The Gesneriaceae greenhouse

This greenhouse introduces you to a group of plants known as the Gesneriaceae. This botanic family has been studied at the CJBG for a long time and has an extraordinary diversity of flowers. The range of the flowers’ shapes and colours reflects the close interaction between plants and their pollinators. The Gesneriaceae are able to attract bees, nectar-feeding birds like hummingbirds and even bats to ensure they reproduce.

From Zurich to the Cape

The Gesneriaceae are a family of plants named in honour of the famous Zurich naturalist Conrad Gessner (1516-1565). The Cape violet or Saintpaulia is the best known representative. This flower is widely commercially available, but is at risk of vanishing in its original home in East Africa.

Map of the garden