The southern remote area of Russia, the caressing Black Sea, the majestic Caucasus, the mild subtropical climate: all this is Sochi. One can hardly imagine this southern resort without palms, cypresses, magnolias. The DENDRARIUM of Sochi is among the sources of this wealth. The basic works aimed at the new exotics testing and introduction are held here. By dint of hard work our researchers and experts in plant introduction achieved great success in the enrichment of the Caucasian Black Sea shore with those exotics.

The Park traces back to the late 19 century. In 1889 the well-known journalist and writer S.N.Khudekov bought a lot in two kilometres from the Sochi centre, at the southern side of Mountain Lysaya. The planning of a 15 hectare decorative park was started. Gathered was a collection of foreign wood and frutescent plants, which comprised about two hundred species.

The principal planting was completed in 1892. This year is considered the foundation date of Sochi Dendrarium. The Park was created as a regular French-Italian terraced park and an English landscape garden.

With the advent of the Soviet Power it was nationalised. In 1944 a scientific-research experimental station of the subtropical forestry and park (SochNILOS) was organised on the basis of the Dendrarium. The Park area then increased up to 50 hectares.

In 1974 the Park was recognised as a landscape architectural site thus becoming a national monument. In 1976 a passenger aerial tramway was constructed here.

At present the Research Institute of Mountain Silviculture and Forest Ecology is in charge of the Park. Those business contacts maintained between the Institute and 105 botany and forestry centres of Russia and 30 foreign countries enabled to enrich the Park with valuable tree species, which are new in our country. In its turn, the Institute is sending over 600 species of seeds of Caucasian trees and exotic plants naturalised in the Dendrarium. Today the open soil collection is counting 1,630 species, varieties and forms of trees and frutescent plants. 188 tree species can be seen, within the boundaries of Russia, in the Dendrarium only.

A unique collection of oaks (56 species), about 26 taxons of 15 cypress species, the largest collection of open soil palms in Russia, are gathered here. The pine collection includes 75 species and is a national patrimony. There are 14 species of yucca, small-branch trunk plants and dagger leaf bunch plants.

The beauty of the Dendrarium is emphasised by minor architectural forms manufactured to Khudekov's order by French-Italian casting company DUREN.

In the upper Dendrarium part one may admire Altaian squirrels, African ostriches, peacocks.

Waterfowl are haughtily looking at themselves in the mirror-like waters of the ponds. Swans, geese, wild ducks live here. Decorative and food fish swim in the ponds. Otters, racoon dogs, a porcupine are kept in the open-air cages. A sea aquarium was built in 1971. Intricately interweave each other the trunks of a gigantic deciduous liana from China - a Chinese wisteria. It has reached a height of 17 metres. There are 18 bamboo species in the Park.

Fantastically beautiful is the Dendrarium in any season. Plants in blossom may always be found here. The shady alleys will hide you in summer from the burning sun, and the green vegetation will make you happy in winter. The Park is hospitable and open for its visitors all year round.