Collection Conservatories

The collection conservatories of Flora Olomouc Exhibition Grounds, with their size and extensive collections, are among the largest to be found in the Czech Republic. Situated in the Smetana Gardens, they consist of four conservatories (palm, cactus, tropical, and subtropical) and two auxiliary greenhouses. Throughout the year an abundance of exotic flora blossom and bear fruit and in the company of birds and fish represent the far-away tropics. Individual displays are created to showcase a variety of environmental climates. The conservatories are open daily, with the exception of Mondays; opening hours are from 9.30 - 4.00 and 9.30 – 16.00 in November (on weekends only). Most specimens are labeled for easy identification.

The Palm Conservatory, built in 1927-1930, is one of the largest of its kind in the country. It is 72.5 meters long, 20 meters wide, and 12 meters high (raised from an original 9 meters in 1956). In 1996-1998 a second reconstruction occurred (underground heating, frame renewal, reconstruction of entrance including repairs to sculptures by Olomouc artist Julius Pelikan, modernization of gutters).

More than 200 palms of numerous species are to be found in the 1500 m2 area. Many of the palms were transferred here from an orangery built in 1866 (relocated from nearby Velka Bystrica ) and from the conservatories of Moravian castles; some of the palms are over 100 years old.

The most massive palms, attracting attention with their majestic domes of fronds, are date palms (Phoenix canariensis), cultivated in the subtropics as decorative trees. Together with slender East Asian palms (Trachyacarpus fortunei) and their crests of fan-shaped fronds, the two species create an impressive focal point in the center of the conservatory.

Behind them grow two other interesting palm species: Australian fan palm (Livistona australis), with its trunk covered by shaggy remains of leaf stalks, and Betel palm (Areca catechu) with its green, bare, and ringed trunk. Low, thorny, bush palms growing in dense bunches are Chamerops humilis and Ch. Excelsa. A clustered palm with a thin, bamboo-like stem is Mexican Chamaedorea elegans. Robust and striking Latania verschafelti are originally from the Mascarene Islands. Similar species are Washingtonia filifera and W. robusta, the palmate leaves of which sport a thread-like fringe. Howea belmoreana is a thin palm from the Pacific with elegantly draping pinnate leaves on long fronds, and has a slender trunk covered with the remains of former leaves. Licuala grandis is from Cuba.

Massive banana trees (Musa paradisiacal) have two-meter long leaves growing to the top of the conservatory. When a huge flower head bursts through the hollow stem and bunches of bananas ripen, the plant dies. However, new growth shoots have already sprouted from the plant’s rhizome. A dwarf variety of banana, Musa nana, a widely grown specie in Southeastern Asia, produces far tastier fruits.

Related to banana trees are South African Bird of Paradise (Strelitzia reginae) which send out a striking white and blue beak-shaped blossom by the end of the winter, and S. nicolai, with robust growth and inconspicuous blossoms.

Evergreen trees with a highly symmetrical form and branches horizontal to the main stem are Norfolk Island pines (Araucaria heterophylla, A. excelsa). The Bunya Pine, Araucaria bidwilli, with flat, scale-like leaves, and a dome-shaped crown, comes from Northeast Australia. Also present is Pedocarpus, noted for its 0.5 cm wide needles.

The fern collection, composed of more than 30 species from around the world, is dominated by the Australian Tree Fern, Alsophila cooperi, with its umbrella-like leaves reaching up to 1.5 meters in length. Growing on the palm trees is Bird’s Nest Fern, Asplenium nidus, found from eastern Africa to Polynesia. The visitor can also find Mother Fern, A. viviparum, and species of begonia, peperomia, and pillea. The renowned Australain Eucalyptus is represented by several species. From Australia we also find interesting flowering shrubs; Bottlebrushes, Callistemon, have large, cylindrical, brush-like flower spikes.

Lianas are also well represented; the most striking varieties have a deluge of pink or purple flowers and belong to the Bougainvillea family. Another, noted for its wonderful scent, is Indian Stephanotis floribunds, known as waxflower or Madagascar jasmine, and has creamy white blooms. The most massive liana, Tetrastigua voinierianum, from the Vietnamese jungle in Tonkin Bay, forms an arbor opposite the entrance to the conservatory. Many other climbing specimens are present: Philodendrum silloum, Monstera deliciosa with large cribriform leaves and white quivers of blooms, Passion Flower (Passiflora ), and asparagus. The largest asparagus, Asparagus falcatus, uses thorns to rest its long, delicate branches on the surrounding vegetation.

Commercial plants are represented by the coffee tree (Coffea arabica), papaya (Carica papaya); the gently scented blossoms of the citrus family are replaced in time by ripening fruit. Present are lemon (Citrus limon), orange (Citrus aurantium and amara), and tangerine (Citrus reticulata). Also to be found are avocado (Persea americana), guava (Psidium quajava, P. catleynaum), tea (Cammelia sinensis, Thea sinensis) and tamarillo (Cyphomandra betacea). Ginger root comes from the rhizomes of Zingiber officinale, and a component of curry spice is the ground seeds of the related Amomum cardamom.

The illusion of standing in the dark green light of the tropics is completed by the fantastically colored blooms of orchids. In summer we can take in the wonderful scent of Stanhopea, grown here in hanging baskets; these orchids are originally from Central America where they grow in treetops, with their blossoms cascading downward from a tangle of roots. In winter and at the onset of spring the visitor can see Cymbidium, originally from the Himalayan foothills, in bloom. In summer the verdant background is decorated with the rich yellow flower clusters of Oncidium sphacelatum.

An aviary with exotic birds and an exhibit of freshwater aquariums pleasantly enhance the tropical environment.

A conservatory with cacti and succulents is connected to the palm conservatory. This conservatory was built in conjunction with the tropical conservatory in the 1960’s. Both measure 30 meters in length, are 6 meters wide and 4.5 meters high. The plants, 3000 specimens representing more than 700 species, were transferred from earlier, smaller greenhouses. Cacti make up the largest collection; unmatched in the entire country, it is composed of 600 types and species, many of which are remarkable for their size and age.
Open since March 14, 2000.

Visiting Hours
March 1 to October 31 9.30 – 18.00
November 9.30 – 16.00 (on weekends only)

Admission fees
Children under 6 free
Discount - children (6 - 15 years), students, military, senior citizens 15,- Kč
Adults 20,- Kč
6 months pass 150,- Kč