Wojsławice Arboretum

About

Wojsławice Arboretum is an arboretum, located in Wojsławice, Dzierżoniów County, Lower Silesian Voivodeship, in south-western Poland. It occupies an area of 62 ha. Since 1988, Arboretum Wojsławice is a branch of the University of Wrocław Botanical Garden. The arboretum is renowned for a vast collections of Rhododendrons, Daylilies, Box and Peony plants as well as many other rare species and varieties of trees and shrubs. In year 2019 a Polish Millennial Garden has been opened. It presents a unique collection of polish-breed cultivars of ornamental plants as well as various Polish plant species that are threatened, endangered and protected.

It is located approximately 2 kilometres (1 mi) east of Niemcza, 14 kilometres (9 mi) east of Dzierżoniów and 50 kilometres (31 mi) south of Wrocław. It lies within the protected area of Niemcza-Strzelin Hills that administratively belongs to Niemcza commune in the Dzierżoniów district. The vicinity of Niemcza is formed by longitudinal ranges of the Gumińskie, Dębowe and Krzyżowe Hills with a varied geological structure cut by gentle ravines and gorges. At the bottom of the deepest gorge, at an altitude of 150–200 meters above sea level, flows the...

The arboretum was founded around 1811 when the owners of the Wojsławice village - von Prittwitz and von Aulock families started planting the first trees of non-European origin (mostly North American ). The current design of the arboretum was created by Fritz von Oheimb in 1880 (commemorated by the Fritz Pond in the Arboretum), a Silesian landlord and a keen plant lover. He became an owner of 150 ha (370 acre ) property in Wojsławice, with a romantic park created in 1821 by von Aulock family. Alongside his wife – Bertha von Oheimb - he began remodeling of the park, constantly acquiring new plant species. Since the beginning of twentieth century, rhododendron plants became his main specialization. In 1920, collection consisted of about 300 varieties. In 1890, Fritz donated them to the Botanical Garden in Wrocław. Fritz von Oheimb died on 11 October 1928, aged 78. He was buried within the grounds of the park. Until 1946, his passion was continued by his son – German geologist and botanist - Arno von Oheimb.

In 1906, as a recognition of Fritz's work, German rhododendron breeder Traugott Jacob Rudolf Seidel has named one of this late-blooming Rhododendron catawbiense hybrids ‘Von Oheimb Woislowitz’.

In 1983, the park became a historical site and since 1988 it is a branch of University of Wrocław.

In 2005, a new 54 ha (99 acre) grounds became attached as a new part of the park.

In 2011, collections of Rhododendron, Box and Hemerocallis were accredited by Polish Dendrological Society as a National Collections

Since 2013, Arboretum Wojsławice is accredited as a display garden of American Hemerocallis Society. Year later it became a European Station for Hemerocallis Evaluation

In 2017, the GEOretum has been opened. At the site of the local quarry a permanent exhibition of various Lower Silesian rocks is being presented

In 2020, the Polish Millennial Garden was officially opened for a public display.

In 2021, Polish Dendrological Society accepted 4 new National Collections – Hydrangea, Paeonia, Vinca and Hammamelidaceae.

Arboretum Wojsławice is a research, development and educational unit, therefore every plant is properly labeled.

- 4650 species and varieties of Trees and Shrubs;

- 4885 species and varieties of perennial plants; In 2020, collection consisted of:

- 886 taxa of coniferous trees and shrubs;

- 5646 taxa of deciduous trees and shrubs;

- 7273 species and varieties of perennials;

- Rododendron ( Rhododendron ) - 1350 species and varieties – including 124 historic Seidel hybrids;

- Hydrangea ( Hydrangea ) - over 650 taxa;

- Magnolia ( Magnolia ) – over 100 taxa;