Gothenburg Botanical Garden

What Gothenburg Botanical Garden does

G\u00f6teborgs botaniska tr\u00e4dg\u00e5rd (Botaniska) is a publicly funded botanical garden established in 1923 in Gothenburg, Sweden, operated since 1999 by V\u00e4stra G\u00f6talandsregionen under the Environment and Regional Development Committee. It functions simultaneously as a scientific research infrastructure, a public visitor destination, and a cultural venue, hosting a living collection of 20,000 unique plant species from more than 130 countries across a 75-hectare site comprising a 20-hectare cultivated garden and a 55-hectare arboretum within the \u00c4ngg\u00e5rdsbergen nature reserve. More than 600,000 visitors pass through annually, making it one of the largest visitor destinations in V\u00e4stra G\u00f6taland and one of Europe's largest botanical gardens.

Core offerings include the Botaniska mobile app with AR-enabled tree walks, the Garden Explorer online plant species database, a wild-plant seed bank, guided tours (1,300-3,700 kr), curriculum-aligned educational programming for schools, an in-house publishing house, a retail shop, and a third-party operated restaurant (Botaniska Paviljongen). The garden hosts GGBC (G\u00f6teborgs centrum f\u00f6r globala biodiversitetsstudier) in partnership with the University of Gothenburg, runs a Nordic honeybee conservation program with Nordens Ark, and has launched a Centre for Nature Restoration (2026) serving regional ecological restoration needs. A new 6,600 sqm greenhouse complex designed by Cobe architecture and built by Peab, featuring 12 climate zones across 13 sections, is under construction with public opening planned for 2030.

Revenue is generated through a hybrid model: public appropriations from V\u00e4stra G\u00f6talandsregionen cover the majority of operating costs, supplemented by a voluntary 30 kr entrance fee, paid guided tour bookings, school program fees, retail and plant sales, third-party hospitality income, and tax-exempt donations via Swish, bankgiro, bequests, and bench-dedication gifts. Membership is organized through F\u00f6reningen Botaniskas V\u00e4nner. Distribution operates through the physical garden (open 365 days, 24 hours), a digital ecosystem spanning mobile app, podcast, and trilingual website, and dedicated B2B channels for school outreach across V\u00e4stra G\u00f6taland and group tour operators.

Name

Gothenburg Botanical Garden

Legal name

Göteborgs botaniska trädgård

Website

https://botaniska.se

Company type

Private

Founded year

1923

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

11–50 employees

Short description

Gothenburg Botanical Garden (Botaniska) is a publicly funded Swedish botanical garden operating since 1923 under Västra Götalandsregionen, maintaining 20,000 plant species across 75 hectares, serving 600,000+ annual visitors, and combining scientific research, conservation, education, and public programming.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Botanical Garden and Cultural Heritage Institution

NAICS

Zoos and Botanical Gardens (71213), Nature Parks and Other Similar Institutions (71219), Nursery and Floriculture Production (11142)

SIC

Retail-Building Materials, Hardware, Garden Supply (5200)

akta.pro primary industry

Zoos, Aquariums & Botanical Gardens (Educational Collections) (THAJADAL)

akta.pro secondary industries

Parks, Gardens & Botanical Attractions (THAJACAH), Garden Bed Installation & Planting (Annuals, Perennials, Shrubs) (HSAIAFAB)

Keywords

• Botanical garden services
• Plant conservation research
• Environmental education programs
• Nature restoration services
• Cultural heritage institution

