Troodos Geopark - Troodos Botanical Garden

The purpose of its creation is to protect, preserve, present and promote the botanical heritage of Cyprus

The Troodos Botanical Garden "AG. Leventis " is located within the Troodos National Forest Park at an altitude of 1400 meters above sea level. It is one of the three botanical gardens that the Department of Forests has installed in Cyprus. The other two are in Athalassa and the Baths οf Aphrodite.
Photo: Costas Kkoli

Work on the Botanical Garden started by the Department of Forests in 2004 and started operating in 2010 and is located in the protected area, Natura 2000, near the abandoned asbestos mine at the Troodos National Forest Park and near the road Karvounos - Troodos.
Photo: Marios Botrini 

The purpose of its creation is to protect, preserve, present and promote the botanical heritage of Cyprus with a greater emphasis on the flora of the Troodos region.
Photo: Antreas Constantinou

The park includes 250 plant species, but in the future this number is expected to exceed 500 species. Among them there are common, rare and endangered species of flora that are divided into thematic units: endemic plants, riparian vegetation, Arboretum and Aromatic and Traditional Garden Plants.

More specifically : 

• Department of Endemic Plants : There are endemic species of the Troodos mountain range. It is located in the central square of the garden. The visitor can explore these species by walking through the spacious corridors of this central square. Some of these endemic plants are: Cedrus brevifolia, Quercus alnifolia, Alyssum troodi, Asperula cypria, Astragalus echinus var. chionistrae, Micromeria chionistrae, Arabis purpurea, Chionodoxa lochiae, Crocuscyprius, Crocus hartmannianus, Cyclamen cyprium, Cynoglossum troodi, Euphorbia veneris, Nepeta troodi, Odontides cypria, Onosma troodi, Ornithogalum chionophilum, and Thlaspicyprium.

Photo: Antreas Constantinou

• Department of Vegetation: The riparian vegetation has been installed along an artificial stream and around two lakes that are connected to the stream. Some of the species that have been installed are Alnus orientalis, Platanus orientalis, Populus nigra var. Afghanica, Myrtus communis, Nerium oleander, Laurus nobilis, Rubus sanctus, Styrax officinalis, Vitex agnus-castus and Tamarix smyrnensis.

Photo: Antreas Constantinou

• Trees : Regarding the trees in the area, the visitor can observe a wide variety of species including the trachea and black pine (Pinus brutia and Pinus nigra subsp. Pallasiana), fir (Abies cilicica), cedrus brevifolia, Cupressus sempervirens ), invisible (Juniperus excelsa J. oxycedrus J. foetidissima), Sequoisasempervirens and Sequoiadendron giganteum.
• Department of Aromatic and Traditional Garden Plants: This section includes aromatic species used in traditional pharmaceutical, aromatic and culinary applications.

Photo: Antreas Constantinou

The botanical garden features exhibits including a garden diagram, a short documentary on the flora of the Troodos mountain range, a virtual representation of the vertical distribution of the Troodos vegetation and an electronic database of the Cypriot flora.

Additionally there is: 

• Outdoor School: The main goal is to educate the public and so at a specific point in the garden there are five large tables and a table where various outdoor educational activities can be held.
• View Point: It is located at the eastern end of the Garden from where, allowing visitors to observe the round area by telescope.

Photo: Antreas Constantinou