Ogród Botaniczny Uniwersytetu Warszawskiego

What Ogród Botaniczny Uniwersytetu Warszawskiego does

Ogród Botaniczny Uniwersytetu Warszawskiego (University of Warsaw Botanical Garden) is a state-funded botanical garden and academic unit operating within the Faculty of Biology of the University of Warsaw. Founded in 1818 by Professor Michał Szubert, it occupies 22.5 hectares of the former Royal Gardens in the northern part of Łazienki Park in central Warsaw, including four greenhouses (Palm, Tropical, Subtropical, and Orangery) and 13 themed garden sections covering plant systematics, crop and medicinal plants, ornamental plants, and an arboretum. The institution maintains museum-quality scientific collections — a Herbarium, the Floratheca digital collection, an Index Seminum for seed exchange, and a specialized botanical library with a unique Australian flora collection — and runs teaching and research programs for university students, doctoral candidates, and researchers.

The garden generates revenue from a diversified mix of public-facing and institutional sources: admission tickets (sold online via kupbilet.pl and on-site), guided tours and educational workshops for schools and organized groups, corporate venue hire and special events (e.g., the Magic Botanic winter exhibition, harvest festivals, yoga classes), and public funding from the Ministry of Culture and National Heritage (Fundusz Promocji Kultury) and European Funds. Distribution is direct-to-consumer via physical entry, online ticketing, and email-based group bookings, supplemented by a multi-channel marketing presence (Instagram, Facebook, YouTube, Polskie Radio, newsletters). Under Director Marcin Zych (since 2019), attendance has grown from 77,000 visitors in 2021 to over 140,000 annually — the highest in 30 years — with the 2026 season under the 'Apetyczny Botaniczny' theme focused on edible plants and food culture.

The institution operates as a public, non-commercial entity rather than a venture-backed business. Its headcount exceeds 40 staff across horticulture, research, education, curation, and administration, and its operational scope is purely domestic (Warsaw/Poland). No equity, venture funding, or M&A structures are present; governance flows through the University of Warsaw's Faculty of Biology, with the parent university as the legal entity.

Name

Ogród Botaniczny Uniwersytetu Warszawskiego

Legal name

Uniwersytet Warszawski

Website

https://ogrod.uw.edu.pl

Company type

Private

Founded year

1818

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

1–10 employees

Short description

The University of Warsaw Botanical Garden is a state-funded botanical institution and academic unit of the University of Warsaw's Faculty of Biology, operating a 22.5-hectare historic garden with four greenhouses in central Warsaw. It serves general public visitors, schools, families, and academic researchers through ticketed entry, guided tours, educational workshops, and cultural events.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Botanical Gardens and Environmental Education

NAICS

Zoos and Botanical Gardens (712130), Zoos and Botanical Gardens (71213), Landscaping Services (561730)

akta.pro industry

PRIMARYTHAJACAH

Parks, Gardens & Botanical Attractions

Travel & Hospitality/Tours, Attractions & Experiences/Attractions & Landmarks (Observation Decks, Monuments, Scenic Sites)

SECONDARYEDALALAB

Groundskeeping, Landscaping & Snow/Ice Management

Education/Student Services & Campus Operations/Campus Facilities, Maintenance & Operations

SECONDARYBPABADAL

Seasonal Color, Planting & Horticultural Services

Business & Public Services/Facilities Management & Building Services/Landscaping & Grounds Maintenance

Keywords

• Botanical garden services
• Environmental education programs
• Guided nature tours
• Plant conservation research
• University science outreach

