Guinness Record for Largest Number of Plant Species Cultivated in Belgium Indoor Tropical Garden

Guinness World Records has officially awarded Pairi Daiza, a Belgium zoo and botanical garden, a third world record: for the largest number of plant species cultivated in an indoor tropical garden.

The title recognises the 1,675 species brought together in Edenya, the four-hectare indoor garden which opened this year, following a comprehensive botanical inventory and a verification process in accordance with the organisation’s international criteria.

This record adds to the two previous distinctions already achieved by Edenya: ‘The world’s largest indoor tropical garden’ and ‘The world’s largest indoor zoological ecosystem’.

An exceptional commitment to botanical diversity

Anouk de Timary, Guinness World Records Adjudicator, , supervised the official verification:

“First of all, I would like to warmly congratulate the entire team at Pairi Daiza on this new title. It has been a pleasure to review the evidence submitted for this record, and the level of organisation, thoroughness and attention to detail demonstrated throughout the documentation process was truly impressive. Achieving the title of Most plant species cultivated in a tropical greenhouse is a remarkable accomplishment, reflecting an exceptional commitment to botanical diversity, conservation and horticultural excellence”.

Seven years of research, and not a single plant was taken from the wild

The creation of the collection began long before the first foundations were laid. Some plants were reserved as early as 2019 from specialist growers. For almost seven years, the teams from the Jardin des Mondes selected each species according to its botanical value, shape, colour, fragrance and rarity, as well as its ability to coexist with animals and naturally find its place within a complex ecosystem.

Not a single plant in Edenya was taken from the wild. All specimens come from specialist nurseries, including those in Thailand, Malaysia, southern Spain, southern France, Sicily, Paraguay, Colombia, Ecuador and the Canary Islands.

Four hundred orchids, the largest and heaviest seed in the plant kingdom, and a tree from Bodh-Gaya

Some plants in Edenya impress with their size, others with their history.

More than 400 orchid species, in every size and colour, are gradually taking their place throughout the garden. Some will flower several times a year, while others will require many more years before producing their first blooms. This is the case for Grammatophyllum speciosum, the world’s largest orchid, which currently measures only around forty centimetres: nature will decide when it reveals its full splendour.

Visitors to Edenya will also discover the sea coconut (Lodoicea maldivica), which produces the largest and heaviest seed in the plant kingdom and grows in the wild only in the Seychelles. One Ficus religiosa is a direct descendant of the tree under which Buddha attained enlightenment.

Contrary to what one might expect, the most represented species at Edenya are not tropical trees, but aquatic plants. The ponds host an exceptional diversity of giant Amazon water lilies (Victoria amazonica) and other tropical water lilies (Nymphaea), carnivorous aquatic plants (Utricularia) and Madagascan banana plants (Typhonodorum).

The Guinness World Records title recognises the 1,675 botanical species cultivated at Edenya. However, this diversity represents only part of the garden’s richness. These species are complemented by hundreds of horticultural varieties selected for the beauty of their flowers, foliage and colours. Edenya notably features around one hundred varieties of hibiscus (Hibiscus rosa-sinensis) and nearly 200 varieties of bromeliads.

Pairi Daiza is in Brugelette, Hainaut, Belgium.

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