Leuven (Brussels Morning Newspaper) – Leuven’s Botanical Garden opened the Drought Garden with over 100 drought-resistant plants. Aldermen Christophe Stockman and Thomas Van Opens highlight climate resilience, sustainability, and educational value.
As VRT News reported, Leuven’s Botanical Garden has opened a new area called the “Drought Garden.” The section contains over 100 plants that can resist heat and long periods without water. Unlike the rest of the garden, these plants do not get extra irrigation. They rely only on rainfall.
To prepare the garden, the soil was replaced with a lava mixture. A top layer of shell grit was added to reduce evaporation and keep the soil moist. Christophe Stockman, Alderman for Public Green Spaces for Vooruit, said many of the plants can also be found in local garden shops.
What makes Leuven’s Drought Garden with 100+ plants climate-resilient?
The Drought Garden was planted in March 2025. A dry spring and hot summer followed, giving the plants an immediate test. Most species adapted well to the conditions. The garden also works as an educational space. Experts say it could serve as a model for other cities. The garden combines resilience, biodiversity, and environmentally friendly design to face changing weather conditions.
“Most of the plants have already grown considerably,”
says Alderman for Climate and Sustainability Thomas Van Opens (Green).
“This place is not only beautiful to explore, but also relevant,”
says Van Oppens. He explains that extreme weather events, such as heat waves, long droughts, and heavy rainfall, are happening more often.
“We need to design parks and gardens to be climate-resilient so they can cope with these changing conditions,”
he adds.
“It’s a concrete example of how a garden can be vibrant and beautiful even in dry conditions,”
says Stockman.
“There’s a wadi, for example. People sometimes think it’s a drain overgrown with weeds, but here you can see that such a wadi can also be an aesthetic asset.”
A collection of plants from the cacti and succulent families offers visitors useful examples of plants that will consume little water and can survive extreme heat, illustrating both native and non-native species. The garden can be found near the main entrance of Leuven’s Botanical Garden, at the Kapucijnenvoer.
Leuven’s Botanical Garden, also known as Kruidtuin, was established in 1738 by the University of Leuven to provide medicinal herbs for students. In 1835, ownership of the garden was transferred to the city, and over time, it evolved into a public space showcasing a wide variety of plants from around the world.
The garden spans 2.2 hectares and includes themed sections such as a medicinal herb garden, a rock garden, an apiary, and a 450 m² greenhouse housing tropical and subtropical plants. Over the centuries, it has served both scientific and recreational purposes, remaining a free and accessible green space for the people of Leuven.
Comments
19 responses to “Leuven’s Botanical Garden Unveils Drought Garden Featuring 100+ Plants”
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Oh, a Drought Garden? Brilliant idea! Because who wouldn’t want to stroll through a collection of plants that thrive on neglect? 🌵💧 Just what Leuven needed—more reminders of our impending climate doom!
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Just what we needed—a garden full of thirsty plants waiting for a rain check! 🌵💧 I suppose it’s one way to show off climate resilience; let’s just hope they don’t need a 5-star spa treatment during the next heatwave! 😏
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Oh, fantastic! A Drought Garden in Leuven—just what we need, a botanical tribute to climate change, featuring plants that thrive while the rest of us are gasping for a drop. 🌵💧
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Oh, a drought garden in Leuven? Just what the world needed—more proof that Mother Nature’s sense of humor is alive and well. 🌵💧 I suppose this is the new trend: let the plants fend for themselves while we sip our lattes and pretend we’re eco-warriors. 🙄
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Looks like Leuven’s taken “survival of the fittest” to a whole new level – who knew a garden could be a drought-proof exhibition of stubbornness? 🌵💦 I suppose it’s a lovely way to remind us that even plants can embrace the dry humor of climate change!
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Oh, a Drought Garden in Leuven? Just what we needed—a place to admire plants that thrive while the rest of us are sweating buckets! 😂 Who knew watching cacti grow could be the new hot trend in climate resilience?
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Oh, a Drought Garden in Leuven? How delightfully ironic! Just what we need – a botanical display of plants that thrive on neglect, because who doesn’t want their garden to look like it’s perpetually on the brink of a drought? 😂🌱
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Oh, a Drought Garden? Brilliant! Just what we need – a showcase of plants that thrive on neglect. 🌵 Who knew “hard to kill” was the new trend in horticulture? 😂
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Well, isn’t that just peachy? A Drought Garden in Leuven—because who wouldn’t want to take a stroll among plants that are just as thirsty as our economy? 🌵💧
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Oh sure, let’s plant a whole garden of drought-resistant plants right as the climate is throwing a tantrum—because who needs water anyway? 🌵💦 Perfect for those of us who want to stroll through a “vibrant” beauty while praying it rains.
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Isn’t it just charming that we’ve finally found a way to make plants feel more special than the average Belgian? 🌵 Who knew drought-themed gardening would be the new trend—next, we’ll be opening the “Dust Bowl Experience” for a little more excitement! 😂
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A Drought Garden, you say? Brilliant! Just what we needed—more plants that can survive our unpredictable climate while the rest of us are left high and dry. 🌵💧
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Brilliant, just what we needed—a garden that thrives on neglect! 🌵 Who knew plants could be so independent, like the trendy millennials of the botanical world? 🤷♂️
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Oh, brilliant! A Drought Garden in Leuven—because who wouldn’t want to admire plants that thrive on neglect? 🌵💧 Just what we need, more proof that even nature can be a bit of a drama queen! 😂
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Who knew a bunch of thirsty plants could turn into an educational experience? Just what we needed in Leuven—a garden that teaches us we can survive on as little water as our politicians do on a good day! 🌵😏
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Well, isn’t that just lovely? A garden full of plants that thrive on neglect—perfect for those of us who can barely keep a houseplant alive! 🌵💧
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A drought garden, eh? Quite the clever idea—because nothing says “let’s save the planet” like showcasing plants that thrive on neglect. 🌵🍃
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Isn’t it just delightful that Leuven’s Botanical Garden has found a way to make drought chic? Who needs water when you can have a garden full of plants that are practically on a thirst strike? 🌱💦
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Finally, a garden that embraces the Belgian summer—drought-resistant plants, you say? Perfect for those who enjoy a bit of gardening with a side of existential crisis. 🌵💧
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