Headquarters

HQ city

Warsaw

HQ country

Poland

HQ region

Europe

Offices1 record

Markets served

GTM type

B2C

Offering type

Services

Cost components

Personnel, Operations, Infrastructure, Marketing or Sales, Others

Revenue model

1. Admission tickets: Ticket sales for garden entry and greenhouse visits. Tickets available online via kupbilet.pl and on-site at the box office. Pricing varies by visitor category (adults, children, students, seniors).
2. Educational programs and workshops: Revenue from organized group tours with guides, workshops (e.g., botanical illustration, practical botany), and educational programs for schools, kindergartens, families, and adults.
3. Guided tours: Guided park and greenhouse tours conducted by professional guides for organized groups, booked in advance via email.
4. Cultural events and special exhibitions: Revenue from special events such as the Magic Botanic winter exhibition, pikniks, and seasonal festivals.
5. Government and EU funding: Project funding from European Funds, Ministry of Culture and National Heritage (Fundusz Promocji Kultury), and other public sources supporting archival, educational, and infrastructure projects.

Pricing tiers

Go-to-market motion3 records

Distribution channels4 records

Marketing channels8 records

Core offering

The University of Warsaw Botanical Garden operates a 22.5-hectare park and four greenhouses featuring tropical, subtropical and xerophytic plant collections open to visitors for self-guided and educator-led exploration. It sells admission tickets, guided tours, hands-on educational workshops for schools, families and adults, and offers specialized programs (yoga, photography walks, corporate team-building) on its grounds. It also maintains museum-quality scientific collections (Herbarium, Index Seminum, specialized library) and provides research and teaching support to the University of Warsaw Faculty of Biology.

Product overview

Ogród Botaniczny Uniwersytetu Warszawskiego is a botanical garden and educational institution offering a unified visitor experience centered on the 22.5-hectare park and four greenhouses. The core product is park and greenhouse visiting for individual and group visitors. Supplementary offerings include guided tours with educators, educational workshops for various age groups (from preschoolers to seniors), library and scientific collections (Herbarium, Index Seminum), and special events such as yoga classes, corporate workshops, and seasonal festivals. The garden serves both public visitors and academic researchers, operating under the 'Apetyczny Botaniczny' 2026 season theme focusing on edible plants and food culture.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Products and services

• Park and Greenhouse Visiting

Quantifiable outcome

• 140,000+ annual visitors representing the highest attendance in 30 years
• +2 more outcomes

Named customers5 records

Segments4 records

Ideal customer profiles3 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Feature3 records

Partnerships

Twelve partnerships are on record, tiered minor, core and moderate.

• GMFGroupminorOthersGMFGroup is listed among supporters of the University of Warsaw Botanical Garden, appearing in the supporters section of the website alongside other commercial partners.
• VolmaryminorOthersVolmary, a plant wholesale company, is listed among supporters of the University of Warsaw Botanical Garden in the supporters section of the website.
• Świat KwiatówminorOthersŚwiat Kwiatów (World of Flowers), a flower and plant retailer, is listed among supporters of the University of Warsaw Botanical Garden.
• ClematisminorOthersClematis, a plant nursery specializing in clematis and other ornamental plants, is listed among supporters of the University of Warsaw Botanical Garden.
• IncominorOthersInco, a plant protection and horticulture company, is listed among supporters of the University of Warsaw Botanical Garden.
• Bronisze (Rolniczy Rynkowy Zespół SA)minorOthersBronisze agricultural market company is listed among supporters of the University of Warsaw Botanical Garden in the supporters section.
• Uniwersytet Warszawski (University of Warsaw) - Wydział Biologii (Faculty of Biology)coreStrategic or Co-development PartnerThe Botanical Garden is an integral part of the Faculty of Biology at the University of Warsaw. It serves the academic mission through teaching, research, and student training. The Faculty provides institutional support, academic oversight, and integration with university programs.
• Akademia Sztuk Pięknych w Warszawie (Academy of Fine Arts in Warsaw) - Wydział Wzornictwa (Design Faculty)moderateStrategic or Co-development PartnerThe Botanical Garden collaborates with the Design Faculty of the Academy of Fine Arts in Warsaw on educational and artistic projects, including student workshops and joint events.
• Muzeum Farmacji (Museum of Pharmacy in Warsaw)moderateStrategic or Co-development PartnerThe Botanical Garden collaborates with the Museum of Pharmacy in Warsaw, connecting botanical and pharmaceutical educational content.
• Polskie Radio (Polish Radio) - Program 1moderateGTM or Marketing PartnerWeekly outdoor radio broadcasts from the garden on Polish Radio Programme 1 every Sunday 12:00-13:00, combining nature content with culture, art, and science programming.
• Inteligentny Zielony Uniwersytet (IZU) - Intelligent Green University, UWmoderateStrategic or Co-development PartnerIZU is a UW initiative supporting green projects at the university. The garden participates in IZU programs, including the 'Apetyczny Botaniczny' project supported by Intelligent Green University.
• PaprykaLaba (artistic collective)minorStrategic or Co-development PartnerArtistic-educational collective collaborating on workshops and concerts such as 'Usłyszeć naturę' (Hear Nature) at the botanical garden's events.

