Special exhibition | The unique prehistoric botanical garden

We know relatively little about how flora evolved over millions of years. What did the very first plant look like? When did the first conifers and flowering plants appear?
In the world’s only prehistoric botanical garden at Dolomythos in Innichen, a comprehensive special exhibition traces the fascinating journey of plant evolution. It begins with the first small primordial plant, Cooksonia, which ventured from water onto land more than 400 million years ago paving the way for the first animals to do the same.
As early as 390 million years ago, the first small trees began to spread tentatively. Soon after, evolution accelerated: over 300 million years ago, giant horsetails and enormous clubmosses flourished, creating a lush and unique ecosystem unlike anything seen since.
Repeated climate catastrophes continually reshaped life on Earth, opening the door to new developments such as the first conifers. Around 300 million years ago, the first ginkgos appeared—remarkable trees whose distinctive characteristics still fascinate us today. Not long afterward, the Earth became more colorful, as the first flowering plants and deciduous trees emerged.
Hardly any other region in the world offers such rich insight into the evolution of plant life as the Dolomites. Across an immense timespan of over 200 million years, a wide variety of evolutionary processes can be traced in the rock layers.
For the first time, Michael Wachtler has brought together the most important milestones in global plant evolution and presents them as if visitors were strolling through a modern botanical garden. Detailed displays illustrate how gradual and diverse this development has been—ultimately giving rise to the natural world we enjoy today.

Open every day!