Succulent Greenhouse inside Jardin des Plantes (Paris, France)

Succulent lovers visiting Paris, are you looking for a place to find those plants within the city? Look no further than the famous and gorgeous Jardin des Plantes.

Quick Facts

• Location: Part of Tropical Rainforest Greenhouse, 57 Rue Cuvier, 75005 Paris, France (Map)
• Hours: 10 AM - 5:15 PM
• Cost: €7
• Kid Friendly: Yes
• Dog Allowed: Not sure
• Accessibility: Wheelchair accessible parking lot and entrance

History of Jardin des Plantes

Jardin des Plantes is a botanical garden located in Paris, France. It was first established in 1626 as a medicinal herb garden by Louis XIII's doctor, Guy de La Brosse. The garden was initially called the "Jardin du Roi" or "King's Garden" and was intended to provide medicinal plants for the royal court.

In the 18th century, the garden was expanded and restructured under the direction of the famous botanist Georges-Louis Leclerc, Comte de Buffon. Buffon oversaw the addition of new plant collections, including exotic plants from around the world, as well as the creation of several new garden areas, such as the Alpine Garden and the Maze.

During the French Revolution, the garden was briefly renamed the "Jardin des Plantes de la République," and it became a center for scientific research and study. The garden played an important role in the development of the natural sciences in France, and many famous scientists and researchers worked there, including Georges Cuvier, the father of paleontology.

Today, the Jardin des Plantes is a popular attraction in Paris, with over 4 million visitors per year. It houses several museums and galleries, including the Grande Galerie de l'Évolution, the Musée National d'Histoire Naturelle, and the Musée de Minéralogie. The garden also includes several greenhouses and outdoor gardens, showcasing a wide variety of plants from around the world.

Cacti inside the green house at Jardin des Plantes

Plant Varieties in Jardin des Plantes

Succulents can be found in two locations within the Jardin des Plantes.

The first is inside the greenhouse, which houses a diverse collection of succulent plants from around the world (mostly from South Africa and Mexico), including:

• Cacti: Opuntia, Echinocactus, and Mammillaria
• Agaves: Agave americana and Agave attenuata
• Aloes: Aloe vera, Aloe aristata, and Aloe humilis
• Crassulaceae: Echeveria, Sedum, and Kalanchoe
• Euphorbias: Euphorbia horrida and Euphorbia tirucalli
• Mesembs: Conophytum
• Others: Haworthia, Gasteria, and Crassula ovata

Conophytum hians in the greenhouse, from the proflific Namaqualand area of South Africa

Mammillaria longimamma in the greenhouse, from Mexico 🇲🇽

Callisia navicularis in the greenhouse, from Mexico 🇲🇽

Echeveria setosa in the greenhouse, from Mexico 🇲🇽

The second location, often overlooked, is the Rock Garden adjacent to the greenhouse. This garden is home to a variety of rock-loving plants, including sedums, saxifrages, and alpine poppies. Most of the succulents are from Europe.

Sedum hispanicum in the Rock Garden, from Central and Southeastern Europe

Sedum dasyphyllumminor in the Rock Garden, from Southern and Central Europe

For more succulent photos from Jardin des Plantes, find me on Instagam @settlesucs.

My Experience

In March 2023, my family and I traveled to Paris for a reunion. We visited the Natural Museum located inside Jardin des Plantes, where the kids ran around and learned about animals.

As the sole succulent enthusiast in the family, I made my way to the Succulent Greenhouse located on the opposite side of the garden.

The greenhouse is dominated by plants from tropical forests, with only a small extension occupied by cacti, aloes, and other succulents.

During my visit, the greenhouse was quiet, with only me strolling through the succulent area, scrutinizing each individual plant. I appreciated the tranquility.

(Right outside the garden, there is a small sandwich shop whose name I can't recall. However, I do remember having the most amazing salmon panini of my life there.)