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Created in 1979 by G.L.A.O. (Ligurian group of orchid enthusiasts), this garden is located in the municipality of Campo Ligure, in the Pratorondanino area – the heart of the Genoese Apennines. In 1998, Liguria Region acknowledged the “Botanical Garden of Pratorondanino” as a Regional Protected Area, entrusting it to the Province of Genoa. The latter has continued the original management of the G.L.A.O. over an area of about 1.5 acres. There one can find more than 400 species of plants typical of a mountain environment, along with a spectacular route among ponds, woods and meadows featuring three different rocky habitats: of limestone, siliceous and winding.

The two aquatic environments, a pond and a small lake, host horsetails, ferns (including the “living fossil” Osmunda regalis – Royal Fern), yellow iris (Iris pseudacorus), bogbeans (Menyanthes trifoliata), as well as numerous species of carnivorous plants. Then, there are edelweiss plants (Leontopodium alpinum) which stands out among limestone rocks – probably the best-known mountain flower. But the rocks also host the dusty silver-edged primroses (Primula marginata) – which expels limestone covering itself with a white powder – the mountain avens (Dryas octopetala) – an “ice-age relic” – and the Queen of the Alps (Eryngium alpinum) – now extremely rare and endangered of extinction.

Among the species housed in the winding rocky habitat, there are Bertoloni’s pansies (Viola bertolonii), endemic to the so-called “Voltri Group”, a group of ophiolite found from Sestri Ponente to Voltaggio, and from Varazze to Ponzone.

The forest is home to tall conifers and broad-leaved trees, among which there are giant sequoias (Sequoiadendron giganteum) and the Wollemi pines (Wollemia nobilis).

The “Center for Didactics and Scientific Dissemination” was created next to this Garden with the aim of promoting a direct approach to Pratorondanino Botanical facility.

BOTANICAL COLLECTIONS

Orchids: undoubtedly, the most valuable collection which features numerous species belonging to the Cypripedium genus, including the rare lady’s-slipper orchids (Cypripedium calceolus).

Saxifrage: the most striking specimen among the 10 species in this collection, is the most beautiful southern saxifrage (Saxifraga lingulata).

Rhododendrons: they include hairy alpenroses (Rhododendron hirsutum), and rusty-leaved alpenroses (Rhododendron ferrugineum), both typical on Italian peaks.

Houseleeks: the collection offers more than 30 different species of Sempervivum spp. from all over the world; the most interesting one is probably the cobweb house-leek (Sempervivum arachnoideum), common on the Italian Alps.

Rose garden: astonishingly blossoming in June, it includes fragrant Rugosa roses – native to eastern Asia, Wilson’s roses (Rosa sinowilsonii) – with white flowers – and the local Rosa canina, Rosa pendulina and Rosa villosa.

Lilies: among many species are the turban lily (Lilium pomponium), Ligurian-Provençal native variety, the Martagon lily (Lilium martagon), and the Orange lily (Lilium bulbiferum subsp. Croceum).

MONOGRAPHIES
Ligure Amatori Orchidee Group (edited by), 2005, A mountain botanical garden in Pratorondanino, Print & Sprint srl – Genova
Stefano Ardito (edited by), Pratorondanino botanical garden – Practical guide, Editorial Graphics – Genoa

This post is also available in: Italiano (Italian)