Bergartens

Bergartens is a German term that can refer to mountain gardens or rock gardens, and in horticultural usage it denotes a garden designed to reproduce alpine or hillside conditions. The concept can describe a general style within large gardens or be the proper name of specific sites, such as the Berggarten at Herrenhausen in Hanover, Germany, which is part of the Herrenhausen Gardens.

A berggarten emphasizes well-drained, mineral-rich soils and the use of rocky substrates, slopes, or terracing to create microhabitats that suit alpine and sun-loving plants. Typical plant groups include alpines such as Saxifraga and Gentiana, small evergreen shrubs, grasses, sedums, and sempervivums, as well as dwarf conifers. In larger botanical settings, berggärten may combine outdoor rock garden displays with dedicated warm or tropical glasshouses to illustrate the full range of alpine and continental flora.

Design principles focus on drainage, sun exposure, and layering. Stone walls, gravel paths, and exposed bedrock are common features that enhance drought resistance and thermal variation, aiding winter protection for hardy species. Maintenance centers on keeping soils well-drained, managing irrigation, and providing seasonal pruning to maintain compact, slow-growing forms.

Historical context places the rock garden impulse in 19th-century Europe, with Berggärten gradually appearing in German-speaking gardens as a distinct display area. Today, berggärten remain popular in public botanical gardens and private landscapes for their botanical interest and ornamental appeal, serving educational and aesthetic purposes.

Related topics include rock gardens, alpine gardens, and general botanical garden design.