Headquarters

HQ city

Gothenburg

HQ country

Sweden

HQ region

Europe

Offices1 record

Markets served

GTM type

B2C

Offering type

Services

Cost components

Personnel, Infrastructure, Operations, Marketing or Sales, Technology or R&D

Revenue model

1. Government Funding (Västra Götalandsregionen): The primary revenue stream is public funding from Västra Götalandsregionen, which provides approximately half of the garden's financing. The garden receives its mandate from the Environment and Regional Development Committee (miljö- och regionutvecklingsnämnden) which oversees business development, research, innovation, education, and environmental/climate issues.
2. Entrance Fees and Donations: A voluntary entrance fee of 30 kr per visitor generates significant revenue when paid. Bus groups and travel agents pay 30 kr per person. Donations are accepted via Swish (123 400 48 34) and bank transfers to the gift fund (bankgiro 5519-4997). The gift fund is tax-exempt as contributions support development, education, research, and activities benefiting children.
3. Retail and Hospitality: The visitor center includes a shop selling botanical and horticultural products. A restaurant/café (Botaniska Paviljongen) is operated by a third party in the garden. The garden also earns revenue from perennial sales at the visitor center and exclusive bulb sales.
4. Guided Tours and Educational Programs: Revenue from guided tours: 90-minute garden tours at 3700 kr, 20-minute introductions at 1300 kr (plus VAT). School programs and educational sessions generate supplementary income. Special tours are priced at 3700 kr/hour.
5. Membership and Sponsorships: Föreningen Botaniskas Vänner (Friends of Botaniska) is a membership organization supporting the garden. Bequests and testamentary donations are accepted. Bench donations with commemorative plaques provide additional funding.

Pricing tiers

Go-to-market motion1 record

Distribution channels5 records

Marketing channels8 records

Core offering

Göteborgs botaniska trädgård (Gothenburg Botanical Garden) operates a 75-hectare public botanical garden containing 20,000 unique plant species from more than 130 countries, welcoming 600,000+ visitors annually. The institution functions simultaneously as a living plant museum, scientific research infrastructure, and cultural venue, offering guided tours, educational programs for schools, conservation services including a seed bank for wild plants, and a visitor center with retail shop and restaurant.

Product overview

Gothenburg Botanical Garden operates as a single unified physical visitor destination rather than a modular software product. The core offering is the 75-hectare botanical garden (20 hectares cultivated, 55 hectares arboretum) containing 20,000 plant species from 130+ countries. Associated products and services include: the Botaniska Mobile App (with AR walking tours), Garden Explorer (plant species database), Botaniska trädgårdspodden (podcast), educational programs for schools, guided tours, a visitor center with shop and restaurant, seed bank for wild plants, Botaniska's Friends membership, and an in-house publishing house. A major ongoing development is the new greenhouse construction project (6,600 sqm, 12 climate zones) scheduled to open 2030.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Products and services

• School Programs and Educational Activities Bookable educational programs for schools and preschools in Västra Götaland, including teacher training, vacation activities, lesson materials, and outreach that transports children to the garden to learn about plants, biodiversity, and pollinators. Curriculum-aligned with Swedish grundskola and förskola frameworks.
• Guided Tours Professional guided tours of the garden for groups of up to 30 people, available weekdays 08:00–18:00 with 90-minute garden tours at 3700 kr and 20-minute introductions at 1300 kr (excl. 6% VAT). Special/custom tours priced at 3700 kr/hour. Open public tours for individuals at approximately 100 kr per person. Free for Friends of Botaniska members.
• Botaniska Shop Retail store located in the visitor center offering botanical and horticultural products, plants, gifts, seasonal items, and exclusive bulb sales. Also handles perennial sales and provides invoicing for travel agent tour groups.
• Botaniska Publisher (Förlaget) The garden's own publishing house producing books covering botanical and cultural topics, available through the visitor center and Botaniska Shop.
• Botaniska's Friends Membership (Föreningen Botaniskas Vänner) Membership program (Föreningen Botaniskas Vänner) supporting the garden's operations. Members receive free access to Botaniska-led tours and other benefits. Gift memberships, donations, bench donations with commemorative plaques, and testamentary bequests are accepted through the Friends Association.
• Seed Bank for Wild Plants (Fröbank för vilda växter) Sweden's first seed bank dedicated to wild plant species, supporting long-term ex-situ conservation and providing seed material for research, nature restoration, and global Index Seminum seed exchange programs with botanical gardens worldwide.
• Centre for Nature Restoration (Centrum för naturrestaurering) Regional knowledge hub for nature restoration in Västra Götaland, established in 2026, providing native seed production, restoration methods consulting, and infrastructure supporting compliance with the EU Nature Restoration Regulation. Targets nature restoration companies, municipalities, and public authorities.
• Plant Advisory Service (Växtrådgivning) Public-facing plant advisory service answering questions from visitors and the general public about plant care, gardening, and cultivation.

Quantifiable outcome

• 20,000 unique plant species conserved from 130+ countries in living collections
• +3 more outcomes

Named customers2 records

Segments4 records

Ideal customer profiles4 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Feature4 records

Partnerships

14 partnerships are on record, tiered minor and core.

