Wojsławice Arboretum

Wojsławice Arboretum is an arboretum, located in Wojsławice, Dzierżoniów County, Lower Silesian Voivodeship, in south-western Poland. It occupies an area of 62 ha.
Since 1988, Arboretum Wojsławice is a branch of the University of Wrocław Botanical Garden. The arboretum is renowned for a vast collections of Rhododendrons, Daylilies, Box and Peony plants as well as many other rare species and varieties of trees and shrubs. In year 2019 a Polish Millennial Garden has been opened. It presents a unique collection of polish-breed cultivars of ornamental plants as well as various Polish plant species that are threatened, endangered and protected.
It is located approximately 2 kilometres (1 mi) east of Niemcza, 14 kilometres (9 mi) east of Dzierżoniów and 50 kilometres (31 mi) south of Wrocław. It lies within the protected area of Niemcza-Strzelin Hills that administratively belongs to Niemcza commune in the Dzierżoniów district. The vicinity of Niemcza is formed by longitudinal ranges of the Gumińskie, Dębowe and Krzyżowe Hills with a varied geological structure cut by gentle ravines and gorges. At the bottom of the deepest gorge, at an altitude of 150–200 meters above sea level, flows the Ślęża River. Over one of its right-bank tributaries on the northern slopes of the Dębowe Wzgóża (Oak Hills) lies the Arboretum.
The total collection of the arboretum consists of 6532 woody plant species and 7445 perennial plants species. The large collections of rhododendrons (1350 taxa - including 124 taxa of historical Seidel-breed German hybrids), daylilies (3550 taxa) and buxus (144 taxa) have been registered as National Collections by the Polish Dendrological Society. In August 2021, four additional National Collections have been approved: Hydrangea (661 taxa), Hammamelidaceae family (162 taxa), Peony (537 taxa) and Periwinkle (ca. 50 taxa).
The arboretum was founded around 1811 when the owners of the Wojsławice village - von Prittwitz and von Aulock families started planting the first trees of non-European origin (mostly North American). The current design of the arboretum was created by Fritz von Oheimb in 1880 (commemorated by the Fritz Pond in the Arboretum), a Silesian landlord and a keen plant lover. He became an owner of 150 ha (370 acre) property in Wojsławice, with a romantic park created in 1821 by von Aulock family. Alongside his wife – Bertha von Oheimb - he began remodeling of the park, constantly acquiring new plant species. Since the beginning of twentieth century, rhododendron plants became his main specialization. In 1920, collection consisted of about 300 varieties. In 1890, Fritz donated them to the Botanical Garden in Wrocław. Fritz von Oheimb died on 11 October 1928, aged 78. He was buried within the grounds of the park. Until 1946, his passion was continued by his son – German geologist and botanist - Arno von Oheimb.
In 1906, as a recognition of Fritz's work, German rhododendron breeder Traugott Jacob Rudolf Seidel has named one of this late-blooming Rhododendron catawbiense hybrids ‘Von Oheimb Woislowitz’.
In 1983, the park became a historical site and since 1988 it is a branch of University of Wrocław.
In 2005, a new 54 ha (99 acre) grounds became attached as a new part of the park.
In 2011, collections of Rhododendron, Box and Hemerocallis were accredited by Polish Dendrological Society as a National Collections
Since 2013, Arboretum Wojsławice is accredited as a display garden of American Hemerocallis Society. Year later it became a European Station for Hemerocallis Evaluation
In 2017, the GEOretum has been opened. At the site of the local quarry a permanent exhibition of various Lower Silesian rocks is being presented
In 2020, the Polish Millennial Garden was officially opened for a public display.
In 2021, Polish Dendrological Society accepted 4 new National Collections – Hydrangea, Paeonia, Vinca and Hammamelidaceae.
Arboretum Wojsławice is a research, development and educational unit, therefore every plant is properly labeled.
In 2013, collection consisted of:
In 2020, collection consisted of:
Within the grounds of the Arboretum can be found:
Arboretum is open for visitors from May to September.
In May, Rhododendrons and Azaleas are in bloom, accompanied by numerous species of Pieris, Enkianthus, Leucothoe, Kalmia and Calluna. It is a good time to look for unusual flowers of magnolias and ornamental cherries.
June is a time of Roses – historical, ground-spreading, miniature and nostalgic ones. Hostas presents their extremely decorative foliage. At the slope of Ostra Góra, Sweetcherries of Lower Silesian Historical Sweetcherries varieties Gene Bank starts to ripen.
In July, daylilies bloom – it is the most diverse collection in Poland with over 3,5 thousand varieties. Lacy leafes of ferns present their full glory and fluffy iinflorescences of fake spiraea are in full bloom. Sweet mock-oranges intoxicate with intense scent.
August delights with endless cultivars of hydrangea; phloxes and geraniums are in full bloom. Lavender and butterfly bushes attract swarms of butterflies and insects; large flowered-clematis and shrub hibiscus add color to a magnificent spectacle of mid summer
In autumn, perennial borders are dominated by multi-colored grasses, stonecrops, tickseeds, windflowers and purple coneflowers. Fruits of exotic species of trees and shrubs colorize.
In spring 2020, 5-hectare Polish Millennial Garden created since 2017, was incorporated into the garden grounds. It is a presentation of Polish bredders’ achievements in creation of new plant varieties. Collection consists both of modern and forgotten pre-war cultivars. Didactic boards describing the history of Polish breeding are exposed in five resting sheds. Additionally, Millennial Garden is a place of ex-situ conservation of endangered, threatened and protected plant species. Established conservation sites include species such as: Rosa gallica, Linum austracum, Allium ursinum, Dictamnus albus, Gladiolus palustris.
Initially, the collection consisted of a thousand plant varieties to commemorate the 1000th anniversary of the Siege of Niemcza (1017)
Currently collection lists 1987 plant varieties (as of September 1, 2021).
The most numerous collections are:
Less than 20 km
50°43′N 16°50′E﻿ / ﻿50.717°N 16.833°E﻿ / 50.717; 16.833