Scale indicators7 records

Recent moves6 records

Expansion highlights6 records

Direct peers

• Munich Botanical Garden (Botanischer Garten München-Nymphenburg): State-of-the-art botanical garden in Munich associated with LMU Munich. Comparable as a German university botanical garden with greenhouses, themed sections, herbarium, and public visitation.
• Berlin Botanical Garden (Botanischer Garten Berlin): Major European botanical garden operated as part of the Freie Universität Berlin. Directly comparable as a university-affiliated botanical garden with extensive greenhouses, herbarium, and research/teaching mission in a Central European capital.
• Ogród Botaniczny UJ (Jagiellonian University Botanical Garden): Historic Polish university botanical garden in Kraków, founded in 1783. Highly comparable as a fellow Polish university-operated botanical garden with herbarium, library, greenhouse collections, and educational mission.
• Prague Botanical Garden (Botanická zahrada Praha): City-operated botanical garden in Prague with themed exhibits, greenhouses, and educational programming. Comparable as a Central European botanical garden with mixed ticketed admission, seasonal events, and school programming.

Regional players

• Wrocław University Botanical Garden: University-affiliated botanical garden in Wrocław, Poland. Comparable as a Polish university botanical garden with greenhouses, plant collections, and educational programming, though serving a different regional market.
• Powsin Botanical Garden (PAN Botanical Garden): Polish Academy of Sciences botanical garden located in Warsaw's Powsin district. Direct local competitor/peer operating in the same city with similar living collections, ticketed admission, and educational programs.

Broad incumbents

• Singapore Botanic Gardens: UNESCO World Heritage botanical garden with extensive living collections, research, and public visitation. Comparable as a globally recognized botanical garden operating a ticketed public attraction combined with scientific research and conservation mandate.
• New York Botanical Garden: Large-scale botanical garden in the Bronx operating extensive horticultural collections, herbarium, research, and educational programming. Comparable as a major botanical institution combining public visitation, scientific research, and educational programs.
• Muséum national d'Histoire naturelle - Jardin des Plantes: Paris-based national botanical garden and research institution. Closely comparable as a long-established university/state-affiliated botanical garden combining public visitation, scientific research, herbarium collections, and educational outreach.
• Royal Botanic Gardens, Kew: World-leading botanical garden and UNESCO site in London. Comparable as a publicly funded scientific botanical garden with extensive living collections, herbarium, library, and educational programs, though at a much larger scale.

Market position

Strengths5 records

Weaknesses5 records

Competitive moat6 records

Key risks6 records

Key highlights7 records

Customer concentration

• YouTubeyoutube.com/@ogrod-botaniczny-uw
• Facebookfacebook.com/OgrodBotanicznyUW
• Instagraminstagram.com/ogrodbotanicznyuw
• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/ogr%C3%B3d-botaniczny-uniwersytetu-warszawskiego

Compliance1 record

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles4 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 Ogród Botaniczny Uniwersytetu Warszawskiego