• EXPBIO Project PartnersminorStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 January 2025Botaniska participates in the EXPBIO project (grassland restoration) with partners across Nordic countries. A project partner meeting was held in Hjørring, Denmark in 2025. Webinar series on meadow restoration offered to interested parties.
• Nordiskt nätverk för botaniska trädgårdar (Nordic Network for Botanical Gardens)minorOthers · 1 January 2025A new cooperation organization for botanical gardens in the Nordic region was established to strengthen the critical role that botanical gardens play in plant biodiversity conservation.
• Kew Royal Botanic GardensminorStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 January 2025Alexandre Antonelli, former scientific curator at Botaniska, is now Director of Science at Kew. A documentary 'Thinking in Tree Time' was produced by Kew featuring Botaniska's Henrik Sjöman, illustrating ongoing collaboration between the two institutions.
• Nordens ArkcoreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 January 2022Nordens Ark collaborates with Botaniska on the Nordic honeybee conservation program. The garden maintains hives with Nordic bees (inhemskt honungsbi) and shares knowledge gained with Nordens Ark, which leads the conservation effort for this endangered native subspecies.
• Cobe (Architecture Firm)coreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 January 2021Cobe is the architecture firm that designed the new greenhouse complex. The design (illustrations shown on the website) features 13 greenhouse sections with 12 climate zones and a visitor center. The project is the largest in the garden's 100+ year history.
• Göteborgs universitet (University of Gothenburg)coreStrategic or Co-development PartnerThe garden functions as an excursion and research garden for Gothenburg University. Strong research collaboration with the Department of Biology and Environmental Sciences. Joint programs include GGBC (Göteborgs centrum för globala biodiversitetsstudier) and shared professorship appointments. Alexandre Antonelli holds dual roles at both institutions.
• Västra Götalandsregionen (VGR)coreOthersVästra Götalandsregionen has been the garden's main authority since 1999. The garden receives its mandate from the Environment and Regional Development Committee. VGR's real estate management division (Västra Götalandsregionens fastighetsförvaltning) is leading the new greenhouse construction project. Previously the garden belonged to the City of Gothenburg.
• Peab Sverige ABcoreImplementation/ SI/ Consulting PartnerPeab Sverige AB is the general contractor (totalentreprenör) for the new greenhouse construction project. The project involves building 6,600 sqm of new facilities including 2,800 sqm of greenhouse space.
• International Botanical Garden Network (BGCI)coreOthersBotaniska participates in global botanical garden networks including the Index Seminum seed exchange program and BGCI. Seeds are exchanged with botanical gardens worldwide in scientific, educational, and conservation contexts. Plants are always collected with proper permits.
• VästkuststiftelsenminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerVästkuststiftelsen is responsible for the management of the Änggårdsbergen nature reserve where Botaniska's arboretum is located. Botaniska is responsible for the maintenance of its own tree collection within the reserve.
• GGBC - Göteborgs centrum för globala biodiversitetsstudiercoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerGGBC brings together researchers and the public for increased understanding and appreciation of the nature around us. Hosted at Botaniska. Led by Jenny Klingberg as Director of GGBC and Head of Environment Research Communication at Botaniska.
• TETTRIs Consortium (Transforming European Taxonomy)minorStrategic or Co-development PartnerBotaniska is a partner in the TETTRIs EU project, funded through Horizon Europe CL6 Call. The project aims at transforming European taxonomy through training, research and innovations.
• Botaniska Paviljongen (Restaurant)minorChannel Partner/ Reseller/ DistributorBotaniska Paviljongen is a restaurant/café operated independently in the center of the garden. They serve vegetarian-focused food and drinks. Located centrally in the garden, it serves both regular visitors and event customers (weddings, celebrations).
• Föreningen Botaniskas Vänner (Friends of Botaniska)minorOthersA membership society that supports Botaniska's operations. Members receive free access to Botaniska's own guided tours. The association also accepts gift memberships and monetary donations.

Scale indicators7 records

Recent moves8 records

Expansion highlights6 records

Market position

Competitive moat6 records

Key risks5 records

Key highlights7 records

Customer concentration

• YouTubeyoutube.com/channel/UCKhzegxr2u-amqy5fJq_GKg
• Facebookfacebook.com/goteborgs.botaniska.tradgard
• Instagraminstagram.com/botaniskatradgarden
• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/botaniska-tr-dg-rden

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles6 records

Funding overview

Funding rounds

Investors

Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

M&A

Investments

M&A and investment is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

Frequently asked questions about Gothenburg Botanical Garden