes de Nantes

Camellia Japonica "Marguerite Gouillon"

Garden Overview

The Jardin des Plantes (Nantes Botanical Garden), located close to the historic centre of Nantes and the recently upgraded promenade along the embankments of the Loire, is a centrepiece in Nantes strategy as a “city within a garden”.
Three centuries of botanical adventures, aided as much by sailors as by green-fingered and wise gardeners, have made the gardens what they are today. The first garden was created by Louis XIV in 17th century. In 18th century, Louis XV made it the place for imported plants and demanded that all ship captains brought back to Nantes seeds and plants from their travels overseas. However, the garden we know today was designed from 1823 by Antoine Noisette and then from 1836 restyled and landscaped by Jean-Marie Ecorchard. The garden was opened to the public in 1865, remaining a place for botanical research.

The Jardin des Plantes hosts over 10,000 plants taxa which places it among the top 5 national collections. Some of these have been cultivated on-site in one of the ornate elegant 19th century greenhouses.

With 7 hectares of green space, 800 sqm of greenhouses and more than 50,000 flowers planted each season, it is also holder of the Remarkable Garden label and among the four leading botanical gardens in France.

It is a reference for the culture of epiphytic plants in a semi-natural setting, for its permanent concern for the re-introduction of rare species and especially for its camellia collection. Camellias frame almost the entire garden along its outer walk. It was recognized International Camellia Garden of Excellence in 2016 by The International Camellia Society.

Camellia Japonica "Ville de Nantes", a fimbriated sport of the «Masayoshi»

Our Camellias

Since the beginning of the 19th century, Nantes is committed to the cultivation and creation of various varieties of Camellia.
Ferdinand Favre (1779-1867), ship-owner, trader and mayor of Nantes, acclimatized the Camellia in open air for the first time in Europe.

Jean-Marie Ecorchard, botanist and director of Jardin des Plantes de Nantes (1809-1882) exhibited the first outdoor collection of Camellia; such collection still visible in the botanical garden.

During the last two centuries, the City of Nantes has continuously developed its Camellia collections in the Jardin des Plantes, as well as in other parks and gardens of the city: Procé Park, Gaudinière Park, the landscape cimetery Park and the Grand Blottereau plants nursery. The entire Camellia collection in Nantes currently contains over 1.000 taxa.