BotanicalDryGarden

BotanicalDryGarden combines a botanical garden open to visitors with a nursery and landscape design focused on low water use. It is in Orbetello, in Tuscany’s Maremma region. The garden began in 2010 within Mates Piante, a nursery specializing in Mediterranean plants since 1994, and brings together more than fifteen hundred species and varieties across an area exceeding forty thousand square meters.

The visit centers on plants able to live with low irrigation needs. The sensory route invites visitors to observe forms, colors, scents, and different textures within a Mediterranean landscape. The garden also includes a contemporary art trail and an outdoor theater for concerts and events. Botany and artistic expression share the space.

The store brings that specialization into the home garden. Its lawn alternatives include Verbena hybrida, Lippia nodiflora var. canescens, Cotula lineariloba, Dymondia margaretae, and mixed-species options. The catalog allows ground covers to be searched by sun exposure, partial shade, cold climate, proximity to the sea, or suitability for walking on. These categories guide selection according to the site’s conditions.

Shrubs, herbaceous plants, grasses, climbers, and aromatic plants complete the offering, alongside potting soil and mulch. There are collections by flower color and a Flatpot line including trees, large shrubs, Mediterranean herbs, and plants for hedges or windbreaks. Designing and creating dry gardens and vegetable gardens are services in their own right, connected to the store’s plants and materials.

The published standard admission is twelve euros, with reduced rates for students and people over sixty-five and free entry for children under six and people with disabilities. Groups of at least ten can book a guided visit with a sensory route. Advance purchasing through Eventbrite includes that platform’s fees. Offices and the nursery keep seasonal hours; walks through the park can continue during the midday break.

For arrivals from Rome, the garden directs visitors to take Strada Provinciale della Parrina toward Magliano in Toscana. From Livorno, access is via Strada Provinciale San Donato in Collecchio, following signs for San Donato and Magliano. The site allows plants to be experienced within an established landscape before exploring nursery or design options for a personal project.