The Botanical Garden of Barcelona collections contain representative samples of the plants that grow in the Mediterranean climate, a climate characterised by important seasonal variations, with hot, dry summers and mild winters, whilst rainfall is concentrated mainly in spring and summer.

Mediterranean vegetation is considered one of the richest in terms of diversity of species. It is calculated that just 1.7% of the Earth’s landmass has a Mediterranean climate, yet Mediterranean flora accounts for approximately 25% of all plants known to us. Mediterranean vegetation is considered to be under serious threat at present, principally due to human activity. For this reason, the main purpose of the Botanical Garden of Barcelona is to conserve the biodiversity of Catalonia and other Mediterranean regions and to promote scientific understanding to make people more aware of the need to conserve our environment.

The Mediterranean basin is not the only region in the world with a Mediterranean climate; indeed, there are several others, situated between latitude of 30º and 40º in both the Northern and Southern hemispheres. These regions are: California, central Chile, southern South Africa and south and southwest Australia.

The similarity amongst the landscapes in these regions provided the inspiration behind Barcelona’s Botanical Garden. Firstly, the plants in the Garden are organised according to geographical origin. Secondly, they are grouped to form artificial recreations of the landscape and plant communities found in nature. Finally, Mediterranean forest landscapes are represented in the higher areas of the Garden, whilst shrublands communities are concentrated in the central and lower areas.

Unlike museums that exhibit non-living specimens, the living plant collections at the Botanical Garden are dynamic, constantly changing. New species are produced every year in the nursersies to be planted in the Garden, whilst others fail to adapt, whether due to small differences in temperature or humidity or to the characteristics of the soil, and disappear from the collections.

It is planned that the Botanical Garden of Barcelona will eventually house some 4.000 Mediterranean species from all over the world.

At present 1.492 species are represented.