The “Alexandru Borza” Botanical Garden in Cluj is a very appreciated place of recreation and a valuable research resource for students and researchers, having connections with 450 similar institutions in 80 countries.
Occupying 14 hectares of abrupt and hilly land in the south of the city, it is the largest green area of Cluj-Napoca, displaying a large variety of flora specific to every season.
Founded in 1920, by professor Alexandru Borza, the Garden belongs at present to the “Babes-Bolyai” University. The Garden hosts the Botanical Institute, the Botanical Museum, a Herbarium, with over 650.000 exhibits, 3 hothouses, a Roman and a Japanese Garden.
The three hothouses may be visited between 10 am to 5 pm (in winter). One of the main attractions is the Amazonian Lotus in the aquatic plants hothouse - a lotus with gigantic leaves that may reach 1,5 m in diameter and beautiful white flowers lasting for only 24 hours, turning pink as they die. The palm trees hothouse hosts 80 species of palm trees, while the other hothouses have Australian and Mediterranean plants.

The variegated relief is favorable to arrangements of plants from different parts of the world, as the Himalayas, the Caucasus and the Balkans, as well as from Romania, grouped in regions. Many plants were integrated in a beautiful Japanese Garden. Opposite the alley, there is a Roman Garden dominated by the statue of goddess Ceres, with plants and elements of Roman archaeology discovered in the town aiming to restore its original look.
There is a tradition for the newly wedded couples to make photos in the Garden, as well as for groups on different occasions, which is not approved by the leadership of the institution.
In a town where the green areas tend to become more and more scarce, the Garden is an oasis of quietness, relaxation and an interesting place to explore.