Historical background of the garden

The history of the Botanical Garden is related to the history of the construction of the residence of Samegrelo Rulers the Dadianis. The foundation for its cultivation was made around the second half of the 18th century, while these areas were still covered by impassable forests, characteristics of Kolkheti area since ancient times, from the shores of the Black Sea to the slopes of the Caucasus Mountains.
In 1840, Davit Dadiani, the head of Samegrelo, made the foundation for European-style decorative garden. Queen Ekaterine Chavchavadze-Dadiani ordered the necessary material (seeds and seedlings) from the garden of the King Louis Philippe Palace of Versailles (Paris) and Milan (Italy), and invited the famous specialist gardener Joseph Babin from Trieste (Italy) to plan the garden.

Based on French symmetrical style and Italian principle of cultivation, Joseph Babin arranged a European-style decorative garden with flowerbeds, lawns, artificial and natural landscapes, alleys, an island, a nursery and an orangery, which contains rare varieties of exotic plants.

Since then the introduction of species of rare plants, previously unknown to Georgia has begun. In 1869, the second stage of garden renovation begins, when Queen Ekaterine invited a gardener-decorator Gaetano Zamberletti (later his brother - Giovanni) from Farese (Italy).

The Botanical Garden is an important part of the history of Zugdidi, an example of cultural heritage of national importance, which has a noteworthy historical value. The garden has played an important historical role in shaping the unique appearance of the city and creating a rich collection of exotic plants, as well as a large educational function. It became the hub of introduction of valuable plants in Samegrelo, from which hundreds of foreign plants were widely expanded among the population, many gardens, squares and parks were cultivated in the villages, towns and cities of Samegrelo